Inmates escape from New Orleans prison; video captures their flight.

Surveillance footage from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans has revealed the dramatic escape of a group of inmates, shedding light on a serious breach in security at the facility. On Friday morning, during a routine headcount at approximately 8:30 a.m., authorities discovered that ten inmates were missing. Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson reported that the escape was made possible when the inmates forcibly removed a sliding cell door while the sole guard assigned to their pod was away securing food.

This bold escape unfolded just hours before the headcount. The inmates managed to breach their cell by detaching a toilet from the wall, creating a hole through which they made their getaway. Images released by the sheriff’s office depict the damaged bathroom, covered in graffiti that included taunts from the escapees.

The alarming escape was captured in multiple video clips, which show the group of inmates, dressed in their distinctive orange-and-white jumpsuits, energetically fleeing the detention center. Some footage shows one inmate stumbling as he rushed to evade capture, while carrying blankets, presumably to shield themselves from barbed wire as they scaled the prison fence. The surveillance cameras also recorded their mad dash across a loading dock and a nearby interstate highway.

As of Saturday afternoon, seven of the ten escapees had been apprehended, with notable arrests occurring in close proximity to the Justice Center. Kendell Myles, charged with second-degree murder, was located hiding beneath a vehicle in a parking garage in the French Quarter, approximately two miles from the facility. Other recaptured individuals include Robert Moody and Dkenan Dennis.

According to a statement from the Louisiana State Police, the apprehended inmates are now housed in a secure state facility, and the search for the remaining escapees is ongoing, involving multiple law enforcement agencies. The three individuals still at large include Corey Boyd, Lenton VanBuren Jr., Jermaine Donald, and Derrick Groves, all of whom face serious criminal charges.

Sheriff Hutson has indicated that the incident raises significant questions about the security measures in place at the Orleans Justice Center. It is widely suspected that assistance from jail staff or deputies may have facilitated the escape, and as a result, three employees have been placed on administrative leave as investigations progress. Local authorities continue to delve into how such a significant lapse in security could occur, underscoring the need for comprehensive reviews of safety protocols within the facility.

This unprecedented escape serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that can exist within correctional institutions, prompting a closer examination of administrative oversight and inmate management practices as authorities strive to maintain public safety.

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