Inmate escaped as he awaited transfer from Hennepin County jail

Billy Mason, 46, was still at large Monday night after escaping custody on Sunday afternoon.

The Minnesota Star Tribune
February 4, 2025 at 2:43AM
Inmate Billy Mason escaped from jail as he awaited transfer Sunday.

Minnesota authorities are searching for a missing inmate who escaped the Hennepin County jail Sunday.

According to a statement provided Monday by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Billy Mason, 46, fled on foot through an open security garage door of the Minneapolis jail as he was being prepared to be transported with other prisoners a little before 2 p.m. Sunday. Mason was handcuffed with a waistbelt at the time.

Mason had been conditionally released on a Hennepin County warrant but was being transferred for a warrant out of Ramsey County, the Sheriff’s Office said. It was not immediately clear Monday night what charges Mason faces.

Mason is 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 249 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes at the time of his escape. Mason is listed with no permanent address.

“The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office is utilizing all available resources including law enforcement partners to locate Mason. ... Our detectives are investigating all leads, and we are also seeking the public’s help,” the Sheriff’s Office said in its release.

Anyone with information related to Mason’s whereabouts is instructed to call 911.

about the writer

about the writer

Nicole Norfleet

Retail Reporter

Nicole Norfleet covers the fast-paced retail scene including industry giants Target and Best Buy. She previously covered commercial real estate and professional services.

See Moreicon

More from Minneapolis

See More
card image
Leila Navidi/The Minnesota Star Tribune

The proposal comes two years after a salary survey found the mayor’s salary lags behind other mayors, including St. Paul’s.

card image
FILE - This Tuesday, July 28, 2020, file photo shows the icon for the Tinder dating app on a device in New York. The use of dating apps in the last 18 months of the pandemic has surged around the globe. Tinder reported 2020 as its busiest year. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)