Watch 2 New Orleans jail escapees be captured after leading police on high-speed chase
Two jail escapees, Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, remain at large.
Police bodycam footage shows the moment two New Orleans jail escapees were taken into custody after leading officers on a high-speed chase and dodging law enforcement for nearly two weeks.
Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate were arrested in Huntsville, Texas, on May 26 after leading law enforcement officers from various agencies on a high-speed chase throughout the city. Both men were charged with outstanding warrants for escaping the jail on May 16, but Donald also faces a charge of resisting an officer.
Donald’s original charges, for which he was in the New Orleans jail, were illegal carrying a weapon and second-degree murder. Tate’s original charge was obstruction of justice. Once apprehended, both men were taken to the Walker County Jail for processing, according to Huntsville police.
Huntsville police released the bodycam footage of the arrests on May 27 via Facebook, saying in the social media post, “This incident underscores the vital role of cooperation and communication among local, state, and federal agencies. Such collaboration is essential to safeguard not only our residents but all communities.” The department also said Donald was additionally charged with evading in a vehicle by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Watch Texas law enforcement apprehend New Orleans jail escapees
How many New Orleans jail escapees remain at large?
When the escapes happened on May 16, a total of 10 inmates fled the Orleans Parish jail. So far, eight have been caught, meaning only two are still on the run.
The search for escapees Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, is ongoing.
According to Orleans Parish court records, Masey is charged with domestic abuse involving strangulation and theft of a motor vehicle. There’s also a warrant for his arrest in St. Tammany Parish for second-degree rape, second-degree kidnapping, domestic abuse involving strangulation and violation of a protective order involving battery stemming from a November incident, the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office told Paste BN.
Groves was incarcerated after being convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in October in connection with a 2018 shooting during Mardi Gras. He had been awaiting sentencing on a manslaughter charge since October, court records show.
How did the inmates escape the New Orleans jail?
Authorities said the inmates pulled open faulty sliding cell doors, tore out a bathroom to create a hole in the jail, and then climbed a wall to escape. Three were recaptured by the end of the same day, while two more were caught a week later.
New Orleans authorities announced awards of up to $20,000 per inmate for information leading to the arrests of the escapees.
So far, at least 13 people have been arrested, including an inmate who did not flee, for collaborating with the escapees. Six arrests were announced on May 26, including that of Diamond White, 21, on charges that include principal to aggravated escape and obstruction of justice for helping Massey, according to Louisiana State Police spokesperson Sgt. Kate Stegall.
Other arrests announced May 26 included Lenika Vanburen, 28, Tyshanea Randolph, 27, Patricia Vanburen, 18, Angel McKay, 41, and Lenton Vanburen Sr., 48. All face charges of accessory after the fact, and are accused of aiding 26-year-old escapee, Lenton Vanburen. All were booked into the Plaquemines Parish jail, Stegall said.
A spokesperson for Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson’s office has not responded to requests for comment, but previously said she took “full accountability” for the breach.
Contributing: John Bacon, Michael Loria & Chris Kenning/Paste BN
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for Paste BN. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.