Captured New Orleans jail escapee waives extradition; AG weighs aggravated escape charge
After a five-month manhunt, Derrick Groves — believed to be a ringleader in the May 16 New Orleans jail breakout — was captured in southwest Atlanta after a multiagency standoff in which marshals and Atlanta SWAT used gas and a K-9 to remove him from a reinforced basement crawl space; officers booked him in Fulton County and recovered a pistol and roughly 15–20 pounds of marijuana at the hideout. Groves waived extradition and said he wanted to return to Louisiana, where prosecutors are weighing upgrading a previously filed simple escape charge to aggravated escape because of the weapons and drugs found, while investigators continue to pursue aiding-and-abetting charges against at least 16 alleged accomplices.
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📌 Key Facts
- Derrick Groves, the 10th and final escapee from the May 16 New Orleans jail breakout, was captured in southwest Atlanta near Delowe Drive SW & W Cedar Lane SW shortly after 2 p.m. ET during a multi‑agency operation.
- The arrest was carried out by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force with Atlanta Police SWAT and supporting units; officers deployed gas canisters and a K‑9, and Groves was found hiding in a reinforced crawl space in the home’s basement and taken into custody without injury.
- Investigators said no one else was inside the residence at the time of the arrest; law enforcement later recovered a pistol and roughly 15–20 pounds of marijuana at the Atlanta hideout, although no weapon was found on Groves during the takedown.
- Groves was booked in Fulton County on a fugitive‑from‑justice charge and had an extradition hearing on Oct. 9 at which he waived extradition, saying “I want to return where I’m from”; he is expected to be returned to Louisiana to be arraigned and housed at the state maximum‑security Angola prison, with Louisiana State Police involved in transfer discussions.
- He is charged with simple escape (statutory range 2–5 years) and faces potential upgraded charges: Louisiana AG Liz Murrill is weighing an aggravated escape charge (statutory range 5–10 years) because weapons and a large quantity of marijuana were found at the hideout.
- Officials say Groves was believed to be a ringleader in the breakout; authorities described the escape method as removing a cell door from its tracks, taking out a toilet to create a hole in a cell wall, scaling a wall and fence using blankets, and running across a nearby interstate.
- Investigators say multiple people appear to have assisted the escapees; at least 16 people — including a former jail employee, Darriana Burton — face charges related to aiding fugitives (transport, shelter, cash), and nine other escapees had earlier pleaded not guilty to simple escape charges.
- New Orleans DA Jason Williams called the jailbreak a “historic failure of custodial security” and vowed to pursue all legal avenues; Sheriff Susan Hutson pointed to jail design and staffing flaws as factors in the breakout, and Gov. Jeff Landry publicly praised the capture.
📰 Sources (6)
New Orleans jail escapee agrees to return to Louisiana after being recaptured in Georgia
New information:
- Derrick Groves waived extradition in a Fulton County, GA, hearing on Oct. 9 and said, “I want to return where I’m from.”
- Louisiana AG Liz Murrill is considering upgrading Groves’ charge from simple escape to aggravated escape due to weapons and ~20 pounds of marijuana found at the Atlanta hideout.
- Groves will be arraigned on the previously filed simple escape charge upon return and will be placed at Louisiana’s maximum-security Angola prison.
- Louisiana State Police said discussions are ongoing and no timeline has been set yet for transport to Louisiana.
- Statutory ranges noted: simple escape carries 2–5 years; aggravated escape 5–10 years.
The 10th and final escapee from a New Orleans jailbreak is captured after five months
New information:
- State Police Supt. Robert Hodges said investigators learned in early October Groves was likely in the Atlanta area and traced him to a residence via multiple search warrants and other investigative means.
- Atlanta PD Deputy Chief Kelley Collier detailed the takedown: gas canisters were deployed, Groves moved to the basement, and a Clayton County K-9 located him in a crawl space.
- Officials said no one else was inside the house during the arrest; APD video shows Groves blowing a kiss as he was taken to a cruiser.
- Louisiana AG Liz Murrill: Groves has a Thursday hearing at which he can waive extradition; otherwise the state will initiate extradition proceedings.
- Groves is charged with simple escape in addition to prior convictions (life for two murders, plus two attempted murders and a federal firearms charge pending sentencing).
- Gov. Jeff Landry publicly lauded the capture on social media.
What to know about the capture of the last of 10 escapees from a New Orleans jail
New information:
- Agents found a pistol and approximately 15 pounds of marijuana inside the Atlanta house where Groves was hiding, according to Louisiana AG Liz Murrill.
- Groves was booked into Fulton County Jail on a fugitive-from-justice charge and has an extradition hearing scheduled Thursday.
- Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair said Groves had prepared to hide for an extended period; SWAT used tear gas and a police dog to extract him from a basement crawl space.
- The hideout was in a neighborhood adjacent to Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta; the home’s garage door was left collapsed/inward after the operation.
- Officials reiterated that multiple people appear to have assisted Groves and could face aiding-and-abetting charges.
- Additional escape details confirmed: inmates exited via a hole behind a toilet while a lone guard was away getting food, scaled a wall and fence using blankets, and ran across a nearby interstate.
How escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves was captured after 5 months
New information:
- Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair says a Crime Stoppers Greater New Orleans tip earlier this summer pointed investigators toward the Atlanta area.
- Groves was found hiding in a narrow, reinforced crawl space in the home’s basement after officers deployed gas multiple times.
- Arrest executed by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force with Atlanta Police SWAT; Louisiana marshals pushed the lead to Georgia counterparts.
- Arrest time was shortly after 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday; Groves was taken into custody without injury and no weapons were recovered.
- Groves was booked in Fulton County, Georgia on fugitive-from-justice charges and is expected to be extradited to Louisiana; Louisiana State Police likely to lead the transfer.
- Officials reiterated Groves is believed to have been a ringleader in the May 16 jailbreak and detailed the escape method (cell door off tracks, toilet removed, hole in wall, fence scaled).
Escaped New Orleans inmate Derrick Groves captured after standoff in Atlanta, police say
New information:
- Precise capture location given: near Delowe Drive SW & W Cedar Lane SW in southwest Atlanta.
- New on-record quote from New Orleans DA Jason Williams labeling the escape a 'historic failure of custodial security' and pledging to 'pursue every available legal avenue.'
- Added background that at least 16 people — including a former jail employee, Darriana Burton — face charges for aiding fugitives (transport, food, shelter, cash), with Burton accused of helping coordinate calls to evade jail monitoring.
- Context that nine other escapees pleaded not guilty to 'simple escape' charges in July, with names listed.
- Sheriff Susan Hutson’s previously reported assessment of jail design and staffing flaws reiterated as factors in the breakout.