A late-night walkaway from the Monroe Correctional Complex has turned into a full-blown manhunt, as law enforcement and the Washington State Department of Corrections scour the Monroe area for an inmate who slipped out of the facility’s Minimum Security Unit.
Staff realized the person was gone during a formal count early Friday, triggering restricted movement inside the complex while officials combed through surveillance video. Nearby schools were notified and residents across Monroe have been warned to keep their distance and call authorities if they spot the individual.
What officials say
The Department of Corrections said the escape was reported around 10:53 p.m. Thursday, with staff discovering the inmate missing during a formal count at about 3:30 a.m. Friday. When last seen, the person was described as wearing state gray sweatpants, a khaki jacket and a black do-rag.
According to the department, the incarcerated person is serving a 27-month sentence for a domestic-violence court-order violation. Local law enforcement and DOC units are concentrating resources on tracking the escapee, and DOC plans to conduct a review once the person is back in custody, according to KIRO 7.
About the complex
Monroe Correctional Complex houses maximum, close, medium and minimum custody units and has a listed capacity of roughly 2,400 incarcerated individuals on the Department of Corrections’ facility page. The Minimum Security Unit, where the walkaway occurred, is part of that larger campus.
DOC uses the complex to manage a range of programs and visiting schedules, and the facility’s official page includes contact details and visiting information for family members and the public. See the Department of Corrections for more.
How to report a sighting
Officials are clear on one thing: do not try to play hero. Members of the public are urged not to approach the inmate if spotted and to call 911 immediately with any information.
The Department of Corrections has also provided a tip line at DOC headquarters, 360-480-2696, for anyone who may have information. Law enforcement is asking residents to report tips rather than intervening themselves, according to KIRO 7.
Legal consequences
Walking away from custody is not just a rule violation; it can mean fresh criminal charges on top of whatever someone is already serving. Under Washington law, escape in the first degree is a class B felony, and prosecutors may pursue separate escape charges once the person is recaptured. For the legal breakdown, see RCW 9A.76.110.
