Former Chief Says Sheriff Hutson’s ‘Checkered Past’ Enabled Dangerous Inmate Escape
Ten inmates escaped a New Orleans jail last week through a hole, sending shockwaves through the city.
But a former police chief isn’t just pointing fingers at staffing issues; he’s laying blame squarely on the sheriff’s long-standing history.
Mass Escape Rocks New Orleans Facility
The daring jailbreak occurred the morning of May 16, when 10 inmates somehow managed to escape from a jail cell at the Orleans Parish prison.
Their method? A hole discovered behind a toilet.
Authorities have since recaptured five of the escapees.
However, five remain on the run, prompting urgent searches across the region.
Sheriff’s Leadership Under Scrutiny
Leading the chorus of criticism is Ronal Serpas, the former New Orleans Police Department Superintendent.
Serpas didn’t mince words when discussing the current sheriff, Susan Hutson.
“Sheriff Hutson has had a very checkered past in the last 15 years in the city of New Orleans, with multiple complaints of administrative failures as the [former] independent police monitor, multiple complaints as the sheriff and the consent decree management and multiple complaints of ethical violations that have resulted in findings by the Louisiana Ethics Board,” Serpas told Fox News Digital.
These aren’t new accusations, Serpas suggested, pointing to a history of alleged issues.
A Pattern of Concerns?
Past reports have highlighted problems within the sheriff’s office.
Hutson faced ethics charges related to nepotism and other complaints as recently as September 2024, according to FOX 8 New Orleans.
Whistleblower lawsuits from former administrators were also filed between 2023 and 2024.
The Orleans Parish prison was operating at only 60% staffing at the time of the escape.
Four supervisors and 36 staff members were tasked with monitoring 1,400 inmates.
Some of the escapees face serious charges, including murder and aggravated battery.
Sheriff Hutson Responds Amid Backlash
Sheriff Hutson acknowledged the severity of the situation.
In a statement, she announced a temporary suspension of her re-election campaign.
“As I said today, I take full accountability for the breach that occurred under my leadership,” Hutson said. “I am grateful to the community, our law enforcement partners and city and state leaders for helping us to secure the Orleans Justice Center and capture the remaining escapees.”
She added that immediate actions, including suspensions and an arrest, had been taken.
Hutson stated she cannot prioritize politics over the city’s needs.
She emphasized a focus on “security, accountability, and public safety.”
Inside Help and Staffing Woes
The investigation into the escape led to an arrest of a correctional officer, 33-year-old Sterling Williams, accused of aiding the inmates.
Two others, Cortnie Harris and Corvanntay Baptiste, have also been accused of assisting the fugitives.
Serpas, now a criminology professor, commented on the difficulty of hiring jail staff but posed a critical question.
“The question,” Serpas said, is how Hutson did not see “red flags on an appointment.”
“It’s a thing that sheriffs just know what to look out for. And here we have another example of this particular sheriff… not knowing how to actually lead or be ethical in that leadership.”
This points back to concerns about leadership vigilance and oversight.
Declining Conditions Noted
Federal monitors have consistently noted significant gaps in safety and supervision at the jail in biannual reports.
FOX 8 found that the sheriff’s office has regressed in four jail safety and supervision categories under Hutson compared to the previous administration.
Monitors “witnessed the most unsupervised jail units in recent memory once Sheriff Susan Hutson took over,” a report stated, according to FOX 8.
Issues like drug smuggling, inmate violence, and inadequate mental health care have also been points of criticism.
A proposal by Hutson for a tax increase to generate $11.7 million annually for the office was overwhelmingly rejected by voters.
The Core Criticism: “Incompetence is Key”
Pulling these threads together, Serpas delivered his sharpest critique, directly linking the past issues to the present crisis.
“It’s no surprise to the people of New Orleans that incompetence is key to her leadership style, and the people deserve so much better.”
This suggests that the former chief views the jailbreak not as an isolated incident, but as a predictable outcome stemming from what he characterizes as long-standing failures and ethical issues under Sheriff Hutson’s command.
To re-establish public trust, Serpas stated, all escapees must first be apprehended.
He also highlighted the upcoming sheriff’s election as a crucial moment for public accountability.
The December 2021 election that Hutson won saw very low turnout, with only 25% of registered voters participating.
Manhunt Continues
The search for the remaining five escapees is ongoing.
Authorities warn that anyone found aiding the fugitives will face charges.
Rewards are being offered by the FBI and Crime Stoppers for information leading to their arrests.
The five men still on the run are Lenton J. Vanburen Jr., Jermaine Donald, Antoine Massey, Derrick Groves, and Leo O. Tate Sr., all facing various charges, some violent.
A massive effort involving local, state, and federal agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals, is underway to locate and apprehend them.