Authorities caught Tra’Von Johnson, a Louisiana inmate who pulled off an escape from a parish jail, a stunt he also managed nearly a year ago. The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office disclosed that Johnson was back in custody on Friday night after his latest escape from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail on Thursday night. The jail has seen several jailbreaks involving around six inmates in recent years, including Johnson’s successful getaway.
Johnson, aged 22, had been awaiting trial for his alleged involvement in a home invasion that resulted in a man’s death and a child’s injury. The sheriff’s office became suspicious when a member of the public called shortly before 10 p.m. on Thursday, questioning whether Johnson was still in custody. Sheriff Gerald Sticker mentioned an incident in a dorm where inmates flooded a cell, leading to Johnson and another inmate, Trevon Wallace, opening the back door to the jail that leads to the yard. Wallace, however, did not flee and was returned inside.
Following an immediate head count and a review of Johnson’s movements throughout the day, it was determined that he escaped around 4:30 p.m. with the help of another inmate who lifted him over the perimeter fence. At least four individuals were placed on administrative leave pending a full review. In May 2024, Johnson was part of a group of four inmates who broke through the jail’s perimeter fence during recreation time in the yard. The escape last year was attributed to manpower shortages, inadequate staff training, lack of supervision, and insufficient headcounts.
The Tangipahoa Parish jail in Amite is situated about 75 miles northwest of New Orleans. Johnson’s escape and recapture coincide with the ongoing search for five of the ten inmates who escaped from a jail in New Orleans on May 16. Surveillance video captured the inmates removing a jail cell door and breaching a wall behind the toilet of a cell. The incidents in both jails highlight the issue of security and supervision lapses that have led to multiple escapes in recent times. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like these escapes are becoming a trend in Louisiana jails. Not really sure why this keeps happening, but it’s definitely a cause for concern in the state’s correctional facilities.