Original Article Three inmates escape from Tent City Jail Associated Press October 5, 2005 PHOENIX - Three inmates jumped a fence and escaped from the Tent City jail complex here Tuesday night, authorities said. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office identified the escapees as Michael Williams, 20, David Thomas, 18, and Chad Merrill, 19. The three were in jail for probation violations, according to sheriff's spokesman Travis Anglin. He said the inmates escaped about 6 p.m. by climbing over a barbed wire fence and authorities were investigating how the inmates were able to do that.