All 10 fugitives who escaped from a New Orleans jail in May have been recaptured, culminating in the capture of Derrick Groves, the last inmate on the run. Groves, 28, was found hiding in the basement crawl space of a residence in Atlanta, following a police dog’s discovery after a lengthy search that involved an Atlanta Police Department SWAT team.
Groves and his nine accomplices made a bold escape on May 16 by breaking through a hole behind a toilet and scaling a wall while the only guard assigned to their cell pod stepped away to get food. They managed to climb over a fence and used blankets to shield themselves from barbed wire. Surveillance footage captured the escapees sprinting across a nearby interstate and into a neighboring area.
Following the jailbreak, law enforcement quickly apprehended three escapees within 24 hours, with most of the remaining fugitives captured in the following weeks. Various inmates were spotted in nightlife hotspots, and some even shared updates on social media, while Groves opted for a lower profile. His capture stemmed from an anonymous tip submitted through New Orleans Crimestoppers, which led law enforcement to the Atlanta home where Groves was discovered.
At the time of his capture, Groves was the only person in the residence, and no other arrests were made, but officials indicated that several individuals may face charges for assisting him. The Atlanta home, located near Tyler Perry Studios, had its garage door collapsed and was secured by police following Groves’ arrest. Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair commented on the elaborate planning behind Groves’ hiding, noting how challenging it was for law enforcement to extract him from the location.
Upon his capture, Groves was found shirtless and shoeless, handcuffed and shackled, and was seen blowing a kiss and grinning at a camera as he was escorted into a police car. Authorities also discovered a pistol and 15 pounds of marijuana inside the home, further complicating his legal situation. Following his arrest, Groves was booked into the Fulton County Jail on charges of being a fugitive from justice.
Groves is expected to be extradited back to Louisiana, where he faces a life sentence following his conviction last year for the murders of two individuals during a shooting amid a feud with rival drug dealers. His attorney in Louisiana, Peter Freiberg, declined to comment on the situation after stating he had yet to speak with his client. Meanwhile, the nine other men involved in the escape pleaded not guilty to associated escape charges in July, with the charges carrying a potential sentence of two to five years in prison.
