Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana – In a surprising turn of events, Department of Corrections inmate Xavier L. Johnwell, 31, from Lake Charles, Louisiana, was inadvertently released from custody after a court appearance at the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Following the accidental release, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office swiftly launched an investigation and began actively searching for Johnwell.
After nearly two weeks of pursuit, on June 26 at approximately 1:30 p.m., Johnwell was finally located outside an apartment complex in Lansing, Michigan. Law enforcement officers from the Western Michigan District United States Marshal’s Violent Offenders Task Force, including the Michigan State Police, Michigan Department of Corrections, and the Ingham County Sheriff’s Office, successfully took Johnwell into custody. He will be booked into the Ingham County Jail in Mason, Michigan and is set to be transported back to Calcasieu Parish to face the consequences of his accidental release.
Calcasieu Parish Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory expressed gratitude for the dedicated efforts of the deputies and the collaborative work with other law enforcement agencies that led to Johnwell’s apprehension. Guillory stated, “We are conducting a thorough review of the release to understand how this error occurred. Additional training and a review of procedures are being conducted to ensure no such error occurs in the future. Our commitment to public safety and transparency remains unchanged, and CPSO will continue to strive for the highest standards of accountability.”
It was revealed that Johnwell was serving time for charges related to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal carrying of weapons, 2nd offense.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.