By Shawntaye Hopkins
The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Fayette County jail officer failed to properly identify an inmate who pretended to be another inmate when he was released from jail on Sunday, officials said.
Antoine Gregory Hill, 21, of Lexington, was arrested without incident on Monday.
Fayette County sheriff’s deputies located him with the help of people in the community at the home of an acquaintance on Parliament Way, Sheriff Kathy Witt said.
On Sunday, Hill was booked at the detention center on a federal drug charge of possession with intent to distribute, jail spokesman Capt. Darin Kelly said. Hill and another inmate were in a common area when the other inmate was called for release.
Hill claimed to be that inmate and was allowed to leave, Kelly said.
The other inmate was released later Sunday. Kelly declined to release the name of that inmate or the name of the officer involved.
The officer who released Hill did not follow procedures that include checking the inmate’s Social Security number, date of birth and photo identification, Kelly said. No disciplinary action had been taken Monday against the officer. However, Kelly said the officer will likely receive additional training.
About 26,000 people a year are released from the detention center. Kelly said it’s rare that mistakes such as Sunday’s are made, but occasionally there are human errors.
Kelly said Hill could face additional charges for giving the officer the wrong information.
But, Kelly said, “clearly, the officer made an error.”
Hill has never been charged with or convicted of any violent crimes. But court records show he has a criminal history dating back to 2004.
Copyright 2008 Lexington Herald-Leader