New Orleans Jail Escape: A Security Breach of Epic Proportions

A recent jail escape in New Orleans has left authorities scrambling to figure out what went wrong. The escape, which occurred at the Orleans Justice Center, involved 10 inmates who managed to slip through a hole in the wall of their cell. The inmates, many of whom were charged with or convicted of violent offenses such as murder, were able to escape by yanking open a faulty cell door, moving a toilet, and slithering through the hole. The wall even had graffiti that read “To Easy LoL,” with an arrow pointing to the gap.

The escape has raised serious concerns about the security of the jail, with officials pointing to multiple security lapses, including ineffective cell locks and the fact that the inmates were able to escape when the lone guard monitoring them went to get food. The absence of the inmates was not reported to law enforcement for hours, and four have since been apprehended, while six remain at large.

During a tense New Orleans City Council meeting, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, who oversees the jail, said she “takes full accountability” for the escape. Hutson acknowledged that there were procedural failures and missed notifications, but also intentional wrongdoings, stating that the escape was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside the agency who made the choice to break the law.

Hutson also responded to a question from council member Oliver Thomas, saying that she couldn’t guarantee inmates would not be left unattended again, noting that the jail is operating with 60% staffing capacity.

Arrested Staffer Describes His Involvement in the Escape

The inmates escaped by removing a sink-toilet combination unit from a cell, then cutting steel bars behind the cell room sink, according to Hutson. After bending the bars, they slipped out, although it’s unclear what they used to saw through the bars. Authorities believe that sheriff’s employees may have helped, and three have been suspended. On Tuesday, authorities made their first staff arrest.

Maintenance worker Sterling Williams, 33, admitted to law enforcement that one of the escapees “advised him to turn the water off in the cell” before the men slipped away through the hole in the wall. In an arrest affidavit, Williams said one of the inmates who escaped had threatened to “shank” him if he did not turn off the water. Another inmate tried to take Williams’ phone and attempted to get him to bring a book with cash app information.

Thomas said the sheriff’s office has a responsibility to protect employees from threats and create a safe environment for them to report problems such as a planned escape. “We cannot allow the inmates to run the facilities. That can’t happen,” Thomas said. “We cannot allow them to threaten the men and women who work there.”

Authorities say that by turning off the water, Williams “willfully and maliciously assisted with the escape.” If the inmates had removed the sink in the cell and disconnected the rest of the plumbing with the water still on, the plan to escape would not have been successful and potentially flooded the cell, drawing attention to their actions.

Williams is charged with 10 counts of principle to simple escape and malfeasance in office. The Associated Press was unable to immediately locate Williams’ attorney. It is unclear if Williams was among the three suspended employees.

Delays and Ongoing Security Concerns

Officials have pointed to other security lapses before, during, and after the jailbreak. On Tuesday, New Orleans officials grilled the sheriff’s office about why there was an hours-long delay in notifying law enforcement of the escape.

While a head count of inmates normally starts around 6:30 a.m. and takes less than an hour, sheriff’s officials said they were still verifying whether inmates had escaped more than two hours later. Jeworski “Jay” Mallet, the jail’s chief of corrections, said their inability to verify the escape led to the delay.

City and state police did not find out about the escape until around 10:30 a.m., more than nine hours later. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick told the council that she learned of the outbreak indirectly.

Local police should have been notified immediately because they have “exponentially vaster” resources to track down the inmates, council member J.P. Morrell said. “There were failures, failures in our personnel,” Hutson said.

A growing number of state and local officials have said blame for the escape rests squarely on Hutson. “As sheriff, I take fully accountability for this failure,” the sheriff told the New Orleans City Council on Tuesday. “Our community deserves answers and more importantly, it deserves action.”

Conclusion

The New Orleans jail escape has highlighted the need for improved security measures and increased staffing at the facility. The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of employees and the potential for future escapes. As the investigation continues, it is clear that there were multiple failures and lapses in security that contributed to the escape.

The community deserves answers and action, and it is the responsibility of the sheriff’s office to provide them. The escape is a wake-up call for the need for improved security and safety measures at the jail, and it is essential that steps are taken to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did the inmates escape from the Orleans Justice Center?

A: The inmates escaped by yanking open a faulty cell door, moving a toilet, and slithering through a hole in the wall.

Q: How many inmates escaped, and how many have been apprehended?

A: 10 inmates escaped, and four have since been apprehended, while six remain at large.

Q: What security lapses contributed to the escape?

A: Multiple security lapses contributed to the escape, including ineffective cell locks, the fact that the inmates were able to escape when the lone guard monitoring them went to get food, and delays in notifying law enforcement of the escape.

Q: Who has been arrested in connection with the escape?

A: Maintenance worker Sterling Williams, 33, has been arrested and charged with 10 counts of principle to simple escape and malfeasance in office.