Two men escaped federal custody Monday near Robert and Ponchatoula, prompting a multi-agency search along a stretch of Interstate 12 and nearby roads. Authorities said both men were barefoot and still handcuffed when they fled, making the alert as unusual as it was urgent.
According to WDSU's report, the men were being transferred by a federal agency when they escaped near I-12, Fire Tower Road and CC Road. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office described them as barefoot Hispanic men with their hands cuffed in front; one was wearing a long-sleeve blue shirt and khaki shorts, while the other was wearing a camouflage shirt.
Federal Escape Charges Could Follow
Escaping from federal custody can trigger a separate federal criminal case in addition to the charges that placed someone in custody. Under 18 U.S.C. § 751, escape from custody tied to a felony arrest or conviction can carry up to five years in prison, although the exact consequences depend on the underlying cases and circumstances.
Authorities Ask Residents To Call 911
The sheriff's office urged the public to call 911 if either man is spotted, rather than approaching or trying to stop them. The initial alert did not indicate that either suspect had been recaptured, and the multi-agency search remained active when the report was published, WDSU reported.
Separate Tangipahoa Transport Escape Happened In June
The latest search comes weeks after a separate escape involving a Tangipahoa Parish Jail inmate. Fox 8 reported that Donnie Stevenson escaped from a courthouse loading area in June after a headcount error and was found hiding under a truck roughly 30 minutes later.
That earlier incident led to the firing of a deputy and the suspension of two senior employees, according to parish officials cited by Fox 8. The incidents are separate, but both involved people escaping during the movement of detainees rather than breaking out of a secured jail facility.
Federal Prisoner Transport Is A Marshals Responsibility
The U.S. Marshals Service says it is responsible for the safe confinement, care and transportation of federal prisoners from court-ordered custody through sentencing and transfer to the Bureau of Prisons. Officials had not publicly provided further details about the transfer or the men's underlying cases in the initial alert.
