Search continues for escaped ACI inmate

CRANSTON, R.I. (WPRI) - A 20-year-old inmate mistakenly released from the Adult Correctional Institute in Cranston was still at large Thursday, State police said.

Nayquan Gadson was able to escape around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

According to A.T. Wall, director of the Department of Corrections , Gadson was able to successfully portray himself as another inmate who was being released on bail.

"They do bear a resemblance," Wall said of the two inmates. "Thee are a number of questions that we pose as part of the process and he was able to answer all of them. And so at the time he walked out the door, we thought it was the inmate who was supposed to be out on bail."

Wall said the ACI is working with the Rhode Island State Police and local law enforcement agencies to try and locate Gadson.

Wall declined to say if Gadson had ties to a specific community, because he said he did not want to jeopardize the search.

Gadson - who is the first inmate to escape in nearly 12 years - was awaiting trial at the Intake Service Center for charges of possession of a fire arm while committing an act of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, driving on a suspended license and eluding police. Earlier this year, Gadson spent time at the ACI on a first-degree robbery charge.

A.T. Wall tells Eyewitness News he has already ordered a top-to-bottom investigation and audit into release procedures to assure an incident like this does not happen again.

"We understand we have an obligation to the public, that we're expected to provide security and safety. We take that obligation very seriously," Wall said.

Anyone with information on Gadson's whereabouts is asked to call the Rhode Island State Police.

Wall said the prisoner who was supposed to be released remains in custody pending an investigation.