An employee of the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has been arrested in connection with the dramatic escape of 10 inmates from the Orleans Justice Center, the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office confirmed Tuesday.
Sheriff Susan Hutson has publicly stated that she believes the escape was an inside job. Last week, she announced the suspension of three employees as part of an ongoing investigation. “It’s almost impossible, not completely, but almost impossible for anybody to get out of this facility without help,” Hutson said of the jail, which houses roughly 1,400 inmates.
The inmates fled through a hole in a wall behind a toilet during the early hours of Friday morning. At the time, the sole guard monitoring them had left the area to get food. However, that guard is not the individual arrested, according to Attorney General’s Office spokesperson Lester Duhe, who confirmed the arrest via text to the Associated Press but did not release the name or possible charges.
According to the sheriff’s office, at least one of the metal bars shielding the plumbing appeared to have been deliberately cut with a tool. After escaping, the inmates changed out of their uniforms and into civilian clothes. Authorities did not realize they were missing for several hours. Of the 10 escapees—many charged or convicted of violent crimes including murder—four have been recaptured, while six remain at large.
In the aftermath, Hutson has highlighted systemic issues like broken locks and staffing shortages. However, criticism from state and local officials is mounting, with many arguing that ultimate responsibility lies with her office for failing to maintain adequate security.
The New Orleans City Council is expected to address the jailbreak in a meeting with the sheriff’s office and other law enforcement officials on Tuesday.
This is developing news and will be updated as more information is available.
This article contains reporting by The Associated Press.
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