Nueces County sheriff: Correctional officer violated policy in inmate escape
The correctional officer responsible for supervising the inmate who escaped from the Nueces County Jail on New Year's Eve may face disciplinary action.
On Dec. 31, Anthony Montez, a 54-year-old inmate trusty, escaped from the county jail during an evening trash detail. According to Sheriff J.C. Hooper, Montez was one of two inmate trusties who took all of the trash from meals to the dumpster outside of the building.
More:Escaped Nueces County Jail inmate located, in custody
The armed and trained correctional officer supervising the inmates may have violated policy and lacked proper attentiveness, according to Hooper.
"We believe his actions and lack of adherence to policy allowed the inmate to slip from his leg irons and run away," Hooper said.
Disciplinary action may include termination, though the officer is not currently placed on paid or unpaid leave. The officer's identity was not released.
Montez was originally booked into the jail on drug charges and was not known to be violent. He was located by officials around 5 p.m. on Tuesday at a family member's house in Corpus Christi.
Montez now faces charges of resisting arrest, evading arrest and escaping while arrested or confined. His bond is $11,000.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Nueces County sheriff: Officer violated policy in inmate escape
