NEW ORLEANS - An Orleans Parish inmate apparently briefly escaped custody and made his way to the roof of a building behind the New Orleans Criminal Court Building before being recaptured.

Television pictures from the scene Tuesday morning showed the inmate perched on a ledge, with his orange jail jumpsuit off.

Prison guards in a nearby tower could be seen talking to the inmate.

Local media reported that the man was recaptured about an hour later.

It was not immediately known how the inmate escaped.