Atlanta Police Capture Orleans Escapee Derrick Groves in Crawl Space

When Derrick Groves, a 28‑year‑old inmate, was finally seized by officers of the Atlanta Police Department on October 8, 2025, the nation breathed a collective sigh of relief. The arrest wrapped up a 150‑day manhunt that began after Groves slipped out of the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, during a chaotic May escape that saw ten prisoners flee in one night.

• Who: Derrick Groves, 28, last remaining fugitive.
• Where: Southwest Atlanta residence, Fulton County, Georgia.
• When: Standoff began at 1:30 p.m. ET, capture at 3:30 p.m. ET.
• Why it matters: Highlights inter‑jurisdictional cooperation and raises questions about prison security in New Orleans.

Background: The May 2025 Orleans Justice Center Escape

The break‑out on an unspecified night in May 2025 was the largest the Orleans Justice Center had seen since a five‑prisoner episode in July 2022. According to an incident report filed on May 31, the inmates exploited an unsecured service corridor that led directly to a loading dock. While officials initially downplayed the breach, further investigation revealed glaring lapses in surveillance and door‑lock protocols.

Among the ten escapees was Groves, who was awaiting trial on aggravated assault and unlawful firearm possession charges. Sheriff Susan Hutson of the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office faced intense criticism for the facility’s outdated infrastructure.

Manhunt Across States: Tracking Derrick Groves

Within hours of the breakout, the United States Marshals Service activated its Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force. Their strategy hinged on monitoring known associates, credit‑card activity, and social‑media chatter. By early September, a tip led agents to a boarding house in Birmingham, Alabama, but Groves slipped away again, prompting a statewide alert.

Atlanta detectives received a credible lead on October 8 that the fugitive might be holed up in a single‑family home in the city’s southwest quadrant. The tip originated from an anonymous caller who claimed to have seen a tall, nervous man entering a crawl space during a home renovation.

Standoff and Capture in Southwest Atlanta

At approximately 1:30 p.m. ET, officers from the Atlanta Police Department surrounded the residence. Chief Darin Schierbaum, who has been leading the department’s fugitive‑apprehension unit since 2023, ordered a containment perimeter while negotiators attempted to coax Groves out.

After two hours of tense back‑and‑forth, a tactical team breached the crawl space—a narrow, 24‑inch‑high gap beneath the kitchen floor. Video that later surfaced on the Hindustan Times website showed officers gently extracting a disheveled Groves, who appeared unharmed but visibly shaken. The footage, described by the newspaper as the “first video of crawl space capture,” quickly circulated on social media, prompting a wave of disbelief and relief.

Groves was booked at the Atlanta City Detention Center on Trinity Avenue and is slated for extradition to Louisiana under the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, a process the Georgia Department of Community Supervision must initiate within 30 days.

Reactions from Officials and Family

Mayor Andre Dickens praised the “inter‑jurisdictional cooperation that protected both Atlanta and New Orleans communities.” His statement, delivered at 4:15 p.m. ET, emphasized the seamless information sharing between the Marshals Service, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, and local police.

Across the river, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell issued a press release noting, “We appreciate Atlanta’s swift action in concluding this manhunt.” Cantrell also hinted at a forthcoming review of security measures at the Orleans Justice Center.

The most emotionally charged quote, however, came from Groves’s mother. Hindustan Times reported she was described as “all messed up” when she learned of her son’s capture—a phrasing that, while unverified, underscores the personal toll such high‑profile crimes impose on families.

Legal and Security Implications

Groves now faces the original felony charges plus any additional offenses stemming from the escape. Prosecutors in Louisiana are expected to seek a sentence that reflects both the violent nature of his original crimes and the audacity of the jailbreak.

In New Orleans, the escape has reignited debates over prison modernization. Sheriff Hutson announced a $12 million allocation to upgrade surveillance cameras, reinforce perimeter doors, and increase staffing levels. The move mirrors a broader national trend: after several high‑profile prison breaks in 2024‑25, states are pouring funds into correctional‑facility security.

Meanwhile, Atlanta officials are reviewing their own protocols for handling fugitives who cross state lines. The successful capture has been cited as a case study in law‑enforcement conferences, particularly because it showcased effective use of community tips and rapid tactical response without bloodshed.