Anthony Yates
Texas authorities accidentally released a man who was due to serve a five-year jail term. He remains at large, and police are asking anyone who spots him to dial 911.
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The Harris County Sheriff’s Office addressed the blunder on Facebook, asking readers to be on the lookout for 36-year-old Troy Dugas. Deputies are reportedly searching for Dugas as he was mistakenly released from jail on Sunday at 4:30 PM. The Sheriff’s Office provided more details in an official news release.
Authorities explain that Dugas was previously sentenced to five years in prison for committing a “family violence assault in Fort Bend County.” Dugas also faced two years for evading arrest in Brazoria County. He had been in the Harris County Jail since August 14 for local charges, which officials dismissed.
The Sheriff’s Office Revealed How The Mistake At The Jail Occurred
The Sheriff’s office explains that a thorough investigation is underway to discover how Dugas escaped. They also reveal that preliminary investigations point to jail staff not properly documenting his prison sentence in his file. This error mistakenly led to his release when authorities dismissed the local charges. The post concludes, “Dugas is a black male, weighs 215 pounds, stands at 6 feet 1 inch, and has a tattoo on his neck. Anyone with information regarding Dugas’ whereabouts is urged to call 911.”
Last month, an inmate escaped from the Lyon-Corbas Prison in the southeast of France. While escaping prison is no mean feat, his freedom was short-lived as officers tracked him down in under 48 hours.
The inmate allegedly snuck into the laundry bag of another prisoner who was due to be released. He escaped on Saturday, but officials recaptured him exiting a cellar on Monday morning. The prosecutor’s office said nobody was injured. “His accomplice was not with him and has not yet been arrested,” they added.
Director of Prison Administration Sébastien Cauwel admitted an “accumulation of errors” led to the incident. He also pointed out that overcrowding may have been a contributing factor, noting the prison runs at 170% capacity.
