() Television personality Duane “Dog” Chapman said Monday that the escape of 10 inmates from a New Orleans jail was “absolutely” an inside job involving correction officers, as authorities captured a fourth escapee while six others remain at large.
Chapman, known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” told ’s “On Balance” that prison escapes are “every time” inside jobs and suggested multiple guards were involved in Friday’s breakout.
“You know, I’ve chased a lot of these guys and caught a few, and every time it is an inside job,” Chapman said. “I’m sure it’s an inside job. And also, I think it’s more than just one guard.”
Gary C. Price, 21, was apprehended Monday and will be transported to a secure state facility outside the area, police said. Authorities are still searching for the remaining six escaped inmates.
The 10 inmates escaped in the early morning hours on Friday, reportedly by using a hole behind a toilet and scaling a fence. Authorities have blamed faulty locks on cell doors for the escape and said there is evidence the men had help from inside the facility.
Chapman criticized the jail’s security protocols, noting that guards should routinely check around toilets during cell searches because “all latrines, toilets lead in county jails lead that way.”
He also said the escapees likely stayed together under the leadership of the oldest member, who is in his 40s, rather than splitting up. Chapman said most of the escapees face gun-related charges and would likely try to obtain weapons first.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry blamed the escape on New Orleans’ criminal justice system, saying the city “handed the jail keys to those who vowed to keep criminals out of jail.”
Chapman agreed with the governor’s assessment, criticizing efforts to defund police and jails. “You need to pay the officers more. You need to give them more equipment. You need to fix the jails,” he said.
Jail employees did not know the men were missing until a headcount late Friday morning. Initially, 11 men were reported missing, but one was later located in a different cell.
