Police Arrest Murder Suspect After Mistakenly Releasing Him

A paperwork error let Watson J. Ward, 22, walk out of a Detroit police station the same day he was scheduled to be arraigned on charges of first-degree murder and assault with intent to murder.

Police became aware of the mistake less than an hour after his release.

Two days later, Ward was found hiding in a crawl space in a residence after police received an anonymous tip as to his whereabouts.

Police first arrested Ward in the death of Michael Lloyd, 23, and the wounding of a 20-year-old man. Police say Ward Shot Lloyd, whom he knew, in the back of the head as they sat in a car. The wounded man was released from the hospital the next day.

The Detroit Police Department is investigating what led to Ward’s accidental release.