Travis County authorities were still looking Tuesday for an inmate who fooled jailers into letting him go by posing as a cellmate. Although mug shots and fingerprints are taken when an arrest is made, that information is not available to officers at the time of release, said Sheriff Margo Frasier. Identities are verified when jailers ask for biographical information, such as telephone numbers, birth date and next of kin.
Officers also compare signatures by the prisoners at the time of arrest and release.
Officers realized their mistake when they found the real Smith in his cell about an hour later. Authorities consider Herring dangerous, Richards said. Herring was being held on parole violation charges from a five-year sentence for substance abuse, possession of a firearm and retaliation against officers. Authorities believed he was still in the Austin area Tuesday, Richards said. Richards said authorities are investigating where the breakdown occurred but would not say if a specific procedure was ignored during Herring's release.