A Hays County Jail inmate is on the run after deputies say he walked right out of custody by pretending to be another man with the same first name who was scheduled for release. The Hays County Sheriff's Office has identified the escapee as 21-year-old Xavier Isiah Gutierrez, who they say left custody on July 19 by posing as the other inmate. Gutierrez is now wanted on an escape warrant while investigators try to sort out how the mix-up happened.
How deputies say he pulled it off
The sheriff's office says Gutierrez assumed the identity of an inmate due to be released and then walked out of the San Marcos facility on July 19, according to KEYE/CBS Austin. Staff realized something was wrong only after the scheduled release window closed and a discrepancy popped up in the records, officials say.
Where he was being held
Gutierrez was being held at the Hays County Jail in San Marcos. The county's Corrections Bureau maintains public information about the facility and its release procedures. The Hays County Corrections Bureau page lists contact details and records lines for anyone needing official information about the jail.
Charges and the warrant
According to the sheriff's office, Gutierrez was in custody on a motion to adjudicate guilt in a Brazoria County felony theft case and on an evading-arrest warrant issued by the Pearland Police Department. Hays County has now added a third-degree felony warrant charging him with escape, the agency told KEYE/CBS Austin. Deputies describe Gutierrez as about 6 feet tall and 240 pounds with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mike Bishop at [email protected], call Hays County dispatch at 512-393-7896, or submit an anonymous tip through P3tips.
What officials say they'll do next
The sheriff's office says a formal investigation is underway to determine exactly how the release happened and that jail release procedures will be reviewed to prevent it from happening again. Deputies and partner agencies have been alerted and are following up on leads. Officials are urging the public not to approach Gutierrez if they see him and to contact law enforcement immediately instead.
Legal note
The escape allegation adds a fresh felony count to the charges Gutierrez already faces and will shape how agencies coordinate his arrest and transfer if he is found. Hays County authorities say they plan to release additional information as the investigation moves forward.
