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Wrong inmate inadvertently released

Immigration detainee incident resolved quickly

An investigation is ongoing as to why authorities at the Marshall County Jail released the wrong person from custody this week.

Late Wednesday afternoon, the Marshall County jail staff received authorization to release immigration detainee Edin Quinteros of Guatemala, who had posted a security bond for his release pending court proceedings. Quinteros was processed and released from the jail.

Moments after the detainee was released, however, jail staff discovered the incorrect detainee had been released. That released detainee was identified as Jose Quintana-Hernandez of Mexico. Quintana-Hernandez was quickly taken back into custody within an hour and Quinteros was released.

Chief Jail Administrator Joel Phillips said while the investigation continues, it appears that the wrong file was pulled and in processing the detainee, the wrong person was released. There was also a shift change at the time of the detainee release, with one booking officer beginning the inmate process, while another booking officer completed the effort.

Phillips said officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) faxed over the information granting the release of Quinteros. However, the file for Quintana-Hernandez, containing his information and photo was retrieved. At that point, Quintana-Hernandez was pulled from the housing unit and processed to exit the jail.

It wasn’t until a third jailer realized the faxed information from ICE didn’t match the folder of information and that the wrong detainee had been released.

Phillips and Sheriff Ted Kamatchus agreed it’s likely human error was the issue in that the second booking officer took for granted the correct detainee folder was pulled, however, both cautioned they will wait to see what an internal affairs investigation will find.

“Basically it was an error with those two (jailers) and as to what extent, internal affairs will bring that all forth,” Kamatchus said. “A third jailer knew the person who came to pick the (detainee) up and looked at the paperwork and immediately found the mistake.”

Both Phillips and Kamatchus said at no time was the public in danger, with Phillips adding that both Quinteros and Quintana-Hernandez were being held for civil detention, not criminal matters.

“It certainly serves as a lesson learned … it would be wrong for me to say it could never happen it again … but we will learn from it,” Kamatchus said.

Phillips said the incident was immediately reported to ICE, who annually inspects the Marshall County facility, which must meet a number of strict standards if they are to house immigrant detainees.

Once the internal affairs investigation into the inmate release is complete, Phillips said possible disciplinary action could be taken. As to the severity of that punishment, if any is deemed necessary, that information is considered confidential since it’s a personnel matter.

Kamatchus said once the investigation is finished, the sheriff’s office and the jail staff will evaluate all processes to see if any corrections need to be made.

“It is a good lesson for the staff as a whole,” he said, conceding complacency may have played a role in what transpired.

The sheriff and Phillips also agreed that the incident was isolated and that the jail has an excellent record of being a secure, professionally-run operation.

“Since the jail opened, we have had well over 100,000 bookings. This type of thing is so very rare,” said Kamatchus.

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Contact Jeff Hutton at 641-753-6611 or jhutton@timesrepublican.com

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