MICHIGAN CITY | Police on Thursday evening ended their search for two escapees from the Indiana State Prison in Michigan City after two reported sightings of a person believed to be one of the fugitives.

The search, which was called off as severe weather moved through the area about 7:40 p.m., is expected to resume at 6 a.m. on Friday, Michigan City Police Capt. Tom Howe said.

Authorities had intensified the search Thursday, a search that shifted to the area near the city's South Shore commuter train station after two transit employees spotted a man thought to be one of the convicts.

Robert Byrd, Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District police chief, said a search initiated at 8:30 a.m. had been called off, but was restarted Thursday afternoon after what police believe was a credible sighting in the NICTD coach yard in Michigan City near the Carroll Avenue train station.

Byrd said two NICTD employees spotted a ragged white male in the coach yard about 8:30 a.m., and when the man spotted the employees, he ran off into a wetlands area. Byrd said the man matched the description of one of the escapees, but he didn't identify which one.

NICTD police were notified, and were joined in searching the area by Indiana State Police, Michigan City police, LaPorte County police and the state Department of Correction. Police dogs from several agencies also were part of the massive manhunt.

Karen Miller, of South Bend, said she saw authorities patrolling the area around the station as she and her husband waited for a train about 2:30 p.m. Thursday. She said she was "surprised" to hear an escapee reportedly was spotted in such a public place but would continue with her plans to travel.

"We're just going to be a little more alert with the people around us," she said.

Brenda Smith, who is vacationing with friends at a summer home in Long Beach, said the recent fugitive sightings have been "nerve-racking." She said while she's thankful for the additional police presence, seeing authorities stationed along the tracks is "a little scary."

Lance Battreal, 45, of Rockport, Ind., along with Charles Smith, 48, and Mark Booher, 46, both of New Castle, Ind., escaped from the Indiana State Prison on Sunday.

Charles Smith was recaptured Monday by a private security guard outside Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley's vacation home in Grand Beach, Mich.

Investigators believe the three escapees had unauthorized and unsupervised access to a series of tunnels that ultimately allowed them to escape, a Department of Correction official said.

The three men escaped through barred and locked tunnels, pipes, and storm drains underneath the 149-year-old facility and walked out near the intersection of Seventh and Grant streets in Michigan City via a manhole cover, DOC Commissioner Edwin G. Buss said Wednesday. He said there was no information that indicated the correctional officers were aware of the three men's escape plans, or otherwise aided in the escape.

However, prison policy dictates that prisoners working in the tunnels are to be under constant supervision, and investigators believe the offenders had unauthorized and unsupervised access to the tunnels on numerous occasions in the recent past.

The three correctional officers have been suspended pending the outcome of the internal investigation, Buss said.

The tunnels now have been secured, and the prison remains on lockdown.