INDIANAPOLIS — The Marion County Sheriff's Office released 2 hours worth of video that showed what happened after a murder suspect was mistakenly released due to a clerical error.
In September, there was a multi-state manhunt after Kevin Mason was released. He was captured two weeks later.
The newly released video acquired by 13News shows Mason in the release lobby for about 20 minutes. The video shows him walking out wearing a white T-shirt. You can see him making a phone call. Court documents say he called his girlfriend, Desiree Oliver, at 11:45 a.m. on Sept. 13.
The video showed Mason waiting for several minutes. An outside camera then shows him walking out of the Community Justice Campus. Mason is seen walking out of the camera’s view, and then, a silver car drives past.
Court documents say during the phone call, Oliver said, “They let you out?” with surprise in her voice. She now faces charges for providing transportation to Mason.
Mason was supposed to be held on warrants out of Minnesota — including one for a fatal shooting. The sheriff's office waited six days before notifying the public a murder suspect was on the loose, reportedly to maintain a search advantage.
Mason was captured two weeks later in Minnesota.
The fallout resulted in two deputies being fired.
13News acquired a memorandum showing Jail Commander Tanesha Crear was also asked to step down. In the memo, she says Sheriff Kerry Forestal asked her to submit a request for a reduction in rank. She writes in the four years she held the position, “this task has been daunting and never adequately supported.”
She also writes, "We've experienced foreseen and forewarned tragic events due to my unanswered continuous warnings, pleas for sufficient staffing and adequate pay."
In July, Deputy John Durm was killed during an attack by an inmate he was transporting.