A 19-year-old inmate who tried to bolt from the Tangipahoa Parish Courthouse in Amite did not get far, authorities say. Donnie Stevenson was arrested Monday after deputies say he climbed the back loading-dock gate at the courthouse and briefly fled custody. He was found a block away, still in shackles and barefoot, hiding under a truck after a short search. The sheriff’s office says Stevenson was rebooked on a count of simple escape and remains jailed on separate, more serious charges.
How deputies say it happened
According to WGNO, Tangipahoa Parish deputies and the Amite Police Department were alerted when Stevenson was spotted climbing the loading-dock gate on Bay Street. A TPSO K-9 tracked for about five minutes while officers searched the surrounding streets for roughly 30 minutes before locating him. The sheriff’s office told the station Stevenson was still shackled and barefoot when he slipped away and when deputies found him under a truck near Duncan Avenue and Mulberry Street.
Charges and background
Stevenson was rebooked on one count of simple escape and remains jailed on earlier accusations that include first-degree rape, aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal possession of stolen things, according to WDSU. Those charges stem from an arrest in March in the Hammond area.
Repeat incident and agency review
The sheriff’s office says this is not Stevenson’s first courthouse break for the door. Officials say he briefly escaped in December under similar circumstances, and they told reporters the department is reviewing transport procedures in light of Monday’s attempt. In a December news release, the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office said it would investigate how that earlier escape happened and would examine its policies around courthouse transports. Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office provided the initial account and details on the procedural review.
Jail escapes have plagued Tangi in recent years
The Tangipahoa Parish Jail has seen more than its share of high-profile breakouts in recent years. Authorities recaptured repeat escapee Tra'Von Johnson after a May 2025 run, and a $10,000 reward was offered for information leading to the capture of Jamarcus Cyprian in 2024, coverage shows. WAFB and AP documented those earlier manhunts and recaptures.
What’s next
Stevenson was treated at a local hospital and returned to custody, and the sheriff’s office says he is in the process of being transferred to another facility, WGNO reports. No new court dates were immediately available, and neither the sheriff’s office nor any defense attorney had additional comment Monday evening.
