North Carolina Inmate Recaptured After Accidental Release From Buncombe County Jail, Sheriff Calls It “Institutional Failure”
ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA — An inmate mistakenly released from the Buncombe County Detention Facility earlier this week has been captured, according to the sheriff’s office, which is now calling the incident a “serious institutional failure.”
Mistaken Release Leads to Urgent Search
Authorities said Joseph Shustek, who had been convicted of assaulting a woman on September 11, 2024, and assault with a deadly weapon on September 18, 2025, was accidentally released from custody on Thursday, October 2.
The Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office immediately launched a countywide search for Shustek after realizing the error.
By Friday, deputies confirmed Shustek had been located and taken back into custody without further incident.
Sheriff Issues Public Apology
In a strongly worded statement, the sheriff’s office expressed deep regret over the mistaken release, emphasizing that procedures designed to prevent such errors had failed.
“On behalf of the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office, we want to extend our sincerest and most profound apology for the erroneous release of inmate Joseph Shustek,” the statement read. “This was a serious institutional failure, and we take full responsibility for this procedural error.”
Officials acknowledged the mistake caused “fear and distress for the community, and particularly for the victim(s) of this individual.”
The sheriff’s office said every available resource was dedicated to ensuring Shustek’s capture and that the victim’s safety was prioritized during the search.
Procedural Review Underway
Authorities confirmed that an internal investigation is now underway to determine exactly how the release occurred and why jail protocols failed to flag the error before Shustek was discharged.
“The systems in place to prevent such an event failed, and for that, we are truly sorry,” the statement continued. “We are implementing immediate changes to ensure it never happens again.”
The sheriff’s office also thanked the District Attorney’s Office for promptly notifying officials of the mistake and assisting with communication to victims.
Public Reassurance
Residents expressed concern following the incident, but officials have confirmed that Shustek is securely back in custody and that enhanced verification procedures are now being put in place at the detention center.
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