Police search for inmates who escaped from New Orleans jail

We know this could not have been removed from the inside,

Mallett said

Jeff Landrygovernor

You can run, but you CANNOT HIDE. We will hunt each of you down. There is a $5,000 award for anyone in the public who provides helpful information. Call the Louisiana State Police Fusion Center Hotline at 225-925-4192."

Governor Landry said

There is much more than meets the eye to this investigation,

Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said during a Friday evening press conference

We know that this could not be removed from the inside, so we are investigating that to see exactly who entered these areas, what kind of work was done, if there was work being done and if this is an inside job,

Mallett said

This is an urgent and a serious situation,

said New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick

Liz Murrillattorney General

I’m in communication with Troop NOLA and @LAStatePolice Superintendent Colonel Hodges. It’s all hands on deck,

Murrill wrote in the post

The remaining individuals are still being actively pursued, and our deputies, in collaboration with local and state law enforcement, are working tirelessly to locate and return them to custody,

according to the sheriff's office

We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance and physical security measures,

Sheriff Hutson said

If there is anyone helping or harbouring these escapees, you will be charged,

Supt Kirkpatrick added

It’s more than likely that someone had help and they are not running around in a jumpsuit — but if they are, you’re going to stand out,

she said

We know that they had a lot of lead time before wider law enforcement was notified that they were missing,

Murrill said

Folks are normally locked down in this facility at 10.30pm, but these folks who were able to get out did so because of defective locks on the cells. I've talked about those locks since I've got into office."

She said

Folks, take it seriously,

the New Orleans police superintendent, Anne Kirkpatrick, said at a news conference late on Friday morning

Liz Murrillattorney General

Someone clearly dropped the ball, and there’s no excuse for this,

Louisiana’s attorney general, Liz Murrill, said in a statement on social media

I’ve got a deep fear right now for people who were brave enough to come forward to testify in these cases,

he said

This is beyond unacceptable, and once these offenders are back in custody, there must be real accountability,

she said

We do acknowledge there is no way people can get out of this facility without there being some type of lapse in security,

Sheriff Hutson said

We have indications that these detainees received assistance from individuals inside of our department,

Sheriff Susan Hutson said on Friday,

We still have to hold them,

she told City Council during its annual budget hearing, ... NOLA.com reported

I just want to remind the public and anyone that may be assisting them that, if we identify you and can prove that you are assisting them, we will prosecute you along with them to the fullest extent of the law,

he said