Inmates who escaped New Orleans jail had inside help, officials say

New surveillance footage from Orleans Parish jail captured the moment ten detainees broke free from custody early Friday, leading to a widespread search as authorities suspect the escapees received help from within. The footage, shared by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office on Facebook, depicts one detainee using force while another joins in before they flee into the night from the jail’s supply docks. Officials acknowledged security lapses that allowed the detainees to break out due to faulty locks and doors, despite the facility being locked down the previous night. The inmates tampered with a cell door around midnight and managed to escape undetected until a routine headcount the next morning. The sheriff’s office mentioned that the escapees may have had assistance from individuals inside the facility and highlighted infrastructure issues like defective locks and non-functional security cameras. Louisiana State Police announced a $5,000 reward for information leading to the capture of any escapees, emphasizing their commitment to bringing them to justice. While one of the 11 initially believed to have escaped was found inside the jail, Kendell Myles was apprehended, leaving nine at large. The Orleans Parish Justice Center remains on lockdown as the search for the escapees continues.