WBRZ - Baton Rouge

ST. FRANCISVILLE - Louisiana State Police are bringing in their helicopters to help search for a trustee who from the exercise yard of the West Feliciana Parish Jail Sunday afternoon.

David St. Germain, 45, tore part of a fence, then cut or pulled back razor wire from the exercise yard, got into the dog pen, scaled another fence, and broke free to the woods, where the Angola Chase Team tracked him to abandoned warehouses near the town square of St. Francisville, Sheriff Austin Daniel said.

Germain was present for roll call around 4:30 Sunday afternoon, but deputies discovered him missing when he was not there at 5:30 to serve other inmates their meals, Daniel said.

Germain is serving time for violating his parole. He was out of jail for drug and theft charges, according to Sheriff Austin Daniel, who said Germain was a hall trustee, which means he is allowed to walk the halls of the jail to clean and serve meals to other inmates.

Daniel believes Germain is likely still holed up in the warehouses, but has ties to Slidell and could be attempting to get there.

Deputies have set up a perimeter around St. Francisville and check every car to ensure he does not escape in a vehicle.

Daniel said he will weld the fence at the jail to ensure there are no more escapes. The jail was built in 1948, according to the Sheriff.

If you have any information on Germain's whereabouts, contact the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff's Office.