Crimestoppers tip assists in capture of escaped New Orleans inmate in Atlanta

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

ATLANTA, Ga. (WGNO) — On Wednesday afternoon, Atlanta police and other law enforcement agencies went to a house on a tip that Orleans Parish jail escapee Derrick Groves was there.

Crimestoppers played a major role in leading authorities to the location.

“It was over this weekend that we did get a tip for Crimestoppers. So y’all, Crimestoppers matters; but most importantly, the community is a true partner to us. So, when we speak about team, that includes the community,” NOPD Supt. Anne Kirkpatrick said.

The agents kicked in the door of the house and fired tear gas inside. Groves was eventually found in a crawlspace in the basement.

“We deployed a number of canisters of gas to help move him throughout the house, which he moved to the basement of the house. Soon after, Clayton County K-9 was deployed, in the crawl space of the location, and they found him in that,” Atlanta PD Deputy Chief Kelley Collier said.

According to State Attorney General Liz Murrill, Groves was not alone in the house, and more arrests are expected.

“We would expect that there will be some charges that will follow for additional individuals who were aiding and abetting Derrick Groves both here in Louisiana and in Georgia,” Murrill said.

Groves will be arraigned once he is brought back from Georgia and taken to Angola where the other nine escapees are being held.

“Together, we are stronger, and today marks the culmination of nearly 5 months of investigative work,” LSP Col. Robert Hodges said.

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