A retired FBI special agent has issued a warning following the escape of 10 inmates from a New Orleans jail, with five still on the loose, stressing that the situation “should get everyone’s attention.”
“This wasn’t a complex escape. They fled through a hole behind a toilet, and it took over seven hours for their absence to be noticed,” explained Jason Pack, a former FBI special agent, to Fox News Digital. “This reflects significant issues within the jail: insufficient staff, lack of oversight, and probably inadequate equipment and security inspections.”
On Tuesday, an Orleans Parish Jail maintenance worker was arrested and charged in connection with the escape.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced that Sterling Williams, 33, has been detained and charged with 10 counts related to facilitating escape and misconduct in office.
Louisiana State Police captured escaped inmate Gary C. Price. (X/@LAStatePolice)
Pack said what makes this case more unique than other prison breaks is the number of convicts that escaped at once.
“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,” Pack said. “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.”
Pack said the number one goal for law enforcement right now is getting the inmates “back into custody quickly and safely.”
“Some of them are facing serious charges, and when people are on the run, especially if they’re 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,” Pack said.
The five fugitives still on the run are Groves, Jermaine Donald, 42, Antoine Massey, 33, Leo Tate, 31, and Lenton Vanburen, 27.
Pack added that while it is unlikely any of the convicts fled the country, they would run into obstacles anywhere trying to run, as there are agencies nationwide and around the world assisting in locating them.
“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,” Pack said. “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 added that having no incidents reported since the inmates escaped has been a “miracle in itself.”
“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,” Pack said.
“Police don’t 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,” Pack continued. “That’s what officers train for. It’s not about chasing headlines. It’s about doing the job carefully and professionally, even when the public is watching.”
Fox News Digital’s Peter D’Abrosca, Michael Dorgan and Alex Koch contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com
