A man facing a drug possession charge in Cowlitz County escaped from a Southwest Washington jail Monday after impersonating another inmate scheduled for release, according to the county sheriff’s office.
Brian Francisco Roman, 26, is now wanted on additional charges that include second-degree escape and first-degree criminal impersonation.
The escape unfolded after a corrections officer at the county jail in Longview went to fetch a man who was being released Monday. Three people were asleep in the cell when the officer approached. When the officer called for the man, Roman answered instead, the sheriff’s office said. Jail staff said the two men looked similar.
Roman then went with the officer to be processed for release. He took the belongings of his cellmate and signed paperwork in his name. He took his clothing, keys and wallet, including the other man’s ID and debit card, the sheriff’s office said.
Corrections workers did not realize they had released the wrong person until the other man asked when he would be released, the sheriff’s office said.
Brian F. Roman, 26, escaped from Cowlitz County Jail Monday.
Local law enforcement is still searching for Roman as of Tuesday.
He was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, gray sweatpants and brown slippers, the sheriff’s office said.
– Austin De Dios; adedios@oregonian.com; @austindedios; 503-319-9744