Murder Suspect Mistakenly Released by LA County Sheriff's Department

Just days after three escaped Orange County jail inmates were recaptured, Los Angeles County sheriff’s officials announced Monday that it accidentally released one of its inmates who was awaiting trial in connection with a 2011 killing in Pasadena.

Steven Lawrence Wright, 37, was mistakenly released at 12:55 p.m. Saturday from the sheriff’s Inmate Reception Center, according to the sheriff’s department. Sheriff’s officials didn’t detect the error until about 9:30 p.m. Sunday.

It was not immediately clear what led to Wright’s erroneous release.

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Wright, of Altadena, was arrested April 7, 2011, as part of a gang sweep by Pasadena police. He is suspected in the Jan. 19, 2011, killing of Pasadena resident Donnell Taylor.

Wright was one of eight suspected gang members arrested in the sweep that resulted from an investigation into a series of shootings, including Taylor’s killing and an attempted murder in Altadena on March 15, 2011.

Sheriff’s officials said they are coordinating with Pasadena police in their search for Wright.

Anyone with information was asked to contact the sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at (562) 946-7231. Information can also be made to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477, or by texting the letters TIPLA plus the tip to CRIMES (274637) or at the website http://lacrimestoppers.org.

--City News Service, photo courtesy of the LASD