New Orleans Sheriff Suspends Reelection Campaign Amid Jailbreak Fallout
The move follows a jailbreak last week in which 10 inmates escaped from the jail under her supervision—five of whom remain at large.
“I am temporarily suspending my re-election campaign.
The announcement comes as pressure mounts on Hutson’s office over the high-profile escape. While five inmates have been recaptured—including one on Tuesday—five others are still missing. On Wednesday, Louisiana State Police reported that two individuals had been arrested for allegedly aiding the escapees.
Hutson did not say when or if she plans to resume her campaign. The sheriff’s primary election is scheduled for early October.
Sheriff Faces Tough Questions as Investigation into Jail Escape Deepens
Sheriff Susan Hutson’s decision to suspend her reelection campaign came just hours after a tense New Orleans City Council meeting Tuesday, where she was pressed for answers about the recent jailbreak at the Orleans Justice Center.
Taking full responsibility, Hutson told the council, “I take full accountability for this failure.” However, she also pointed to the alleged role of some jail staff in the escape, suggesting it was more than just procedural lapses.
For nearly three hours, city council members grilled Hutson and her staff over what they described as disorganized and delayed communication with other law enforcement agencies in the crucial hours following the escape. Hutson and her aides acknowledged that some notifications to partner agencies were, in fact, missed.
She cited outdated surveillance systems, aging infrastructure, blind spots in supervision, and persistent staffing shortages—all of which, she said, had been flagged in previous funding requests.
In response to the escape, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections is sending at least 10 experienced auditors to the Orleans Justice Center this week. The audit will focus on jail operations, including security protocols, staffing levels, and internal policies and procedures, according to department Secretary Gary Westcott.
The facility hasn’t undergone a full audit by the state since 2014.
Meanwhile, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill visited the jail Wednesday to examine the route used in the escape, particularly the cell and passageway involved.
“There were deputies on the pods,” Murrill told local outlet WDSU. “They’re present, they’re there … whether that was true last week, I couldn’t tell you.”
Both Williams and Murrill indicated their investigations are ongoing, and additional arrests are likely. Williams noted that “certainly more than one person” played a role in the breach, underscoring the severity and complexity of the incident.
Three People Accused of Aiding Jailbreak, Including Sheriff’s Office Employee
A maintenance worker at the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office and two civilians have been arrested in connection with the recent jailbreak that saw 10 inmates escape from the Orleans Justice Center.
The staff member, identified as Sterling Williams, was arrested Tuesday by the Louisiana Attorney General’s office.
Investigators say Williams was initially evasive during questioning but eventually provided information. According to the affidavit, Williams claimed inmate Antoine Massey threatened to stab him unless he turned off the water to a specific cell. That action, investigators say, was crucial to the escape plan. If the water had remained on, the cell could have flooded and drawn attention to the inmates’ activities.
Williams’ attorney, Michael Kennedy, defended his client, saying he was simply doing his job by responding to an overflowing toilet. He dismissed claims that Williams acted under duress or was complicit in the escape.
He assessed the situation, saw the water had to be turned off, so he turned it off.” Kennedy added that his client had no relationship with the inmates, didn’t witness the escape, and only learned about it on Friday morning like everyone else.
Describing Williams as a dependable five-year employee with no prior criminal record, Kennedy argued that his client is being made a scapegoat.
Meanwhile, Louisiana State Police announced Wednesday that two other individuals—Cortnie Harris, 32, and Corvanntay Baptiste, 38—have also been arrested on suspicion of helping the inmates after their escape.
Five Inmates Recaptured, Five Still on the Run After New Orleans Jailbreak
The latest inmate to be taken into custody is 19-year-old Corey Boyd, who was arrested Tuesday—five days after the group made their escape by crawling through a hole behind a metal toilet just after midnight Friday.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill confirmed via social media on Wednesday that the five recaptured men will remain jailed without the possibility of bond.
Following the escape, Crimestoppers of New Orleans received a flood of tips from the public. Officials urged residents to continue providing information, emphasizing that community assistance was instrumental. Crimestoppers told CNN that two of the escapees were captured directly because of information provided by tipsters.
The incident has rattled the city, prompting heightened security measures and widespread concern. Staff from the district attorney’s office reportedly fled their posts out of fear for their safety. All five recaptures occurred within the New Orleans area.
Among those still at large is Antoine Massey, the inmate accused of threatening a maintenance worker to help facilitate the escape.
A vehicle with Texas license plates was seen in the area and is believed to have helped them flee. Though law enforcement responded quickly, the men were already gone by the time officers arrived.
Mardis said he learned of Massey’s most recent escape on Monday, although Louisiana State Police had already reached out over the weekend to inquire about him.
Authorities continue to search for the remaining five escapees, as investigations into the breach and its aftermath unfold.