Orleans Parish sheriff’s office asks for removal of district attorney in escape investigation

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson issued a motion Thursday, May 29, requesting Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams be recused from the investigation into the Orleans Justice Center escape.

The DA office officials said in the days immediately following the escape, their offices exercised it’s “constitutional authority” to initiate an investigation and to issue preservation directives for critical evidence.

They say the steps were necessary to ensure key material was not lost by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“We received the Sheriff’s motion seeking to have the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office recused from this investigation. However, the sheriff’s effort was untimely and meritless. This is yet another example of the sheriff being two steps behind the moment. After the forensic processing of the crime scene and prior to the Sheriff’s motion, our office had already engaged the Attorney General to lead the investigation into any criminal culpability of the sheriff and its employees.
Orleans Parish District Attorney

On May 16, OPSO officials alerted the public of the escape of 10 inmates who were able to leave the facility through a hole cut in a cell wall behind a toilet. Since then, eight of the escapees have been recaptured and 14 people were arrested for aiding.

The search remains ongoing for Antoine Massey and Derrick Groves.

“Attorney General Murrill initiated a criminal investigation at the jail on Friday, May 16, which is underway. Last week, after issuing certain demands to the Sheriff, the District Attorney determined it to be proper to step aside from handling any investigation or prosecution of matters related to the escape before the inmates went over the wall. The criminal investigation was and still is directed by the Attorney General. For that reason, the proceedings initiated by the District Attorney should be terminated.” – Attribute to me please
Office of Attorney General Liz Murrill

The OPDA officials said the motion was not granted and adds that there are no ground for recusal. The decision to refer the matter to the Attorney General’s Office was due to “possible multi-jurisdictional implications and potential for statewide examination of jailbreak protocols.”

Latest Posts