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Halfway house resident reported escaped due to technical glitch

A man who was reported as an escapee of the Fort Dodge Residential Facility in March was reported absent due to a technical glitch, according to the Iowa Department of Corrections.

On March 26, Matthew Ray Patten, 39, was reported as an escapee when he apparently failed to report to work and a press release was sent out by the DOC.

According to Cord Overton, communications director for the Iowa Department of Corrections, the system used by Patton’s employer did not register Patton clocking in for his shift and his location was unknown by the employer at the time.

“Having believed this client had failed to report to work, the work release facility began the procedures of issuing a warrant for the presumed absconsion from supervision,” Overton said. “This triggered our notification of a work release escape, as required by Iowa Code.”

The error was discovered in the system by the employer later that day and Patten had been at work as required. DOC staff were notified and the escape report was canceled.

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