By Chad Calder
The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate
AMITE, La. — The Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office has fired one deputy and suspended two senior employees following the escape of an inmate Monday from the courthouse in Amite.
The Sheriff’s Office said the jail transport deputy who had been placed on administrative leave following the incident has since been fired, and two “senior-level supervisors” have been suspended for the rest of this week.
On Monday, a group of seven inmates including Donnie Stevenson, 19, exited the back door to enter a waiting transport van after an appearance in court. Stevenson waited by the back door as the other inmates left in the van then climbed over the loading dock gate and escaped at about 10:20 a.m.
A TPSO dog found Stevenson hiding under a truck a block away about 30 minutes later.
Stevenson is accused of first-degree rape, aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery and illegal possession of stolen things and was booked with another count of simple escape following his arrest.
During its investigation, the Sheriff’s Office determined the transport deputy escorting the group on Monday did not conduct a headcount as required, allowing the van to leave without realizing Stevenson wasn’t on it.
The investigation also determined that jail staff and leadership “raised awareness about Stevenson’s upcoming hearing and requested specialized transport for him to two levels of upper-chain-of-command personnel. The request was not followed through by either of those administrators.”
The Sheriff’s Office said it is now revising courthouse staffing assignments, acquiring new restraints for high-risk inmates and is making alterations to the loading dock gate. It has already instituted a new protocol for high-risk inmates.
This investigation continues with the possibility of additional employee disciplinary actions, including terminations, the Sheriff’s Office said.
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