In a recent incident that has raised eyebrows and sparked concern, a retired FBI special agent, Jason Pack, has voiced his alarm over the escape of ten inmates from a New Orleans jail, with five still on the loose.
Pack, in his conversation with Fox News Digital, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "This wasnt a complicated escape. Ten inmates got out through a hole behind a toilet. It took more than seven hours before anyone noticed they were gone."
Pack's comments underscore the glaring issues plaguing the jail, including understaffing, lack of oversight, and potentially inadequate security measures. He said, "That tells you a lot about whats going on inside that jail. Too few people on staff. Not enough oversight. And likely not enough working equipment or security checks."
According to Fox News, a maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Jail was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the escape. Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill revealed that Sterling Williams, 33, was charged with ten counts of principal to simple escape and malfeasance in office. Murrill stated, "Williams admitted to agents that one of the escapees advised him to turn the water off in the cell where the inmates escaped from. Instead of reporting the inmate, Williams turned the water off as directed, allowing the inmates to carry out their scheme to successfully escape."
Pack highlighted the inmates' strategic choice to involve a maintenance worker in their escape plan. He said, "If you think about it, maintenance people are not really looked after there. They're kind of low-key, and they have keys to doors. They have access to utilities and panels, so it was pretty smart to target him on the part of the criminals."
He also suggested that the escape was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but a well-thought-out plan. "Inmates are resourceful when it comes to things on the inside. It's not out of the realm of possibility that they hatched this plan over a few days or a few weeks," Pack said.
Pack further speculated that Williams' arrest might not be the last, hinting at the possibility of more arrests as other employees had been suspended. He said, "It seems like these inmates are going to exploit any crack in the system they can. And sometimes the cracks will lead to pressure whether waiting or not for folks who are in vulnerable positions. And that seemed to be what happened here, enough so that he (Williams) was able to turn the water off, they were able to pull the toilet out and escape through the corridor there and out the back door."
The retired FBI agent also pointed out the broader issue that allowed such an incident to occur. He said, "That jail had just 36 officers working with over 1,000 inmates. Thats not enough people to keep a place like that running safely. When staff are stretched that thin, its easy for things to slip through the cracks. Most jails around the country are dealing with similar problems low staffing, budget cuts and buildings that are falling apart."
Authorities revealed that the jail was operating at only 60% staffing, with four supervisors and 36 staff members overseeing 1,400 inmates at the time of the escape. Pack warned, "This escape isnt just a New Orleans problem. Its a warning sign for everyone. If your jail hasnt reviewed its security procedures, staffing levels or blind spots lately, nows the time. Nobody wants to be the next story on the news."
Of the ten escapees, five remain at large, with the fifth, Corey Boyd, recaptured on Tuesday in New Orleans. Boyd, who was originally jailed for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, aggravated battery, and threatening a public official, was briefly spotted last Friday hours after the jailbreak.
However, the most dangerous escapee, Derrick Groves, who was convicted of killing two men during Mardi Gras in New Orleans Ninth Ward in 2018, is still at large. He was in jail awaiting sentencing.
Pack noted the uniqueness of this case, given the number of convicts that escaped simultaneously. He said, "It's very unusual to have a 10-person manhunt in a prison escape like this. These don't happen regularly. And when they do, it just shows you the danger that folks can risk close to the community and why corrections officers are an important part of the law enforcement team. There is a nationwide shortage of correction officers around. They're low-paid and under-appreciated and it's a very difficult job dealing with inmates."
The primary objective for law enforcement now, according to Pack, is to recapture the inmates "quickly and safely." He warned, "Some of them are facing serious charges, and when people are on the run, especially if theyre scared, things can get dangerous fast. They might steal a car, break into a house, or hurt someone if they feel cornered. The longer this drags out, the more chance someone gets hurt."
The five fugitives still on the run are Groves, Jermaine Donald, 42, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 31, and Lenton Vanburen, 27. Pack believes that while it is unlikely any of the convicts fled the country, they would face challenges anywhere they tried to hide, as agencies nationwide and around the world are assisting in their capture.
He said, "You can't outrun the feds, and you can't outrun the FBI or the Marshals Service, because they have offices around the country and indeed, around the world. So even if they do happen to make it to another country I'm not suggesting that that's what's happened yet but if they had to do that, the FBI and the Marshals and federal law enforcement have liaisons in other countries that are able to step in and help them even though they don't have jurisdiction there. So you can run, you can hide, but you can't hide forever. And just because this case may lose traction in the media, it's not going to lose traction with law enforcement."
Pack also expressed relief that no incidents have been reported since the inmates escaped, calling it a "miracle in itself." He said, "The fugitives get desperate out there and so when they feel the pressure, and they're feeling the heat, sometimes they act in desperation. So hopefully they'll continue not to. It's possible and likely that they have people on the outside that are helping them hide out in these matters."
He concluded by emphasizing the goal of law enforcement, stating, "Police dont want this to end with anyone getting injured, including the escapees. The goal is to find them, surround them, and bring them in without any drama. Thats what officers train for. Its not about chasing headlines. Its about doing the job carefully and professionally, even when the public is watching."
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