County Jail staff mistakenly let out the wrong incarcerated family member Saturday morning, and authorities are now looking for the parolee at large.
Jaime Garcia Jr., 30, was in jail on several charges including suspicion of burglary and assault with a deadly weapon, and was mistakenly let out at about 11 a.m. Saturday instead of his father, Jaime Garcia Sr., 50.
“This shouldn't have happened,” said Mike Barnes, a commander in charge the downtown jail. “It's unacceptable.”
Now, authorities are looking for Garcia Jr., who has a warrant on open charges and is a parolee at large. He was arrested in August on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury on a cohabitant, assault with deadly weapon and first-degree burglary — all felonies.
Garcia Sr. was bailed out later Saturday on charges of harboring his son, who was wanted on warrants, police said. Police had arrested both the same day.
Both son and father have served time in jail for various felonies. Garcia Sr. pleaded guilty in 2005 to possession of a firearm be a felon. Garcia Jr. pleaded no contest in 2006 for possession of a controlled substance for sale.
The mistake took place during the bailout process. Normally, jail staff are notified when an inmate has been bailed out, and certain procedures are followed, Barnes said. The information is transferred to where inmates are housed. A verification process then takes places, which includes matching fingerprints.
“In his case those procedures were not followed,” Barnes said.
This situation is rare, and officials and Barnes could not recall the last time something similar happened. Barnes said he is now looking at possible punishment of personnel, but that information will not be disclosed.
Agencies citywide, including the Sheriff's gang unit, are now looking for Garcia Jr.
“We would like to bring him back to where he belongs,” Barnes said.
