A small fire inside a housing pod at the Orleans Justice Center sparked a brief scare Tuesday, but deputies quickly put it out and cleared the area, according to the sheriff’s office. The flames were extinguished fast, no staff or inmates reported injuries, and two detainees were arrested on aggravated arson counts.
In a statement to WDSU, Sheriff Michelle Woodfork said deputies "quickly extinguished the flames," locked down the pod, and moved inmates to other areas while investigators worked the scene. The sheriff’s office identified the two suspects as Jarick Bourgeois and Derrick Clayton and said both face aggravated arson charges, according to the report.
Troubled Jail Still Under Scrutiny
The incident lands at a tense moment for the Orleans Justice Center, which remains under heavy local and state scrutiny after a mass escape last year and the investigations that followed. A special grand jury probe and subsequent criminal referrals tied to that breakout have been widely reported, including by AP News.
Recent Operational Strains
Jail officials have been battling a run of staffing shortages, contraband problems and security lapses. A recent facility-wide sweep turned up dozens of bags of contraband, and a deputy was arrested after an unloaded firearm was discovered inside the jail, local coverage shows. Reporting by haul of 50 bags of contraband and FOX 8 details those episodes, which help explain why officials say they move quickly when anything flares up inside the facility.
What the Charges Mean
Under Louisiana law, aggravated arson (La. R.S. 14:51) applies when someone intentionally sets a fire and it is reasonably foreseeable that human life could be endangered. It is a felony that carries significant prison time under state statutes, according to the Louisiana Revised Statutes. Prosecutors will review the findings of the investigation before filing formal cases.
The sheriff's office said detectives are continuing to investigate and that the affected housing pod remains on heightened security while the work continues, WDSU reports. The two inmates were being processed on the new counts, and the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office will determine the next steps.
