Male inmate takes female jailer hostage at St. Martin Correctional Center

A male inmate at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center took a female corrections officer hostage for about an hour and a half Monday night.

SMSO Maj. Ginny Higgins told reporters the situation was resollved at about 9:10 p.m. She could not say whether there were any injuries, but she did say the situation was resolved with negotiation.

The incident occurred in the jail's laundry room, a secure space, she said.

Higgins said she could not identify either the inmate or the officer involved, but sources close to the scene said the inmate was Melvin Celestine of Breaux Bridge, who was serving time on drug offenses.

The incident was only fainly reminiscent of the 1999 siege when federal prisons from Cuba kept authorities at bay for six days.

This event is still under investigation, Higgins said.
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