Two Inmates Recaptured in Louisiana After Jail Escape

2025-11-15

The BareStory

An inmate who escaped from a Louisiana jail was recaptured overnight Friday, following a two-day search. Authorities identified the inmate as Cecil Michael Stratton, 46. A second inmate, Brandon Brunet, 22, who escaped with Stratton, was apprehended shortly after the breakout from the Berwick Police Department jail.

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Department stated that the escape happened during lockdown procedures. According to the department, a struggle occurred, during which Stratton allegedly threw a chemical substance into an officer's face, allowing the two inmates to flee. The sheriff’s department described Stratton as having violent tendencies and noted that he had previously escaped from a different facility.

Stratton was located and taken into custody in Morgan City after a local police department received a complaint that he was seen inside a residence. He was ultimately found in a boat at a business, according to the sheriff's department.

Following their recapture, both Stratton and Brunet are facing charges including aggravated escape, battery on a police officer, and disarming a police officer. Authorities have set bail for Brunet at $500,000. The sheriff's department reported that the investigation is ongoing and that additional charges are expected.

Left Perspective

The escape involved an alleged assault on an officer.
Authorities successfully recaptured two escaped inmates.
The inmates are now facing serious additional charges.

Right Perspective

Two inmates escaped from jail during lockdown procedures.
The escape allegedly involved a physical altercation.
Both men now face multiple new criminal charges.

Left Perspective

• The escape involved an alleged assault on an officer. According to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Department, the escape occurred during lockdown procedures when a struggle broke out. The department stated that inmate Cecil Michael Stratton allegedly threw a chemical substance into an officer’s face, which allowed him and a second inmate, Brandon Brunet, to flee the facility.

• Authorities successfully recaptured two escaped inmates. After a two-day search, authorities located and apprehended Cecil Michael Stratton, who the sheriff's department described as having violent tendencies and a history of a previous escape. The second inmate, Brandon Brunet, was apprehended shortly after the initial breakout from the Berwick Police Department jail.

• The inmates are now facing serious additional charges. Following their recapture, authorities are pursuing new charges against both men, including aggravated escape, battery on a police officer, and disarming a police officer. The sheriff's department has also set bail for Brunet at $500,000 and noted that the investigation is ongoing, with more charges expected to be filed.

Right Perspective

• Two inmates escaped from jail during lockdown procedures. Cecil Michael Stratton, 46, and Brandon Brunet, 22, escaped from the Berwick Police Department jail. Brunet was recaptured shortly after the breakout, while Stratton was located and taken into custody two days later in Morgan City after a citizen complaint.

• The escape allegedly involved a physical altercation. The sheriff's department reported that a struggle occurred with an officer, during which Stratton is alleged to have used a chemical substance on the officer. This action is described as having allowed the two men to flee the jail.

• Both men now face multiple new criminal charges. As a result of the incident, both Stratton and Brunet are facing charges of aggravated escape, battery on a police officer, and disarming a police officer. Brunet's bail was set at $500,000, and authorities have indicated that additional charges for the men are expected.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader:

• This localized jail escape and recapture in Louisiana is unlikely to have a direct or significant impact on the general public outside of the immediate area.

Two Inmates Recaptured in Louisiana After Jail Escape

The BareStory

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