Tagged News

• 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 »

• Work release inmate back in custody after morning escape

  September 22, 2019 2:17 PM

  WALKER - A work releases inmate was briefly on the lam Sunday morning, prompting a search of areas along I-12 in Walker. The sheriff’s office said the inmate left a facility Sunday morning and was back in custody around lunchtime. People reported seeing numerous law enforcement officers search... 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 »

• More details to be released Tuesday about West Baton Rouge deputy arrests Play Video

  December 3, 2018 5:46 PM

  PORT ALLEN - Details surrounding what led to the arrests of two deputies with possibly more arrests coming will be revealed during a news conference Tuesday at the West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office. On Thursday, the WBRZ Investigative Unit learned two deputies were arrested after an audit found some... more »

• After WBRZ tell-all, state making changes to inmate work release program Play Video

  September 5, 2017 1:01 PM

  BATON ROUGE – A week after a WBRZ report where an escaped work release inmate spoke about how easy it was to break free from the state's program, the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections announced it's working to improve oversight and supervision of offenders. In a series... more »

• Woman recalls terrifying encounter with WBR work release inmate Play Video

  June 29, 2017 11:36 AM

  PLAQUEMINE- A West Baton Rouge Parish work release inmate is under arrest Thursday morning in Iberville Parish, after investigators say he broke into a house and beat up a woman. The incident occurred around 9 a.m., according to Plaquemine Police Chief Kenny Payne. Investigators said... more »

• West Baton Rouge inmate captured after walking off job site Play Video

  April 26, 2017 2:26 PM

  WEST BATON ROUGE – A West Baton Rouge work release inmate who walked off his job this week was captured Wednesday morning. The inmate, Michael Allen, was working at Fluker Farms when he walked off the job around 6 :30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the West Baton Rouge... more »

• West Baton Rouge work release inmate captured in Oklahoma

  March 1, 2017 12:22 PM

  UPDATE: U.S. Marshals confirmed that David Graham was captured in Oklahoma Friday morning, two days after he escaped from West Baton Rouge Parish. BATON ROUGE- The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for another work release inmate that apparently walked off of a job site this... 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 »

• EBRSO searching for missing work release inmate

  November 2, 2016 12:50 PM

  BATON ROUGE – East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Detectives are looking for a work release inmate that walked away from his job site on Tuesday evening. According to EBRSO, the inmate is 51-year-old Michael Gambino, III. Gambino did not return from his work assignment Tuesday evening from the O'Neal Lane... 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 »

• Escapees caught; One arrested feet from WBRZ camera Play Video

  October 13, 2016 3:21 PM

  UPDATE: The work release facility located inside the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail is operated by a private prison company, Louisiana Workforce, according to a sheriff's office spokesperson. A company representative Paul Perkins said the front door at the work release facility is usually unlocked allowing the two... more »

• Inmate escapes from WBR jail, gets caught with marijuana Play Video

  June 21, 2016 5:29 PM

  PORT ALLEN - A West Baton Rouge Parish trustee is locked up in the main part of the jail after investigators said he escaped over the weekend. Investigators said when he got caught, they found two bags of marijuana on him. According to investigators, 37-year-old Haron Link was serving... more »

• Escaped Elayn Hunt work release inmate recaptured

  April 22, 2016 4:31 PM

  ST. GABRIEL - East Baton Rouge Parish deputies have reported the arrest of an inmate who managed to escape his work release job for several hours Thursday. Deputies said 26-year-old Terry Jones was taken back into custody by deputies and booked on charges of fugitive from justice and simple... 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 »

• FOLLOW UP: Deputies working night of possible inmate escape to be questioned

  December 18, 2015 12:45 PM

  PORT ALLEN – West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's deputies who are assigned the overnight shift at the jail's work release bunk area will be questioned Friday after Baton Rouge Police said a man escaped the center and attacked a man in the parking of a hotel on the east side... more »

• Searchers actively following tips for missing inmate

  November 6, 2015 1:23 PM

  DENHAM SPRINGS - Authorities said they're actively following up on tips in the search for a work release inmate who left his job site earlier this week in Livingston Parish. A spokesperson for the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office said they and members of the Walker Police Department searched an... more »

• Deputies searching for missing work-release inmate

  November 5, 2015 1:33 PM

  BATON ROUGE - Sheriff's deputies said they're searching for a work release inmate out of Livingston Parish who left his job earlier this week. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office said Kevin Whetstone, 30, was working offshore on a tugboat and called a relative to pick him up after... 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 »