Photo: Marquita Kirk and Rene Hunt
PALO ALTO – On November 6, within minutes of entering the Palo Alto Courthouse, two escaped inmates facing charges for robbery in which they had stolen more than $64,000 in cell phones from a Verizon store in Sunnyvale ran towards a door used as a fire escape and disappeared.
Authorities have now located both suspects and another arrest is expected.
At approximately 5:16 PM on November 21, CHP units attempted a traffic enforcement stop of a green 1999 Ford Explorer on northbound I-5 south of Eight Mile Road, according to the Stockton CHP. An officer reported firing his weapon at the vehicle, occupied by what later was determined to be both wanted felons from the November 6 incident.
John Penn Bivins
Inmate’s 47-year-old John Penn Bivins, and 46-year-old Tramel Leon McClough, both of East Palo Alto, were being led by Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Deputies when both men had mysteriously unlocked themselves from their restraints and headed for the fire exit where they exited to an awaiting vehicle and fled.
McClough is facing the possibility of life in prison committing multiple robberies while using a gun. Bivins is also suspected of fleeing the scene of a felony hit and run along with multiple robbery charges.
During the pursuit, McClough had exited the driver side of the stolen vehicle and fled towards a local WalMart where he was later found and apprehended. Bivins then jumped into the driver’s side from the passenger side of the vehicle, causing the officer to discharge his firearm while fearing for his safety as the suspect fled the area in the stolen Ford Explorer.
An arrest of a female suspect came within 24-hours of the escape on November 7. “Sheriff’s Office Investigators arrested 44-year-old Marquita Kirk at a residence in Sunnyvale. Kirk rented the U-Haul Van and staged it near the Courthouse,” Glennon said.
She had a long-standing relationship with Tramel McClough, and was believed to be one of two persons responsible for the escape.
A second arrest followed, of 54-year-old Rene Hunt of East Palo Alto. Hunt and Kirk are facing felony charges of conspiracy and accessory after the fact in which he also provided a getaway vehicle to help the suspects escape.
