Lakewood Police Give Unauthorized Release, Then Re-Arrest Suspect

LAKEWOOD, OH — Lakewood police are investigating why a person in custody was given an unauthorized released in September. The man was taken back into custody shortly after he was given his freedom, according to Lakewood's police chief.

Christopher Krost was in Lakewood police custody on petty theft charges on September 6. He was taken to a hospital for psychiatric treatment, according to Lakewood Police Chief Tim Malley. However, when his treatment was completed on September 30, he was given an unauthorized release.

"Once he was ready to be released from the hospital after treatment there was some miscommunication resulting in his release. Once we found out he was released he was arrested the next morning and sentenced by the court for his 2018 petty theft conviction," Malley told Patch in an email.

Judge Patrick Carroll questioned Krost's release in an email chain between city officials. He said proper procedure would see a prisoner taken to a hospital, with a Lakewood police officer remaining with the prisoner throughout treatment. After treatment was completed, the prisoner would then be released back into the custody of the officer.

On October 8, Carroll said Krost remained on the Lakewood jail list, even though he was released by police despite being in custody on a court order. The judge said Krost's whereabouts were briefly unknown.

"The daily jail list submitted by the police to the court showed the defendant still in custody of the Lakewood Police for days after he had been released," Carroll said in an email to Mayor Mike Summers and Malley. Malley said Krost was taken into custody the day after his unauthorized release.

Carroll requested an investigation into the incident. Malley said the investigation has not been completed.