2 people arrested, accused of assisting inmates who escaped Orleans Parish jail
Share this @internewscast.com

Two more people were arrested after authorities said they assisted some of the inmates who escaped an Orleans Parish jail Friday morning.

The Louisiana State Police revealed in a news release on Wednesday that Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38, have been arrested. Each faces a felony charge of accessory after the fact.

Harris was allegedly in contact via phone with an inmate before the escape, police said. The inmate remains on the run.

Harris is also accused of transporting two escapees to multiple locations in New Orleans. Those inmates have not been captured, the release states.

Baptiste is accused of maintaining contact with inmate Corey Boyd through phone and social media; Boyd was apprehended on Tuesday night. According to police, Baptiste supplied Boyd with food while he was hiding in a residence.

It’s not clear if Baptiste and Harris have obtained attorneys. They are being held at the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center.

These arrests follow the charges against Sterling Williams, a jail maintenance employee, who was implicated in facilitating the escape. Early last Friday, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center, and five remain at large.

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said Williams aided in the escape by cutting off the water so inmates could pull the toilet from the wall and flee through a hole.

A photo released by the sheriff’s office last week showed a hole in the wall behind the toilet with phrases such as “To Easy Lol” and “We Innocent” written above it.

An affidavit for an arrest warrant stated that Williams told authorities that an inmate threatened to shank him if he did not help. Initial information indicated the inmates used an “unknown apparatus to saw steel bars” behind the cell toilet, the affidavit said.

The inmates then bent the bars, fled to an outdoor, unsecured pipe walk area and scaled a jail wall, the document stated. The affidavit said that without Williams’ help, the plan would have failed.

Michael Kennedy, a lawyer for Williams, said the affidavit is a “mischaracterization” and his client turned the water off because the toilet in an unused handicapped cell was clogged, not because he was aiding in their escape.

“What he stated is that one of the inmates standing there did say something in passing about shanking him. He did not consider that a threat,” Kennedy said in a phone call on Wednesday. “He’s worked in the jail for the past five years. Inmates say things. He took it as nothing more than that. So when he was interviewed, did he report that? Yes, because it is a fact. But it’s not a fact that led anywhere.”

Kennedy said it was a deputy who told Williams about the clogged toilet and instructed him to “look at it.” The deputy did not put in a work order for the clog, Kennedy said.

Williams learned of the escape on Friday morning at “the same time as the rest of us,” his attorney said, accusing officials of using his client as a “scapegoat.”

More than 200 law enforcement personnel are assisting in the search for the remaining escapees, officials said. The reward for information leading to the capture of each man has grown to $20,000.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Truckers Face 40% Decline in Baja-California Deliveries by End of 2025: Economic and Supply Chain Implications

In a challenging year for the trucking industry in the San Diego-Tijuana…

UPS and FedEx Ground Operations Halted Following Tragic Kentucky Plane Crash: What It Means for Your Deliveries

In light of this week’s tragic incident in Louisville, Kentucky, resulting in…

Trump Reportedly Eyes Naming Rights for New Commanders Stadium

According to a report released on Saturday, President Trump is actively advocating…

Heartfelt Candlelight Vigil Unites Community in Tribute to Ybor City Crash Victims

A touching candlelight vigil took place Saturday evening on East Seventh Avenue…

Discover the Thrill of Orlando’s Lake Nona Veterans Day Parade: A Must-See Event for 2023

ORLANDO, Fla. – This year marked the 26th anniversary of the City…

US Government Shutdown Halts Pay for Overseas Base Workers: What You Need to Know

In the heart of Europe, far from the political corridors of Washington,…

Swainsboro Resident Faces Felony Charges for Child Molestation and Burglary

WRIGHTSVILLE, Ga. () – Melvin “Shotgun” Holder, aged 57 and a resident…

Captivating Images: Celebrate Veterans Day with Parades Across the Region

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — On Saturday, several communities across the region…

TDEC Allocates Funding for Outdoor Recreation Initiatives in Northeast Tennessee

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — In a significant boost for outdoor recreation in…

Unraveling the Mystery: Florida’s Enigmatic Fireball Captivates Skywatchers

ORLANDO, Fla. – Residents of Central Florida had an unexpected start to…

Budzinski Discusses SNAP Impact with Champaign Food Aid Nonprofit

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — Following a series of legal exchanges involving the…

Transform Your Kitchen: Savannah Mayor Teams Up with Students for a Vibrant Healthy Cooking Experience

SAVANNAH, Ga. — In an engaging effort to promote healthy living, Mayor…