UPDATE, 1:30 p.m.: Orleans Parish Sheriff Michelle Woodfork says Dreion Williams surrendered to authorities around 9:45 a.m. Wednesday and is back in the Orleans Parish Jail.
Woodfork blamed human error caused by a lack of training of jail staff for Williams's erroneous release. She also blamed former sheriff Susan Hutson, saying that Hutson's decision to install a new jail management system in her final days in office without giving jail staff the proper training played a role in the mishap.
"The Beacon Jail Management System, which was prematurely implemented less than a month before I took office with glitches in the system and inadequate training for staff," Woodfork said. "Neither new or existing OPSO staff nor our partners were significantly trained on the ins and outs of the new system prior to its rollout."
Woodfork said she has already take steps to prevent a mishap like this from happening again.
"First, we are reassigning records and intake supervisors and increasing overnight management staff," Woodfork said. "Two: we are digitizing all records and moving away from the system of placing original documents in a tray to be picked up by clerk employees. Three: we are implementing additional verification requirements before any inmate is released. Four: establishing enhanced cross-check procedures for all bond surrender documentation and court release orders. Five: expanding quality control oversight with intake and records operations. Six: enhancing training and accountability measures associated with the Beacon Jail Management System. And seven: adding experienced personnel with expertise in records management and public safety operations to strengthen these critical functions. I will personally see that these measures are implemented."
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ORIGINAL STORY:
Authorities say they are looking for a convicted felon who was released from police custody in New Orleans after a “clerical error.”
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office learned that defendant, Dreion Williams, B/M, D.O.B 7/6/1995, who was released by an order of the court on Thursday, May 21st, should not have been released,” OPSO said in a news release.
Officials say that Sheriff Michelle Woodfork directed her team to prioritize the safety of the victim Williams allegedly attacked and to locate the defendant.
Williams was behind bars on charges including aggravated battery, simple battery, possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated assault with a firearm.
“Deputies were immediately deployed to both the victim’s residence and the defendant’s last known address. The victim advised deputies that she was safe and had not been contacted by the defendant. The defendant was not able to be located at his known address.”
The Sheriff’s Office says Williams may have left New Orleans.
“OPSO coordinated with regional law enforcement agency partners, including the US Marshals Fugitive Taskforce, to facilitate the defendant’s apprehension and safe return to custody to no avail. This coordination included OPSO deploying its own units for apprehension support.”
What is being done to prevent such errors in the future?
“While we know this incident resulted from a breakdown of systems, OPSO continues to fully investigate all the circumstances that contributed to this release. Precautionary measures have been put in place to ensure that an error of this nature does not happen again.”
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Dreion Williams is asked to contact CRIMESTOPPERS at 504-822-1111.
