Technology More than 200 local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel are working tirelessly to track down the remaining escapees who fled a New Orleans jail in a daring overnight breakout last week, according to Louisiana State Police.
Technology Officials have remained tight-lipped about the details of the search or where they believe the fugitives might be hiding. “We never reveal our investigative strategies—doing so would be like handing over a football team’s Super Bowl playbook before kickoff,” said Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair in a statement to CNN.
Technology Public tips and financial incentives offered by various agencies have become vital elements in the effort, Fair noted.
Among the known methods aiding the search is:
Real-time facial recognition
So far, all of the captured inmates have been found within New Orleans. A crucial asset in the investigation is Project NOLA, a high-definition crime camera network based at the University of New Orleans.
Just minutes after the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office alerted Louisiana State Police about the escape, the system helped spot one of the fugitives in the French Quarter. The surveillance network continues to be instrumental in tracking down the remaining escapees.
A second fugitive was located just a block from where Project NOLA’s facial recognition cameras had last detected him hours after the escape, the organization reported.
What makes Project NOLA’s approach unique is that its surveillance cameras are installed on private residences and businesses. These devices can be equipped with advanced features such as facial recognition, license plate readers, and clothing detection technology.
From this hub, camera feeds are actively monitored and shared with local municipalities and police departments served by the program, according to Bryan Lagarde, Project NOLA’s founder and executive director.
Project NOLA operates with a small full-time team of just five staff members, according to Lagarde, who noted they focus their attention on monitoring key areas and events. Beyond that, local municipalities take responsibility for surveillance as they see fit.
The organization keeps an active “hot list” containing mugshots and details of wanted fugitives. Their cameras continuously scan crowds, comparing every face against this list in real-time, Lagarde explained.
Each camera—such as those positioned on Bourbon Street—is capable of scanning over 300 faces per second, he added.
Tip line and monetary incentives
The agency urges tipsters to provide as much detail as possible when submitting information.
The Louisiana State Police announced Monday that the reward for information leading to the capture of each remaining fugitive has been raised to $20,000.
Marlon Defillo, a former assistant superintendent with the New Orleans Police Department, told CNN, “When you place a $20,000 bounty on each of their heads, people will be motivated to call Crime Stoppers or the hotline. They’ll report tips anonymously.”
He added, “They might not share their names, but they’ll definitely point law enforcement in the right direction.”
Sterling Williams, 33, a maintenance employee for the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, was taken into custody on Tuesday. According to an affidavit, Williams is accused of “deliberately and knowingly” aiding in the recent jailbreak.
Williams’ lawyer, Michael Kennedy, maintains his client’s innocence, stating that Williams was simply performing his duties by shutting off water to a malfunctioning toilet after being directed to do so.
In addition to Williams, two other individuals—32-year-old Cortnie Harris and 38-year-old Corvanntay Baptiste—were arrested on allegations of assisting some of the fugitives after their escape, according to a statement released by Louisiana State Police on Wednesday.
Her decision came just hours after she faced intense scrutiny from city leaders during a highly charged city council session.