The search for two escaped inmates from the Orleans Parish Jail concluded with a high-speed car chase in Walker County. Leo Tate and Jermaine Donald, who had been on the run since their breakout on May 16, were apprehended in Huntsville by Texas law enforcement, as confirmed by Click2Houston.
Spotted on Monday, a day following the arrest of a sixth escapee in Baton Rouge, the duo led officers on a pursuit that ended with a crash near U.S. 190 and Geneva. Huntsville Police Chief Slaven acknowledged the teamwork involved in capturing the “two dangerous suspects off the streets,” as observed in a high-speed chase that ensued when a DPS trooper, having spotted the vehicle carrying the fugitives, attempted to pull them over, according to a statement obtained by Click2Houston.
Originally detained on charges of second-degree murder and illegal carrying of a weapon, Donald now faces additional charges for escape and resisting an officer. Tate, who was being held for obstruction of justice, now faces charges for aggravated escape and escape from custody. Their capture involves cooperation between multiple agencies including the U.S. Marshals-Gulf Coast Violent Offender and Fugitive Task Force, as well as air support from the Texas Department of Public Safety, as reported by KHOU 11.
The escape itself, characterized by a breached wall behind a toilet and defective cell locks, happened early morning on May 16. Escaping through a dock and scaling a wall, the inmates fled across the interstate, evading capture thanks to inoperable security cameras and an untimely food break taken by a civilian monitor. With the latest arrests, Tate and Donald join six other recaptured inmates, while two more are still at large, reported Click2Houston. Antoine Massey, 32, and Derrick Groves, 27, remain fugitives.
Authorities are still searching for two escaped prisoners. The men who have been caught will be sent back to Louisiana to face their original charges, plus new ones for escaping. Officials stress the importance of different agencies working together. People in the area are being asked to stay alert and report anything suspicious that could help catch the remaining escapees, as per KHOU 11.
