New York City's top cop says the department is to blame for letting an accused robber get out of court scot free on Wednesday.
Freddie Thompson, who was to be arraigned on five robbery charges in Staten Island, perked up when an officer called the name of another prisoner facing a drug-related charge and said it was him. No one apparently checked to make sure Freddie was who he said he was, and the judge let him leave court on his own recognizance after the arraignment on the lesser drug possession charge.
Cops haven't seen him since.
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said the NYPD takes responsibility for the mishap.
"It appears the police officer didn't adequately check the of identification of the prisoner," Kelly said at City Hall, according to the Daily News.
The officer involved in the incident has been placed on modifed duty.
Thompson, 35, is 6-feet-3 and weighs 200 pounds with black hair and brown eyes, police say.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 577- TIPS.
