Inmate Breaks Out After Being Forgotten in Ystad Detention Center Bathroom

An inmate at the Ystad detention center was accidentally left locked in the bathroom of the visitor's section. This oversight resulted in the man breaking out with force. He attempted to call his mother afterward, but she seemingly did not answer.

One evening in early April, the detention center staff discovered that a detainee was not in his cell. Instead, they found him in an adjacent visitor's section, where he had been allowed to use the bathroom but was forgotten earlier in the evening, reports the news agency Siren.

According to the inmate, he spent about an hour in the bathroom before breaking out with force. He then roamed the section unsupervised for about ten minutes. Once free, he took the opportunity to make calls using one of the section's phones. The man managed to make five calls, one of which was to his mother.

According to the Swedish Prison and Probation Service's investigation, which reviewed the camera footage from the incident, it appears that none of the dialed numbers answered.

Technology Malfunctioned

The investigation suggests several reasons why the man was forgotten in the bathroom. It points to the increased occupancy within the Swedish Prison and Probation Service and notes that the signaling device in the bathroom did not function as intended. This issue has reportedly been addressed.

The report also mentions that the detainee was placed in an area not originally designed or adapted for housing inmates.

Staff also testified that there was a lot to do and that many regular staff members were absent.