Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Press Release Re: New Orleans Jail Escape
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2025
Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Provides Update on Escape from Orleans Justice Center
NEW ORLEANS, LA – The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) is actively working to locate nine remaining escapees from the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and return them to custody. As of today, we can confirm that one of the 10 escapees, Kendell Myles, has been apprehended and is currently being rebooked at the facility for a new charge of Simple Escape. He was found hiding beneath a car at the Hotel Monteleone parking garage and was transported back to the OJC by the Louisiana State Police.
OPSO is aware of ongoing media coverage and public concern surrounding this incident. While some may attempt to politicize this matter, it is important to note that this is a public safety issue, and we are fully committed to addressing it. We ask for the public’s understanding as we continue working with law enforcement partners to resolve the situation as quickly and safely as possible.
We do acknowledge there were lapses in security. While the facility was placed on lockdown at 10:30 p.m. the night before the escape, the detainees were able to exit their cells due to defective locks and doors. At approximately 12:23 a.m., the detainees began tampering with a locked cell door, ultimately breaking it open. A Correctional Monitoring Technician in the Control Module was present, but the detainees were able to breach a wall behind a toilet in their housing unit which was out of view. The detainees exited the jail through a door at approximately 1:01 a.m., scaling a wall and running across the interstate shortly after. Video surveillance confirms that they exited through a door in the docks where supplies are brought into the jail.
We also have indications that these escapees received assistance from individuals inside the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office. The escape was discovered during a routine headcount at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 16, and jail leadership was immediately notified at 8:35 a.m. The United States Marshals, Louisiana State Police, and Probation and Parole were notified by 9:30 a.m., and the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) was alerted immediately afterward through the Fusion Center.
As of now, Keith Louis, previously reported as one of the escaped detainees, has been located and is not among the escapees. He had been in the unit but was not accounted for during the headcount following the escape. The remaining escapees are still being actively pursued. OPSO, in partnership with local and state law enforcement agencies, continues to search for these individuals. We urge the public to remain vigilant. If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of the remaining escapees, please contact us immediately.
Facility Infrastructure Issues:
This escape has highlighted several critical issues within the OJC’s infrastructure that contributed to the security breach. In addition to defective locks on the cells, approximately one-third of the security cameras throughout the facility are currently inoperable, including three cameras in the unit from which the escape occurred. The detainees were housed in this particular unit due to ongoing renovations on their previous unit, which included the installation of new locks.
These security breaches, combined with ongoing staffing shortages, have made it difficult to maintain the level of security required. Currently, the OJC houses 24 pods, and the facility is operating with insufficient staff to properly monitor all areas at all times. OPSO is actively advocating for capital budget improvements to address these pressing needs. We are committed to ensuring that the necessary repairs are made to restore full functionality to the facility and to improve the overall safety and security of both detainees and staff.
We will continue to provide updates as the investigation progresses and host another briefing at 5:00 pm.