Communication breakdown: Accused killer set free due to jail screw up

Jackson County prosecutors and jail staff need to work on their communication skills. They just don’t talk like they used to, and when they don’t, an accused killer walks.

 KCTV 5 reports that Demetrius Harbour, a man accused of killing his girlfriend, was released from the Jackson County jail Monday evening due to miscommunication between prosecutors and jail staff. Harbour was set free after the jail received paperwork saying the prosecutor’s office had dismissed the case against Harbour. One problem: Prosecutors were refiling murder charges. So Harbour walked free around 7 p.m., which was a surprise to the sheriff’s deputy who dropped by the jail with the warrant on the new case. Whoops.

But don’t worry. KCTV 5 says Harbour is back in police custody.

Harbour had been locked up for since August 15, 2008. He was scheduled to go on trial this week but that’s not happening now.