Washington state authorities are looking for a man who escaped jail by pretending to be his cellmate, who was scheduled for release
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- Washington state authorities are searching for an inmate who escaped on Monday.
- Officials say, Brian Francisco Roman, 26, pretended to be his cellmate, who was slated to be released.
- Roman is facing multiple charges including theft and second-degree escape, officials said.
Authorities in Washington state are attempting to locate an escaped inmate who assumed his cellmate's identity, as the cellmate was due for release.
The inmate, Brian Francisco Roman, 26, escaped from the Cowlitz County Jail on Monday, April 17, the Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office said.
At the time of the incident, Roman and two other inmates were apparently sleeping in their cell, and a corrections officer called for Roman's cellmate for his release.
Roman responded instead, posing as his cellmate, and managed to escape due to their similar physical features, the sheriff's office said. He is facing multiple charges including theft, forgery, first-degree criminal impersonation, and second-degree escape.
"During the release process, Roman received property belonging to the other inmate and signed paperwork by forging that inmate's name," the sheriff's office statement said. "Among the property turned over to Roman was the victim inmate's clothing, keys, and wallet, which contained identification and a debit card."
This isn't the first time local authorities faced an issue like this. Earlier this month, an inmate who was facing murder charges was accidentally released from a North Carolina jail due to a clerical error. He later turned himself back in.
In Virginia, two men escaped from prison in March by using a toothbrush and once freed, walked about seven miles to eat at an IHOP. Last year, a group of inmates also walked away from a minimum security facility in the state, prompting officials to scramble to find them.
Washington state authorities found out about Roman's escape when his cellmate asked the corrections officers about his release.
Roman is described to be wearing brown slippers, a black shirt, a blue sweatshirt, and gray sweatpants at the time of the escape. Authorities are asking the public to contact them with information about Roman's whereabouts.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.