Horry County jailers conducting internal investigation following inmate escape.

Officials are conducting an internal investigation to determine why proper procedure wasn’t followed and an Horry County inmate was able to escape the J. Reuben Long Detention Center on Monday.

Detention center director Tom Fox said the U.S. Marshal’s Fugitive Task Force is working to re-apprehend 37-year-old Charles Dwight Ransom, who has now been on the lam for five days.

“All indications are is that he’s left the county,” Fox said.

He also said that two jail officers have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation as to how Ransom was able to trade armbands with another prisoner who had made bail on Monday afternoon, and then leave the detention center a free man.

“It was basically some officer error,” Fox said.

The detention center has biometric systems -- devices that include fingerprint identification and retina scans -- in place to get positive IDs from prisoner before being released, Fox said. He added that procedural changes aren’t expected, but the investigation is to examine why those checks and balances weren’t followed.

Inmate Nathaniel Mack Martinez’s bail was paid Monday afternoon. He then passed his armband ID to Ransom.

When an employee went to escort Martinez to booking for release, Ransom responded instead and was taken to the release area where he was processed out, according to information from Lisa Bourcier, Horry County spokeswoman..

Both Ransom and Martinez were arrested together on Nov. 17 on drug charges.

Martinez was charged with a criminal count of aiding and abetting an escape after Monday’s incident.

“If he’d done the right thing, he’d have been out of jail,” Fox said.

Ransom is described as being 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing 200 pounds. He has a shaved head and a moustache and goatee.

The inmate should be considered dangerous and not approached by the public. If Ransom is seen, the public should call 911 or the detention center at 905-5140. A reward is being offered for his successful capture.