Four men were able to escape from Tangipahoa Parish Jail in Louisiana this weekend because of an eight-inch gap and a lack of oversight at the facility, the authorities said.
Jimmy Travis, the chief of operations for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s office, blamed structural issues and a lack of oversight by the jail staff in a news conference on Monday.
The four men escaped after they evaded correction officers during recreation time in the yard and hid out until darkness, according to a Facebook statement from the Tangipahoa Parish sheriff, Daniel Edwards.
The men escaped in pairs, Mr. Travis said.
On Sunday, two other inmates — Omarion Hookfin, 19, and Jamarcus Cyprian, 20 — copied that route for their escape.
Persons:
Jimmy Travis, Daniel Edwards, Travis, Avery Guidry, Travon Johnson, —, — Omarion, Jamarcus Cyprian
Locations:
Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, Tangipahoa