‘Threatened to stab if I didn’t assist’: Jail staffer arrested for helping inmates escape New Orleans facility

Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans

A jail staffer has been arrested after he reportedly admitted to have helped 10 inmates escape a New Orleans jail final week.Also Read | ‘To easy lol’: 10 inmates together with homicide convicts use blankets to escape via gap in New Orleans jailMaintenance employee Sterling Williams was requested by one of many escapees to “turn the water off in the cell” before the men slipped through the hole, according to a statement by the office of the Louisiana attorney general.As per an arrest affidavit, the man threatened to “shank” (slang for stab) Williams if the latter did not turn off the water. Another inmate tried to take Williams’ phone and attempted to get him to bring a book with cash app information.However, the affidavit noted that the 33-year-old “wilfully and maliciously assisted” the inmates, and that without his help, the group would have flooded the cell, which would have drawn attention to their efforts.Williams is charged with 10 counts of principle to simple escape and one count of malfeasance in office. Each charge carries a $100,000 bond.Michael Kennedy, his appointed attorney, said at this time “we have every intention of entering a plea of not guilty.”How inmates escapedDuring a tense New Orleans City Council meeting on Tuesday, the sheriff who oversees the Orleans Justice Centre, detailed how the group escaped.“The inmates eliminated a sink-toilet mixture unit from a cell, then lower the metal bars behind the cell room sink. After bending the bars they slipped out. It’s unclear what they used to noticed via the bars,” news agency AP quoted Sheriff Susan Hutson, as saying.Also Read | New Orleans jailbreak: Sheriff says she complained about cell locks ‘at each flip’“There had been procedural failures and missed notifications, however there have been additionally intentional wrongdoings. This was a coordinated effort aided by people inside our personal company who made the selection to break the legislation. We are persevering with to pursue everybody concerned,” Hutson added.Fifth arrest madeMeanwhile, on Tuesday evening, Louisiana state police confirmed Corey Boyd, 19, became the fifth inmate to be apprehended.Boyd is accused of killing a person who caught him and others trying to break into a car in April 2024. Antoine Massey, identified in the affidavit as the inmate who threatened to stab Williams, the prison staffer, is one of the fugitives still at large.