Escaped Galveston County Jail inmate apprehended by police

GALVESTON, Texas – Alex Washington, 38, used trickery to escape from the Galveston County Jail, but the Galveston Sheriff's Department eventually apprehended him Sunday night around 8 p.m. in Bolivar Peninsula.

Police say Washington traded armbands with another inmate and was released on bail around 11:20 p.m. Saturday.

Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset says it was the most creative escape he's seen in 33 years.

Someone on the outside paid a $100,000 bail so the other inmate to be released, but it was Washington who walked out of the jail.

"The individual who is in jail that was supposedly bonded out is in jail on an identity theft charge and had a $100,000 bond," Tochesset said. 

The bondsman interviewed Washington under the other inmate's name, and didn't notice. Police didn't realize the mistake was made until about an hour after Washington was released.

Washington was arrested in August for allegedly robbing the Patriot Bank in Friendswood. He was jailed for federal bank robbery and gun possession charges in November and held without bond.

The U.S Marshals, Galveston County Sheriff's and the FBI are currently searching for Washington.

Two people are in custody for allegedly helping Washington escape. No details were released on their relationship to Washington. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers.