Two women have been arrested for allegedly helping inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in a daring jailbreak last week, Louisiana State Police said on Wednesday.
Courtnie Harris, 32, from New Orleans, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, from Slidell, are both accused of acting as accessories after the fact to the escape that took place in the early hours of May 16. The pair were booked into the Plaquemines Parish Detention Centre following their arrests.
According to investigators, Harris was in phone contact with one of the five escapees still at large and is accused of driving two of them to several places around New Orleans. Though police did not name the inmate she assisted, a law enforcement source told Fox 8 that Harris was helping Leo Tate.
Meanwhile, Baptiste was allegedly supporting escapee Corey Boyd, who was caught on Tuesday night in the 1400 block of Iberville Street. Officials say she kept in touch with Boyd through phone calls and social media, and even brought him food while he was hiding.
“Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable,” Louisiana State Police said in a statement. “Harbouring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated.”
If convicted, both women face up to five years in a state prison.
Movies like prison break
The breakout has raised serious questions about conditions at the jail. Around 1 am on May 16, ten inmates escaped through a hole behind a toilet. The gap was just wide enough to crawl through. On the wall above it, graffiti taunted staff with messages like “To Easy LOL” and “Catch us when you can”, along with a cartoon face sticking its tongue out.
Jail staff only realised the prisoners were missing during an 8:30 a.m. headcount. Surveillance footage later showed the men slipping out a door near a loading dock, scaling a wall, and crossing Interstate 10. They had swapped their orange jumpsuits for civilian clothes to avoid detection.
Around five inmates have been recaptured, while five others remain on the run. Authorities have warned that the fugitives may be armed and dangerous, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Courtnie Harris, 32, from New Orleans, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, from Slidell, are both accused of acting as accessories after the fact to the escape that took place in the early hours of May 16. The pair were booked into the Plaquemines Parish Detention Centre following their arrests.
According to investigators, Harris was in phone contact with one of the five escapees still at large and is accused of driving two of them to several places around New Orleans. Though police did not name the inmate she assisted, a law enforcement source told Fox 8 that Harris was helping Leo Tate.
Meanwhile, Baptiste was allegedly supporting escapee Corey Boyd, who was caught on Tuesday night in the 1400 block of Iberville Street. Officials say she kept in touch with Boyd through phone calls and social media, and even brought him food while he was hiding.
“Those who choose to assist or conceal these individuals are violating the law and will be held accountable,” Louisiana State Police said in a statement. “Harbouring fugitives threatens the safety of our communities and will not be tolerated.”
If convicted, both women face up to five years in a state prison.
Movies like prison break
The breakout has raised serious questions about conditions at the jail. Around 1 am on May 16, ten inmates escaped through a hole behind a toilet. The gap was just wide enough to crawl through. On the wall above it, graffiti taunted staff with messages like “To Easy LOL” and “Catch us when you can”, along with a cartoon face sticking its tongue out.
Jail staff only realised the prisoners were missing during an 8:30 a.m. headcount. Surveillance footage later showed the men slipping out a door near a loading dock, scaling a wall, and crossing Interstate 10. They had swapped their orange jumpsuits for civilian clothes to avoid detection.
Around five inmates have been recaptured, while five others remain on the run. Authorities have warned that the fugitives may be armed and dangerous, and are urging anyone with information to come forward.
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