Jailbreak at New Orleans facility: 10 inmates managed to flee through a wall opening, leaving 7 still unaccounted for at large.
WILD CITY NEWS:
Ten Men Break Locks, Scale Walls: Escape from NOTORIOUS New Orleans Jail
Hellweek in the Big Easy saw the jaw-dropping jailbreak of ten men from the infamous Orleans Parish Jail, one of the most troubled lockups in Louisiana, causing a city-wide manhunt!
Seven of these jailbirds are still on the loose, having allegedly slipped out through a hole in the bathroom during a guard's food run. One of the escapes, Kendall Myles, a regular Houdini of the criminal justice system, was captured in the French Quarter. The remaining fugitives, including a murder suspect and a convicted second-degree murderer, continue to elude police.
The apparently unguarded getaway happened when the men yanked open a door and sawed through a section of plumbing behind a toilet. They scaled the facility's walls and ran for it, some even using smuggled blankets to avoid barbed wire. Stumbling upon daring escapees sprinting through the streets, some residents leaped into action, phoning in tips that helped nab two of the fugitives.
A photograph from police forces shows the minuscule escape hatch, complete with a message: "To Easy LoL." The Sheriff, Susan Hutson, declared the lapses in security were due to faulty locks, which she had warned about to officials numerous times, even as recently as this week. Speculation abounds that insiders aided the breakout, as the Sheriff claims it'd be "almost impossible" for the fugitives to escape without assistance.
Despite the breakout being discovered over seven hours after it occurred, the Sheriff insists no guard was present at the time of the crime. Instead, a civilian technician filled in, taking a break for a quick bite. Immediately following the escape, three employees were put on suspension, though it's unclear whether any of them are being accused of actively assisting in the breakout.
The people of New Orleans and their safety are now in a dangerous predicament, as authorities scour the city to bring all seven fugitives back to justice.
'An Exercise in Incompetence'
The massive overhaul of the Orleans Jail, intended to solve issues of security and conditions, failed spectacularly. News outlets, officials, and citizens alike are blasting the city's law enforcement for the debacle, criticizing them for an unacceptable multi-hour delay in alerting authorities and the public, putting lives at risk.
Times like these make it abundantly clear that something's rotten in the State of Louisiana. The entire system is failing, the consent decree and multiple attempts to improve conditions having proven utterly ineffective. The Sheriff's Office is "stretched thin," struggling to adequately staff the facility with about 60% of positions filled.
The Escapees: Who are They?
While specifics are scarce, authorities have shared some details about a couple of the escapees mentioned in the latest report:
- Derrick Groves: Convicted of two charges of second-degree murder, two charges of attempted murder, and battering a correctional facility employee during the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings. [1][3]
- Corey Boyd: Pending on a second-degree murder charge, having pleaded not guilty. [1][3]
The rest of the fugitives and their charges are unspecified at this point. A facial recognition system was used to track down one of the captives in the French Quarter, an innovative strategy in the city's fight against crime.
- The recent escape from the Orleans Parish Jail, referred to as one of the most troubled lockups in Louisiana, has sparked a city-wide manhunt for the seven fugitives yet to be recaptured.
- Technological advancements, such as facial recognition systems, are being employed in the law enforcement's efforts to apprehend these escapees, as demonstrated by the capture of one fugitive in the French Quarter.
- The state of California, particularly the city of Los Angeles, has been watching the events unfold in New Orleans with a critical eye, believing the city's failure to maintain infrastructure and ensure justice can serve as a cautionary tale for American politics and health-and-wellness.
- The environment in which these prisoners reside has been under scrutiny, with questions regarding the quality of infrastructure and the treatment of prisoners, which may have contributed to the audacious escape.
- The scientific community is also expressing concerns about the medical-conditions of the inmates, especially those with severe mental health issues, as they may have been exploited or vulnerable during the prison break.
- General news outlets and scholars are putting the spotlight on the crime-and-justice system in New Orleans, seeking answers to how such a high-profile escape could occur and what steps will be taken to prevent future incidents.
- The lack of infrastructure, security, and justice in the Orleans Parish Jail is causing a ripple effect, affecting not only the people of New Orleans but also the wider community, shedding light on the importance of proper investment in infrastructure and the pursuit of justice for the well-being of all citizens.
