ORLEANS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS CONDUCT OPERATION TO END STANDOFF WITH OJC RESIDENTS IN HIGH-SECURITY POD

NEW ORLEANS – Today, the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana Department of Corrections conducted a joint operation to end what had been a nonviolent protest with residents of the high-level security pod inside the Orleans Justice Center.

The decision was made to enter the pod after residents triggered the sprinkler system and started to flood the pod. The operation began at, approximately, 8:38 p.m. Six residents were immediately removed from OJC and will be transported to a DOC maximum-security facility.

Since Friday, residents of the high-security pod, 2E, had refused to enter their cells and comply with OPSO commands to remove barricades from entryways to their pod.

Sheriff's deputies had employed best practices throughout the standoff and used every opportunity to deescalate the situation and not use force. Attempts by OPSO negotiators to defuse the situation were consistently rebuffed by resident leaders on the pod.

All residents were screened by WellPath for injuries and we will update the community on any injuries sustained and provide a detailed report.

Sheriff Hutson thanks Louisiana Secretary of Corrections, James Le Blanc, and Warden Tim Hooper for their assistance.

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