Inmate jumpsuit found outside Northern California Safeway prompts investigation

An orange prisoner jumpsuit found Friday near Safeway in Ukiah was likely released with a former state inmate as an oversight, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

Sgt. Noble Waidelich responded to Safeway in the 600 block of South State Street around noon May 10 after a woman walking her dogs spotted the orange shirt with the block letters CDCR (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation) Prisoner in the bushes and reported it to the UPD.

Waidelich said he found other items near the shirt, including paperwork, that identified the clothing as likely belonging to an inmate who was released from San Quentin State Prison earlier this week.

“And he likely took a bus to this area, because he has a probation officer in Lake County,” said Waidelich, explaining that the inmate’s probation officer confirmed the inmate was released this week. Waidelich said he was also hoping to talk to staff at San Quentin who were working at the time of the man’s release, but his call had not been returned Friday afternoon.

“My understanding is that inmates are checked before they are released to make sure they no longer have prison clothing on them, both because such items are technically state property, and because seeing them on the street like that can cause concern,” he said, adding that it appeared the former inmate discarded the jumpsuit and other items “he didn’t feel like carrying anymore.”

When asked if the inmate had checked in with his probation officer, Waidelich said to his knowledge he hadn’t yet, but likely should have. He added that he was not aware of any interactions between the UPD and the former inmate, nor of any outstanding warrants.