Crime and Public Safety

The Orleans Parish Sheriff says there are indications that the ten inmates who escaped from a New Orleans jail “received assistance in their escape from individuals inside of our department.” Sheriff Susan Hutson says one of the inmates was captured Friday after a short foot chase through the French Quarter. Authorities are saying they initially noticed the inmates were missing during a morning headcount and LiveNOW's Andrew Craft has the latest. It's being reported that the escapees range from 19 years old to 42, with most of them being in their 20s. This includes Derrick Groves, who was convicted on two charges of second-degree murder and two charges of attempted second-degree murder related to his role in the 2018 Mardi Gras Day shootings of two men. During an update given earlier today, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson said the department is currently working with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies as they continue to search for the inmates. “We are launching a full investigation to determine how this escape occurred, including reviewing facility protocols, staff performance and physical security measures,” Hutson said.

Two inmates have been recaptured after 11 inmates escaped from a New Orleans jail on Friday morning. New Orleans Police Department Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said her agency was notified at 10:30 a.m. that there were 11 escapees from the sheriff's prison. Kirkpatrick said when notified, she immediately offered any and all resources to the sheriff.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced his agency arrested over 200 suspects during a nine-day-long human trafficking operation. PCSO detectives worked with multiple federal and local agencies to identify suspects and victims involved in this operation. In total, 255 suspects were arrested for illegal acts related to soliciting prostitutes, offering to commit prostitution, or aiding/abetting or transporting prostitutes.

R&B singer Cassie was pressed to read aloud her own explicit messages to ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs in federal court Thursday, including texts that showed her expressing desire for the drug-fueled group sex she previously testified left her traumatized. Lawyers for Combs sought to portray Cassie to the jury as a willing and eager participant in the music mogul’s sexual lifestyle. Combs has pleaded not guilty to federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges. His defense says that, while he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise.

Cassie Ventura was pressed to read aloud her own messages to ex-boyfriend Sean “Diddy” Combs in federal court Thursday, including texts that showed her expressing desire for the group sex she previously testified had left her traumatized. LiveNOW's Christina Evans is speaking with culture critic and writer Jamilah Lemieux on what happens next.

During a hearing on Thursday, Bryan Kohberger's defense team claimed they have evidence of an "alternate suspect". Kohberger is expected to go on trial this August for the murders of four college students. A new report shows that a car that looks similar to Kohberger's was seen a number of times near the home where the four University of Idaho students were stabbed to death. He is charged with first-degree murder in the Nov. 13, 2022 deaths of Xana Kernodle, 20, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Madison Mogen, 21, and Ethan Chapin, 20. The inclusion of an ‘alternative perpetrator’ defense has already been met with some skepticism. There have also been arguments over Kohberger's alibi, which prosecutors say cannot be corroborated by anyone other than the defendant himself. Kohberger was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at Washington State University. That campus is about 10 miles from the University of Idaho crime scene. LiveNOW's Andrew Craft is getting the latest from Fox News' Kennedy Hayes. He is also speaking to legal analyst Nicole DeBorde on what options Kohberger's defense team are currently looking at.

More developments today in the Sean ?Diddy? Combs sex trafficking trial, including questions directed toward R&B singer Cassie. She has been speaking about her nearly 11-year relationship with Diddy. Lawyers have been having her read out loud for the jury many sexually explicit messages that she and Combs shared from years before. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani is speaking with LiveNOW's Andrew Craft on the latest details.

Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan pleaded not guilty on Friday to two criminal charges that she tried to help an undocumented migrant evade immigration enforcement.

R&B singer Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura returned to the witness stand for a third day on Thursday and was forced under cross-examination to read aloud to a jury her explicit messages with former boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs. The case continues to shed light on their allegedly dark and abusive relationship that lasted over a decade. Combs’ sex trafficking trial in Manhattan is expected to last about two months. Cassie Diddy text messages Combs’ lawyers are seeking to portray Cassie as a willing participant in Combs’ lifestyle, and say that while he could be violent, nothing he did amounted to a criminal enterprise. Combs' lawyers began questioning the prosecution's star witness, and some of the text messages read on Thursday expressed enthusiasm for Combs-directed encounters with other men that she previously testified had disgusted her. Defense attorney Anna Estevao read what Combs said in email and text exchanges, while Cassie recited what she wrote to him. In one from August 2009, Combs asked her: "When do you want to freak off? Lol." "I’m always ready to freak off," she replied. Two days later, Cassie sent an explicit message to Combs. "I can’t wait to watch you. I want you to get real hott," he replied. "Me Too, I just want it to be uncontrollable," she said. Cassie asked for a short break, which Judge Arun Subramanian granted, after yet more explicit messages were shown. This came a day after she was made to see still images from videos of sexual encounters during prosecutors’ questioning. Estevao also had Cassie read through warm and loving messages with Combs early in their relationship. Cassie testified that Combs was charismatic, with a larger-than-life personality. At the time, she said, "I had fallen in love with him and cared about him very much." Diddy Trial updates Dig deeper: Prior to the start of the trial, Combs’ lawyers made clear that they intended to label a lot of the sexual behavior of their client as part of the swingers lifestyle. Under questioning, Cassie said that on at least four occasions during their relationship, she watched Diddy have sex with other women. She said Diddy told her it was part of a "swingers lifestyle." Estevao asked Cassie directly whether she thought "freak-offs" were related to the swingers lifestyle. "In a sexual way," Cassie responded, before adding: "They’re very different." Thursday's testimony and evidence was in contrast to the violence and shame Cassie said accompanied "hundreds" of her encounters with male sex workers that Combs watched and controlled during their relationship — which stretched from 2007 to 2018 and started when she was 19, and he was in his 30s. She said the drug-fueled "freak-offs" would last hours and even days, with her sometimes taking IV fluids to recover and eventually developing an opioid addiction because it made her "feel numb" afterward. LiveNOW's Andy Mac talks to FOX 5's Lisa Evers and TMZ's Michael Babcock on the latest.

The Milwaukee City Hall building was placed on lockdown on Thursday, and those inside were told to shelter in place.