Tagged News

• DA sought transfer of juvenile escapee days before latest breakout Play Video

  November 27, 2023 6:55 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office filed a motion to transfer the teenager who has twice escaped juvenile detention to an adult jail the day that teen was caught after his first breakout. Court records show that prosecutors asked a judge on Nov. 16 to... more »

• Sheriff: Inmates broke through rec. area wall to escape Ascension jail Friday night

  August 12, 2023 9:17 AM

  DONALDSONVILLE - Three inmates were able to breach a recreation area wall to escape from the Ascension Parish Jail Friday night, Sheriff Bobby Webre told WBRZ 2 News. The escapees were captured a couple of hours later, following a search that involved tracking dogs, drones and a helicopter. ... more »

• Mother of 'extremely dangerous' escapee arrested

  June 7, 2023 12:20 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The mother of a teenager who escaped police custody during a botched transfer has been arrested for allegedly aiding her son. Kenione Rogers, 32, is accused of providing Curtis Tassin with transportation following the teen's escape from custody in late May. Authorities caught back up... more »

• Livingston sheriff's office employee arrested for escape and DWI, resigns her post Play Video

  March 7, 2023 4:59 PM

  LIVINGSTON - An employee with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office resigned her post Tuesday as the WBRZ Investigative Unit began asking questions about her arrest. Watch live newscasts here Over the weekend, Kimberly Waters, 55, was arrested by Louisiana State Police on Highway 447 while driving a 2017... more »

• Suspect back in police custody after escaping hospital Tuesday

  November 1, 2022 3:07 PM

  ZACHARY - A man arrested by police and later admitted into the hospital for a mental health concern managed to escape the care of clinical workers Tuesday, prompting a search of the area around Lane Regional Medical Center. Baker Police said the suspect, 22-year-old Arnold Smith, was first detained... more »

• Violent teenage offender still on the run after escaping juvenile jail

  March 19, 2022 10:45 PM

  BRIDGE CITY - Three days after several teenagers escaped a state-run juvenile detention center in southeast Louisiana, one of those offenders is still on the loose. Sources tell WBRZ Curtis Tassin is the last of the teens being sought by law enforcement after the jail break Wednesday night at... more »

• INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Teens beat and locked guard in cell during juvenile jailbreak Play Video

  November 3, 2021 5:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A group of rogue teens who staged a coup against three guards and escaped the facility last month locked one of the guards in a jail cell according to reports obtained by the WBRZ Investigative Unit. The report does not use names but instead lists the... more »

• Man with 20 arrests found living in attic of woman's Louisiana apartment

  October 26, 2021 1:41 PM

  LACASSINE - A man with a long history of arrests was booked into jail once again after it was discovered he'd been living in the attic of an apartment without the tenant realizing it. The Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff's Office said Gregory Bonnette, 33, was arrested again Monday after... more »

• Five teens who escaped detention center all had violent backgrounds Play Video

  October 15, 2021 6:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - The WBRZ Investigative Unit learned Friday that five teens who escaped from the Baton Rouge Juvenile Detention Center Thursday night all had violent backgrounds. All five were being held on murder, attempted murder or violent gun charges. Two were identified by law enforcement because they... more »

• Teen accused of murder and tricking ankle monitoring device arrested in jailbreak

  October 15, 2021 12:05 PM

  BATON ROUGE – One of five teenage prisoners who escaped the city-parish managed juvenile jail late Thursday was previously arrested for murder and had figured out how to avoid being tracked by his ankle monitor to buy a gun using counterfeit money, according to sources who spoke with the WBRZ... more »

• St. Mary Parish Inmate attempts jail escape

  July 25, 2021 11:16 AM

  ST. MARY'S PARISH - An inmate attempted an unsuccessful escape at St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center Sunday morning. Deputies noticed the inmate was not in his assigned area, but later found him in the facility. Sheriff Smith says the inmate did not get outside the facility and... more »

• 'Unathletic' gator with arthritis captured after escaping Wisconsin zoo

  May 26, 2021 5:22 PM

  BONDUEL, Wisc. - An alligator that managed to slip away from a zoo was safely captured , likely thanks in part to the animal's age and its "terrible arthritis," according to the zoo's owner. Steve "Doc" Hopkins — the owner of Doc's Zoo in Bonduel, Wisconsin — told WLUK... more »

• Report: Police believe trafficking network is hiding missing Houston tiger

  May 14, 2021 12:30 PM

  HOUSTON - Police believe a tiger that got loose in a Texas neighborhood — and then vanished — has been handed off person-to-person possibly a dozen times in the past four days in an attempt to keep it out of the hands of law enforcement. The tiger, named India,... more »

• Army trainee hijacked school bus full of children in South Carolina

  May 6, 2021 3:12 PM

  COLUMBIA, S.C. - A military trainee was arrested after he allegedly hijacked an elementary school bus with 18 children on board while carrying a rifle. The Richland County Sheriff's Office said the children and driver on board were safe. Fort Jackson Commander Brig. Gen. Milford H. Beagle Jr.... more »

• Inmate who escaped EBR work release facility captured in Monroe Wednesday Play Video

  May 5, 2020 6:10 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A man convicted of beating a guard with a tree limb last year managed to scale a razor-wire fence Sunday and bolt free from the Baton Rouge work release facility. As a result, two private security guards were terminated. Jacob Criner, 18, was convicted of aggravated... more »

• Work release inmate working at fast food joint apprehended in Harvey after walking off job site

  September 2, 2019 1:00 PM

  GONZALES – A work release inmate assigned to a job at a fast food restaurant disappeared Sunday. The inmate, Zacchaesus Tassin, was assigned to the Wendy’s at the Tanger mall. He was an East Baton Rouge work release inmate. “[He] walked off from his job at the Wendy’s,... more »

• Escaped West Baton Rouge inmate arrested in Tennessee

  March 23, 2019 6:28 PM

  UPDATE: Jimmy Gioele was arrested in Memphis, Tennessee Monday. He's being held in the Memphis Jail as a fugitive and will be transported back to West Baton Rouge to face simple escape charges. ***** PORT ALLEN- Authorities are looking for an inmate that has escaped from a... more »

• Man facing 5th DWI escapes hospital to avoid jail after crash, arrest

  December 29, 2018 10:28 AM

  PORT ALLEN – A man faces various charges after State Police said he drove drunk, caused a crash with injuries and then fled the hospital to try and avoid being booked into jail late Friday. Jonathan Nash, 35, faces his fifth-offense DWI, license violations since his was suspended because... more »

• Live power lines crash through house, family avoids being shocked

  November 7, 2018 1:31 PM

  BATON ROUGE – People inside a home escaped a powerful jolt of electricity that surged through their home when a utility pole with live power lines crashed through the roof Wednesday. First responders were dispatched to the incident around lunchtime. The pole and its dangling lines fell into... more »

• Frustrated authorities making arrests as 16-year-old escapee continues to flee

  August 2, 2018 4:24 PM

  BATON ROUGE – As previously warned by law enforcement, authorities have arrested at least two people related to an ongoing search of a 16-year-old who broke out of juvenile jail more than a week ago. Darreon Wilson, 16, escaped from the East Baton Rouge Detention Center on July 23.... more »

• A week after WBRZ report, state releases details on elusive teen who escaped juvie

  August 1, 2018 3:35 PM

  BATON ROUGE – State authorities released information about a juvenile who escaped custody days after a WBRZ report highlighted the juvenile had been eluding law enforcement for a while. State Police said Wednesday, Darreon Wilson, 16, escaped from the East Baton Rouge Detention Center on July 23. Days after... more »

• Escaped kid from juvie eludes authorities for days

  July 26, 2018 4:52 PM

  BATON ROUGE – Police surrounded a house and closed off part of a north Baton Rouge neighborhood Thursday as law enforcement searched for a juvenile who escaped from a detention facility near the airport days ago. Thursday afternoon, law enforcement were heavy on Oaklon Avenue at its intersection with... more »

• Terminally ill inmate who 'escaped' nursing home Friday captured

  April 13, 2018 5:26 PM

  JACKSON – A terminally ill inmate who had been granted a compassionate release to stay in a nursing home for the rest of his sentence walked out of the medical facility he'd been living at Friday. Paul Stephan, 67, was serving a 30-year sentence for second-degree robbery since 2010.... more »

• Escaped huskies corralled, to be adopted Play Video

  July 11, 2017 5:56 PM

  GONZALES - At least nine huskies escaped a fenced enclosure and roamed a neighborhood Monday into Tuesday. A resident called WBRZ, concerned for the health of the animals. Ascension Parish Animal Control was called Monday to investigate and revisited the home on Braud Road in Gonzales Tuesday. "I... more »

• WBR work release inmate captured after escape, car chase

  February 27, 2017 11:09 AM

  WEST BATON ROUGE – Authorities say a West Baton Rouge work release inmate is back in custody after an escape and car chase overnight. According to the sheriff's office, Rickey Lake, 34, went missing after 10:30 p.m. on Sunday. Lake did not appear for the 12:30 a.m. headcount and... more »

• State Police: Escapees from Swanson Center for Youth captured

  February 4, 2017 2:08 PM

  MONROE - Two youths from Swanson Center for Youth escaped from the facility on Monday, Jan. 30. On Feb. 4 around 10:15 a.m., both Kiore Collins and Kelvin Provost were captured and taken into custody, according to State Police. State Police, along with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office,... more »

• Deputies searching for 'improperly released' inmate in Lafayette

  October 26, 2016 3:24 PM

  LAFAYETTE – Lafayette Parish deputies are searching for an inmate who was ‘improperly released’ Wednesday afternoon. According to a KATC report, 29-year-old Joshua Simon was last seen wearing a black t-shirt and blue jeans. He is described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 155 pounds. ... more »

• Employee fired after inmates escape Play Video

  October 14, 2016 6:36 PM

  BATON ROUGE - At least one person working for a private work release management company was fired over the escape of two offenders Thursday. Specifics about the employee's firing were not release, but company officials told WBRZ Friday - the day after the escape - issues with how the... more »

• Man escapes Shreveport Police custody at University Health

  October 14, 2016 12:13 PM

  SHREVEPORT – Shreveport Police are searching for a prisoner who managed to escape from custody early Friday morning while being transported to University Health. Police are searching for 24-year-old Ralphell Young around the hospital area. Police say that Young escaped on Friday around 3:30 a.m. He was last seen... more »

• Escaped inmate steals car from Lafayette dealership

  September 15, 2016 3:24 PM

  LAFAYETTE – Deputies in Lafayette Parish say an inmate who walked away from a housing unit Wednesday later stole a car from a car dealership Thursday has been arrested. According to a KATC report, Shane Paul Thomas has an extensive criminal history including drug and theft charges. After deputies... more »

• Escaped Assumption inmate captured in Terrebonne Parish

  September 14, 2016 2:35 PM

  MORGAN CITY – Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Facon says an inmate who escaped from deputies earlier this week was captured in Terrebonne Parish Sunday evening. According to Leland, 44-year-old Drake Domangue escaped custody Wednesday morning while deputies were transporting him for mental health treatment. He was captured and booked... more »

• Lemurs make a run for it at BREC Zoo

  June 13, 2016 3:59 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Two animals at the BREC Baton Rouge Zoo tried to make a run for it this morning, escaping from an open gate. Two black and white lemurs, a male and female, passed through a gate left open this morning by a zoo keeper. Their freedom lasted... more »

• WBR jail leads in work release inmate escapes with 22 in 2 years

  April 18, 2016 1:44 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A new audit has found that the state's work release program for prisoners has had more than 250 escapes in the past two years alone. The legislative auditor found that the program does have its benefits, including saving money on inmate housing and decreasing the number... more »

• Mistakenly released killer arrested in Georgia

  October 2, 2015 1:52 AM

  ATLANTA- Authorities have captured an inmate that was mistakenly let out of a jail earlier this week in Louisiana. The U.S. Marshals Service arrested Benjuiel Johnson, 32, just after midnight Friday morning at a motel just outside of Atlanta. Authorities in Georgia said a Gwinett County deputy assigned to... more »

• Manhunt continues for killer accidentally released from jail Play Video

  September 29, 2015 2:09 PM

  PLAQUEMINE - U.S. Marshals have joined the search for a convicted killer who was mistakenly released from jail this weekend. The search, which was revealed Tuesday, will continue overnight and into Wednesday morning since Benjuiel Johnson, 32, remains at large. Johnson was allowed to be released Saturday. The state... more »

• St. Helena Parish upgrades jail Play Video

  September 16, 2015 6:22 PM

  GREENSBURG - St. Helena Parish is wrapping up upgrades to the parish jail this week. Money from a capital outlay grant was used to build a prisoner entry sally port which encloses inmates while they're being transported from the vehicle to the jail. St. Helena officials told News 2... more »

• Prisoners, girlfriend arrested for work release booty call

  August 25, 2015 1:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Sheriff's deputies charged a woman with helping her boyfriend and another man get away from their work release job site in East Baton Rouge Parish this week. Deputies charged 29-year-old Tecarie Joseph and 28-year-old Anthony Walker with simple escape after they were re-captured. Investigators charged 26-year-old... more »

• Two Angola cellmates captured after escaping

  September 22, 2013 4:23 PM

  ANGOLA - Two Angola cellmates have been captured after attempting a daring plan to escape from jail. While in the prison yard this morning, the two inmates broke through the bottom of one gate and climbed over another before taking off into a wooded area. The Angola Chase... more »

• Two Angola inmates have escaped, police in hot pursuit

  September 22, 2013 10:53 AM

  BATON ROUGE - Two inmates are on the run after escaping from Angola State Prison. State police and the West Feliciana Sheriff's Office are currently in hot pursuit. According to the a prison official, the police have them surrounded. Both of the inmates are serving life sentences, one... more »

• Woman who escaped prison has run before Play Video

  January 1, 2013 5:56 PM

  ST. GABRIEL- Authorities said the woman who escaped overnight from a state prison in St. Gabriel was serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter, and offered a reward for information leading to her capture. St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said 33-year-old Keana Barnes climbed over a fence at the... more »

• Escaped prisoner was serving manslaughter sentence

  January 1, 2013 11:45 AM

  ST. GABRIEL - Authorities said the woman who escaped overnight from a state prison in St. Gabriel was serving a 25-year sentence for manslaughter, and offered a reward for information leading to her capture. St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said 33-year-old Keana Barnes climbed over a fence at... more »

• Female prisoner escapes from St. Gabriel prison

  January 1, 2013 10:35 AM

  ST. GABRIEL - A woman escaped overnight from the Elayn Hunt Correctional Institute for Women in St. Gabriel, according to authorities. Prison chase teams are out searching the area, but the prisoner's identity has not been released at this time. It is the second escape in less than... more »