Officials: Attempted murder convict mistakenly released from jail

PONTIAC, Mich. -- A man in prison for attempted murder was mistakenly released from a suburban Detroit jail after appearing in court in a different case, officials said Thursday.

State and federal authorities were searching for Johnny Rodgers a day after he walked out of the Oakland County jail. He was supposed to be returned to the custody of the state Corrections Department to continue serving a minimum sentence of seven years for attempted murder and other crimes in Wayne County.

“We don’t know what the breakdown” was, Undersheriff Mike McCabe said. “He shouldn’t been released. The file says ‘MDOC retainer’ on it.”

McCabe said Rodgers had no money or cellphone and was believed to be in Detroit, wearing a white shirt, jeans and Timberland boots. WDIV-TV said Rodgers’ mother alerted authorities Wednesday night.

The 25-year-old has a tattoo on his right arm that says: “Live for everything die for nothing.” Another tattoo says, “Only the strong survive.”

McCabe said three to four hours passed before the Corrections Department was notified because the jail didn’t realize that Rodgers had been mistakenly released.

“I wouldn’t approach him. If people were to see him, I would definitely call 911,” Corrections Department spokesman Chris Gautz said.

Corrections officials say Rodgers should be considered armed and dangerous.  Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is urged to call 911 or contact the Michigan State Police tip line at 1-855-MICH-TIP.