Report: Summerville woman released from jail after impersonating cellmate

BERKELEY COUNTY, SC (WCSC) - Authorities say a Summerville woman was released from jail after she impersonated her cellmate.

The Berkeley County Sheriff's Office says the incident happened last Friday when 31-year-old Jessica Davis of Summerville was in bond court and represented herself as 25-year-old Chanda Davis of North Carolina.

After the judge granted the PR bond, Jessica Davis was taken back to the Hill-Finklea Detention Center and again put into the holding cell with the real Chanda Davis, BCSO officials say.

"About two hours later, detention deputies called for Chanda Davis to release her based upon the PR bond. At that time, Jessica Davis stood up and again represented herself as Chanda Davis," authorities said.

According to BCSO officials, the detention deputy did not validate the physical descriptors or other pedigree information before releasing Jessica Davis.

"This is a violation of Hill-Finklea Detention Center Policy, and an investigation is ongoing in order to clarify what happened and why," BCSO officials said.

Jessica Davis was apprehended at 3 p.m. on Monday.

"At no time were members of the public in harm's way. Jessica Davis' original charges were shoplifting and trespassing, with a hold for the Summerville Police Department for additional shoplifting related charges," BCSO officials said.

Sheriff Duane Lewis stated, "The detention deputies made a mistake, and we will investigate it thoroughly and put in control measures to make sure that it does not happen again."

Officials say the two women are not related.

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