Louisiana Inmate Recaught After Escape Thanks to Alert From Tipster Just One Day Later

A Louisiana inmate, Tra’Von Johnson, who escaped from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail, has been recaptured according to the sheriff’s office. Johnson, 22, was found on Bennett Road in Amite City, just a few miles from the facility he fled on Thursday afternoon. This incident marks Johnson’s second escape from the jail, as he had previously broken out exactly a year ago. The sheriff’s office expressed gratitude to the community for their assistance in the search, noting that Louisiana State Police played a key role in his arrest.

A video shared by the sheriff’s office showed Johnson being taken into custody and loaded into a helicopter. Before his escape, Johnson was awaiting trial related to his alleged involvement in a 2022 home invasion in Hammond, where a man was killed and a child injured. Following his recapture, he has been charged with simple escape and has been transferred to Angola, Louisiana, to await trial. The escape occurred when another inmate flooded a shower, leading to a brief period during which several exterior doors were left open for cleanup.

Unfortunately, this allowed Johnson and another inmate, Trevon Wallace, to run out to the yard. Surveillance footage revealed their escape, with Wallace providing assistance to Johnson over a perimeter fence before returning to the jail and being intercepted by deputies. An investigation has since been launched into the incident, focusing on the staff’s failure to follow protocols, as well as the inmate who caused the flooding. Wallace now faces charges related to the escape, while four jail staff members have been placed on administrative leave.

The sheriff’s office acknowledged the ongoing staffing challenges at the facility, which hampers effective monitoring.