Contra Costa jail officials released a murder suspect with active warrant. Now authorities have to find him again

MARTINEZ — Federal and local authorities have launched a manhunt after a man who was awaiting extradition to Seattle for a pending murder charge was released from jail, under circumstances that the Contra Costa Sheriff’s office says remain under investigation.

The search for 20-year-old Isaiah Jamon Andrews, of Kent, Wash. began sometime after Oct. 22, when authorities released him from the Martinez Detention Facility, sheriff’s office spokesperson Jimmy Lee said in a statement.

The office did not announce Andrews had been released until Monday afternoon, hours after this and other news organizations learned of the incident and reached out to Lee for comment.

Andrews was arrested Oct. 18, following a police chase in Antioch. Officers discovered he had a pending arrest warrant for allegedly killing a 20-year-old man in Seattle three days earlier, authorities said. He was expected to be extradited back to Washington.

Andrews also had a juvenile warrant out of Sacramento, Lee said.

Sheriff’s deputies searched the area around the jail after they “realized” Andrews had been released, and soon determined he wasn’t there anymore. The U.S. Marshals Service, the sheriff’s office and other local police agencies were searching for Andrews on Monday.

Seattle police declined to comment on the matter, referring all questions back to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office. The victim in that killing has not been publicly identified.

Authorities asked anyone who knows where Andrews may be or who may see him to contact 911 or the sheriff’s office at 925-646-2441. Anonymous tips can be emailed to tips@so.cccounty.us or by left by calling 866-846-3592.