New Orleans Jailbreak: Five Inmates Still at Large After Mass Escape

New Orleans Jailbreak: Five Inmates Still at Large After Mass Escape New Orleans is grappling with the aftermath of a mass jailbreak that saw ten inmates escape from the Orleans Justice Center last week. A maintenance worker, Sterling Williams, has been arrested and charged with aiding the escape, facing eleven charges and a $1 million bond. According to Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson, the escape was a "coordinated effort" facilitated by individuals within the agency itself. "This was a coordinated effort aided by individuals inside our own agency," Sheriff Hutson stated in a press conference. The escape involved inmates ripping out a toilet to create an opening in the wall. While five inmates have been recaptured, five remain at large, prompting a massive manhunt involving hundreds of officers. The incident has exposed significant security flaws at the jail, with Sheriff Hutson requesting $13 million for upgrades to address outdated surveillance systems, aging locks, and staffing shortages. One security camera was not functioning the morning of the escape, and guards reportedly skipped required security checks. The incident has sparked outrage and calls for accountability from New Orleans city council members. The Sheriff has taken full responsibility for this failure and announced she is suspending her election campaign. The ongoing manhunt and the investigation into the systemic failures at the jail continue.