Escaped Inmate Back In Custody, Facing Drug And Escape Charges

LAFAYETTE, La. (KPEL) -- A Patterson man is back behind bars after briefly escaping from the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center Tuesday evening.

Capt. Kip Judice with the sheriff's office says 17-year-old Donte Harris was arrested on Ridge Road shortly after 5 p.m. Tuesday after deputies discovered more than 20 grams of marijuana wrapped in 15 separate packages in his car.

Judice says Harris initially tried to give deputies false information, but when his identity was eventually learned, he was brought to the correctional center for booking.

"[As] the deputy prepared his necessary booking paperwork, during this process Harris ran out of the building through a rear office door while still handcuffed," Judice says.

His freedom was short-lived, however; Judice says he was spotted just a few minutes later in a drainage coulee on St. Mary Street just a few blocks away.

Harris is facing charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, resisting an officer, and simple escape. He also has two outstanding warrants from St. Mary Parish.

A passenger in Harris' car was also arrested after he allegedly tried to swallow a bag which contained about one gram of marijuana. Judice says deputies were able to prevent him from swallowing the drugs, and they were able to recover a sufficient amount to charge him.