LASD Says Steven Manzo, Murder Suspect Mistakenly Released, Back In Custody
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Steven Manzo, a murder suspect who was mistakenly released from custody earlier this month, has been taken back into custody, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department confirmed Monday.
According to LASD, investigators observed Manzo in a gray Nissan Sentra in Buena Park. They followed Manzo to Cypress, where police conducted a high-risk traffic stop and took him into custody without incident.
Manzo, 24, was mistakenly released from Century Regional Detention Center in Lynwood on March 9, prompting a large-scale manhunt in downtown Los Angeles that forced the closure of the southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway.
According to authorities, Manzo was released the day after he was supposed to be arraigned on murder charges in connection with the killing of 24-year-old Salvador Corrales — a 24-year-old father of two.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office said Manzo was never transferred for that arraignment, leading the office to dismiss the case and immediately refile the same charges to delay the arraignment.
A judge ordered Manzo to remain in custody, though it was not immediately clear why that did not happen or why he was able to walk free.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said that it had not "erroneously released" Manzo, stating that the department had received an order for release.
The court said in a statement that it was reviewing the situation and would take "every necessary measure" to make sure it does not happen again.
Manzo was booked back into custody at the Long Beach Police Department where he was being held on $4,090,000 bail.
