Two jail inmates mistakenly freed due to ‘human error,’ NC sheriff says

Two inmates were mistakenly ushered out of a North Carolina jail, and they did not wait around for an explanation, investigators say.

It happened Thursday, April 2, in at the Randolph County jail in Asheboro, the two were promptly hunted down when officials discovered the error, the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The exact reason it happened has not been revealed.

“While we have procedures in place designed to prevent situations like this, human error was a contributing factor in these releases,” the sheriff’s office said in an April 2 news release.

“This incident is being reviewed internally and is being addressed as a personnel matter. In addition, we are conducting a thorough review of our policies, procedures, and best practices to identify any opportunities for improvement and to strengthen existing safeguards.”

The two inmates “were quickly located and safely returned to custody,” officials said. Their identities and details of their charges were not released.

“Many of our staff members are early in their careers, and while they receive ongoing training and supervision, experience is something that develops over time,” the sheriff’s office said. “When issues arise, we take them seriously, learn from them, and make the necessary adjustments to improve.”

The Randolph County jail is about an 85-mile drive northeast from uptown Charlotte.