New Orleans residents say the sheriff “failed us” after the prison escaped.
Rakisha Catching, a New Orleans resident, lives near the location where one of the 10 prisoners was arrested. She says the sheriff could not protect the city.
Three of the 10 inmates who left the New Orleans facility in a prominent escape were recaptured in two different states, authorities said May 26.
Renton Vanbillen, Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald are the latest escapes arrested earlier this month after a brave jailbreak, Louisiana State Police announced on Facebook on May 26.
“The Louisiana State Police is proud of the strong partnership we share with our local, state and federal law enforcement partners,” state police said on Facebook. “This is a clear example of how collaboration and open communication between agencies can lead to success that can be successful!”
Vanbilen, 26, was found in Baton Rouge, Louisiana by the Baton Rouge Police Department, authorities said. The Texas Department of Public Safety arrested Tate, 31, and Donald, 42, in Walker County, Texas, in Louisiana officials.
Additional details regarding the arrest were not immediately released. The two escapees, Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, remained overall.
The trio’s arrests take place over a week when 10 inmates were arrested from Orleans’ parish prison on May 16th. Authorities say the group opened the door to the wrong slippery cell, torn the bathroom and drilled a hole in the prison before climbing the wall to escape.
The group fled early in the morning, and the three were recaptured by the end of the same day. Two more were held down a week later.
Authorities have announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information that lead to arrests for the remaining escape.
Authorities initially suspected that other individuals had helped escape from prison. At least seven people were arrested, including fellow inmates.
Trevon Williams, who failed to escape from New Orleans prison, was charged with 10 counts, the principal of a simple escape, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Maril announced on May 23.
Weber was one of four people questioned by investigators as “examine surveillance footage and connect important points during the search.”
“As we promised when we launched our investigation, we will be responsible for everyone who contributed every role to the New Orleans prison break,” Maril said.
Others arrested in connection with the prison escape include prison maintenance workers, Sterling Williams, Casey Smith, Connie Weeden, Colny Harris and Colvantey Baptist. Weber, 28, Smith, 30, 59, Harris, 32, Baptist, 28, has been accused of getting in touch with and helping out the escape.
Smith, Weeden, Harris and Baptist are women.
Sterling Williams, 33, is accused of being a principal of simple escape and misconduct during his tenure. Maryle said Sterling Williams complied with requests from one of the prisoners, blocking water on his phone, allowing the escape to rip off the toilet and sinking units and climb holes in the wall that were created.
Michael Kennedy, a lawyer for Sterling Williams, told USA Today that his client had no idea that the man was planning to escape, claiming that inmates blocked the toilet and shut the water.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams told USA Today that the escape looked like an “internal job” and he was worried about the safety of his staff.
Jason Williams said he was particularly concerned about two colleagues who attempted two murders against Groves, one of the remaining two massive escapes.
According to Jason Williams, the two colleagues left the state for safety. He wouldn’t say if his office had received a reliable threat.
“They’re young. They have a family,” Jason Williams added. “They don’t deserve to be in a situation.”
Jason Williams also said some victims and witnesses in the incident against the escapees would “want to move.” He is worried about the dangers he has since escaped.
Servants St. St. and Chriskenning, US Todie
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
