New Orleans police, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and other local agencies are searching for a man who was mistakenly released from the Orleans Parish Jail.
According to the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Khalil Bryan was mistakenly released and is facing multiple violent charges.
OPSO said Bryan was incorrectly released due to a misidentification between two individuals with a similar last name.
The charges against Bryan include illegal possession of stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer.
He also has an active warrant from Criminal District Court Section H for aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse, child endangerment and home invasion. He was also being held as part of a warrant in Jefferson Parish.
All victims in the matter have been notified.
According to Hutson, an internal investigation has been launched.
Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson released the following statement:
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office takes full responsibility for the clerical error that led to the mistaken release of Khalil Bryan, and we offer our sincere apology to the public, our law enforcement partners, and the court. This incident was the result of human error: a misidentification based on a shared last name between two individuals. We are currently conducting a full internal investigation, and I can confirm that disciplinary actions will occur. Mr. Bryan is facing violent and non-violent charges, and we are coordinating closely with law enforcement agencies to ensure his swift return to custody. Most importantly, the victims in these matters have been notified. We are implementing safeguards to prevent this from happening again. Public safety remains our highest priority.”
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams issued the following statement:
“We have been made aware that inmate Khalil Bryan was wrongfully released from custody by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office earlier today due to a serious error in inmate processing.
Mr. Bryan was being held on a $100,000 bench warrant related to a failure to appear for arraignment in case 562-509 H, and an additional $25,000 bond tied to new felony charges. Despite those holds, Bryan was released in error when deputies, responding to a bond posted by an unrelated individual for another inmate, failed to properly verify identity and mistakenly discharged Bryan instead.
This is a deeply troubling incident that underscores the ongoing systemic issues surrounding the exercise of custody and control over detained individuals. The failure to properly confirm the identity of an inmate prior to release is an unacceptable lapse that presents a real and immediate risk to public safety.
OPDA Victim Advocates have initiated victim outreach, and will continue efforts until all victims and witnesses associated with Bryan’s prosecution are reached. Where we are unable to make contact, we are dispatching investigators to ensure the affected victims and their families are notified and receive appropriate support.
The public deserves a justice system that operates with integrity, professionalism, and vigilance – particularly when it comes to protecting victims.
We urge anyone with information about Khalil Bryan’s whereabouts to immediately contact law enforcement.”
This comes 10 weeks after 10 inmates escaped the Orleans Parish Jail on May 16.
Nine of those inmates have been recaptured and pleaded not guilty Wednesday.
Derrick Groves is the last inmate on the run.
READ MORE:OPSO mistakenly releases inmate from custody, search underway
