NATCHEZ &8212; Two inmates escaped from the Natchez City Jail Wednesday and are still on the run, Natchez Police Chief Mike Mullins said Thursday.

Carlos N. Bruno Jr., 45, on hold for Florida police on a larceny charge, and Justin L. Ferrill, 27, 9075 Louisiana 129, Monterey, charged with contempt of court for driving under suspended license, escaped Wednesday morning, Mullins said.

&8220;(They escaped) about 4 a.m. after the jailers had done their hourly jail check,&8221; he said. &8220;There&8217;s a steel wire grate over the top of the cell, and they were able to weaken one of the pieces of steel at the weld and eventually bend it back enough to crawl through.&8221;

Welding work had already been scheduled, he said, to reinforce the 12-year-old jail cells.

&8220;We&8217;re working on reinforcing them right now,&8221; he said.

Once they escaped the 16-man jail block in which they were housed, the two exited through an outside window.

Mullins said he believed they were now in the Baton Rouge area and probably not dangerous.

Bruno, a Hispanic male, is 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 138 lbs, Mullins said. Ferrell, a white male, is 6 feet tall and weighs 192 lbs.

Anyone with any information should call Crime Stoppers at 601-442-5000. A reward is available.