Sheriff: Inmate Who Escaped From Black Hawk County Jail Posed as a Maintenance Worker

Jeremy Mask, 25, the last month, was able to pose, over an intercom, as building maintenance. A master control technician he talked to opened a first floor fire tower door for Mask as the inmate made his escape.

That information and other details of how Mask escaped were released today by the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, which conducted an internal investigation into the incident.

Mask was caught after an 18-hour manhunt and a nearly hour-long, high-speed chase.

"The following information is not provided to excuse any action or inaction on behalf of the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, but more to provide insight into the findings of the investigation and our initial responses to ensure that this occurrence does not happen in the future," the report said.

There were two separate contractors making security upgrades within the housing units of the jail on the day of the escape. An internal fire tower door was left open during this work, the report said.

The report said the housing unit officer was aware of the breach and allowed inmates into the dayroom of the housing unit anyway. Mask was then able to convince the technician, via the intercom, that he was associated with maintenance.

The report said several existing policies and procedures were also violated. Some employees have been dealt disciplinary action ranging from unpaid suspension, up to and including being fired, the report said.

Effective immediately, no inmate will be allowed out of their assigned cell when substantial security or maintenance work is being conducted in the housing unit, and at no time will the inmates be released from their individual cells when a security door is open during such work. Emergency exit procedures have been altered, and additional cameras are also being contemplated on all exterior doors of the facility.

"The rarity of such an occurrence must be punctuated and the unique circumstances merging together simultaneously cannot be understated," the report said. "However, the staff and administration of the Black Hawk County Jail accepts full responsibility for the breach and for the mitigation necessary to ensure no such event occurs in the future."