By Bill Carey
Police1
PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. — A suspect charged with shooting three Kansas City, Kansas officers during a fentanyl bust in early April was inadvertently released from jail this week.
Jaeveon Marquice Mitchell-Locke was released on misdemeanor charges from the Platte County Jail on April 20, KMBC reported.
“It’s premature for me to say how it occurred or why it occurred, but we are going to look into it and take appropriate action to ensure it doesn’t happen again,” Platte County Sheriff’s Office Major Erik Holland told KMBC. “There are processes in place to prevent somebody that has outstanding warrants or holds from other agencies from being released.”
Mitchell-Locke was one of three people charged in the shootout with Kansas City, Kansas police officers earlier this month during an undercover fentanyl bust. Three officers were shot and seriously injured, while two additional officers were injured by flying metal fragments in the up-close shooting.
All three suspects face several felony charges, including aggravated assault against an officer, aggravated child endangerment and fentanyl distribution, according to the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office.
Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief Karl Oakman said his department is working with Platte County to find Mitchell-Locke.
“His release was unfortunate, but we are working with the Platte County Sheriff’s Office and US Marshals to locate and take Jaeveon Mitchell-Locke into custody,” he said. “He is a dangerous individual who needs to be taken off the streets.
“We will take appropriate action once we determine what occurred,” Holland said. “Our primary focus right now is locating Mr. Locke and getting him back into custody.”
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