Maine jail frees wrong inmate named Ismail

[December 04, 2009]  PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Maine police are searching for a maximum-security inmate who was mistakenly released from the county jail.

The confusion occurred Wednesday at the Cumberland County jail when someone arrived to bail out 20-year-old Ismail Mohamed Awad, whose bail had been set at $240.

The Portland Press Herald reports that a correctional officer asked that "Ismail" be brought to the front. Officers brought forward 23-year-old Ahmed Hussein Ismail and released him. He had been charged with robbery and aggravated reckless conduct with a gun.

Sheriff Mark Dion couldn't explain why Ismail's yellow jumpsuit, worn to indicate a maximum-security prisoner, didn't alert officers that he shouldn't be released.

Police have been looking for Ismail since Wednesday. They say he should be considered dangerous.

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Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com/

[Associated Press]

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