Pasadena Chief of Police Phillip Sanchez issued a statement alerting the public to the mistaken release of 37 year-old Steven Lawrence Wright by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) from the Inmate Reception Center on Saturday, January 30 at approximately 12:55 p.m.
“Inmate Wright was arrested by Pasadena Police Department on April 7, 2011. He was in our custody pending trial for a gang-related murder that occurred in the city of Pasadena on January 19, 2011,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez reported that the Sheriff’s Department became aware of the release at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 31, and immediately started to coordinate resources with Pasadena Police Department to quickly locate and take Inmate Wright back into custody.
Numerous resources, including a task force with LASD’s Major Crimes Bureau, has been implemented to gather and analyze information and investigate any tips leading to the apprehension of Inmate Wright, Sanchez said.
“With all erroneous releases we will conduct a critical incident review to make necessary improvements to the system,” a Sheriff’s Department spokesperson is quoted as saying.
If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Inmate Wright, you are urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7231. If you prefer to provide information anonymously, you may call “Crime Stoppers” by dialing (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or by using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.