The New Orleans jail was on lockdown Friday (May 16) after a group of 11 inmates escaped from the prison, local authorities reported, who told reporters that the escapees should be considered armed and highly dangerous, Forbes and CBS News reported, quoted by FOCUS.
At a press conference on Friday, Orleans County Sheriff Susan Hutson said that the Orleans County jail was completely locked down after the escape, which was discovered after a routine staff count at 8:30 a.m. local time.
New Orleans Police Inspector Anne Kirkpatrick reports that one inmate was then detained in downtown New Orleans using facial recognition, from a surveillance camera. Louisiana State Police identified the escaped inmate as Kendall Miles and said Miles attempted to flee on foot before being apprehended "without further incident."
"A search is underway for the individuals and the department is working with local and state law enforcement agencies to locate them and bring them back into custody," the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
During the press conference, Kirkpatrick said the New Orleans Police Department, including its Violent Crimes Warrant Unit, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals have joined the search for the escaped inmates, all of whom are violent offenders.