$20K Reward Offered For Info On LA County Inmate Mistakenly Released

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles County officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of an inmate mistakenly released while awaiting trial in a gang-related killing.

County supervisors approved the reward Tuesday as authorities searched for Steven Lawrence Wright. The 37-year-old was mistakenly released Saturday.

The Sheriff's Department says it found out about Wright's release Sunday night, more than 24 hours later.

Sheriff's officials say they immediately formed a task force dedicated to tracking him down. They also are conducting a review to prevent future accidental releases.

Wright had been behind bars since April 2011 following his arrest in the shooting death of a 47-year-old man that year. At the time, police say Wright belonged to the Altadena Block Crips.

It comes after three inmates escaped a jail last month in neighboring Orange County. They later were recaptured.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)