By Andy Campbell and Cat Sieh
The Bellingham Herald
WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — A Whatcom County inmate spent nearly a day free after jailers mistook him for a man who had finished serving his time, releasing him Wednesday morning.
Timothy J. Pantalia, a 19-year-old Bellingham resident, turned himself into the jail at about 9:10 p.m. Wednesday, after he posed as a man with a similar name and appearance. The other inmate was supposed to leave Wednesday morning, said Whatcom County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Jeff Parks.
Pantalia had been booked Tuesday on suspicion of failure to appear on charges of fourth-degree assault and investigation of drug and firearm possession, according to jail records. He also was under investigation for a residential burglary and had a felony conviction for second-degree robbery in 2005.
Sheriff Bill Elfo said the department worked with Pantalia’s family to persuade him to return to the jail.
Whatcom County Jail Chief Wendy Jones said the release process is redundant, but usually effective:
When an inmate is identified for release, a floor officer checks his wristband to see if the personal information on it matches the person wearing it.
The inmate is then taken to the booking department, where he is again verified against his picture and personal information.
After he signs a document for the release of his personal belongings, a staff sergeant again verifies his identity, through the wristband, booking information and pictures.
If the inmate did indeed serve his time, he is released.
Jones said they don’t know where the source of the error came from Wednesday.
While release mistakes are rare, they have happened. In February 1995, Lloyd Monroe was released when there was a communication mistake between prosecutors and transport officers.
While Monroe was out, he stalked and killed his former girlfriend Michelle Smith who was found dead at her apartment just outside of Bellingham. Monroe was sentenced to life in prison without parole in December 1996.
The mistake prompted a re-examination of jail release procedure, including the requirement that a written order be filed for release rather than relying on a verbal request.
“What happened in the jail is inexcusable,” Elfo said. “We’re going to follow up on it.”
Copyright 2007 The Bellingham Herald