Escapee from a prison work crew in Washington Parish arrested in Chalmette with a woman who allegedly helped him escape and a Chalmette man

Posted: October 14th, 2014 | Filed under: News Releases
Damien Mcgrath, escapee from Washington Parish prison work crew caught in Chalmette

Damien Mcgrath, escapee from Washington Parish prison work crew caught in Chalmette

Monica Fogarty of Chalmette, arrested with McGrath

Monica Fogarty of Chalmette, arrested with McGrath

An escapee from a Washington Parish prison work crew was arrested in Chalmette on Monday,Oct. 13, along with a woman who allegedly helped him escape and another man, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Damien McGrath, 31, who was a “trusty’’ prisoner and was due to be released in November after serving time on a burglary conviction, was arrested along with Monica Fogarty, 42, and James Reed, 33, both of Chalmette, the sheriff said.

The arrests came just before 11 a.m. after they fled when seen in a vehicle near Fogarty’s residence on Jupiter Drive in Chalmette, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

McGrath was being held as a fugitive and was also booked with battery on police, resisting an officer and possession of prescription pills found in a car they had been riding in. He is being held on in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Fogarty was booked with being an accessory after the fact, aggravated flight from officers, reckless driving and possession of the pills. She is being held in lieu of $25,000 bond. Reed was booked on the accessory count, resisting arrest and the pills charge, He is being held in lieu of $15,000 bond.

McGrath had fled a prison work detail in Washington Parish on Oct. 12, allegedly with the help of Fogarty, who had sometimes visited him while he was incarcerated, officials said.

Washington Parish officials had reported McGrath might be at the home of Fogarty or her relatives, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Just before 11 a.m., St. Bernard deputies saw Fogarty driving a car near her home on Jupiter Drive and arrested her after she fled. McGrath and Reed were arrested outside of the vehicle.