Tangipahoa jail warden records show third suspension by sheriff’s office

Three of the inmates were implicated in a suspected murder but were recaptured. Jamarcus Cyprian, who was in prison for armed robbery and possession of weapons, is still at large.

Tangipahoa Parish Deputy Chief Jimmy Travis did not respond to Fox 8’s request for information on the search for Cyprian or to a request to interview Martin on Wednesday (June 19).

Sticker has declined or not responded to Fox 8’s interview requests to discuss Martin’s OPSO disciplinary history since Fox 8 obtained the records. However, he did text a statement that said, in part:

“This problem is bigger than a new employee. This outbreak is the latest of several that occurred before Mr. Martin even started at the prison. The outbreaks are the direct result of years of neglect of operations and maintenance, underpaid and untrained staff, and severe understaffing. That, in my opinion, is the real story.”

In an interview in May, Sticker stated that Martin was at the prison for training purposes. This contradicts Martin’s description of his role two days earlier, which confirmed that everyone in the prison reports to him.

Sticker reiterated his position in a text message statement:

“It is important for you to understand that the recent outbreak did not occur under Jerry Martin’s leadership at the jail alone, as he is actually only there to learn under current and active Warden Heath Martin (no relation). We are grateful that Sheriff Edwards is allowing Jerry to be a fill-in of sorts before he officially assumes the role next month.”

In the May interview, Sticker also said there had been positive reports about Martin’s work.

Tangipahoa Prison had already experienced a number of outbreaks before Martin’s arrival. In addition, state records show that the Department of Corrections warned the prison about staff training before Martin was hired in 2023.

In a text message statement, Sticker said he had checked out Martin. In May, he told Fox 8 he had spoken to Hutson about his hiring.

“She said to me, ‘Look, obviously I fired him and there’s a legal case going on,’ she said, but in her words it was ‘hopefully he’s learned his lesson’ and she said ‘he has the potential to do a good job for you,'” he said.

Martin filed suit against Hutson, claiming he was fired by OPSO because he was black. A federal judge dismissed the suit on June 14.

A spokesman for Hutson did not respond to questions about Hutson’s opinion of Martin.

Joel Friedman, professor emeritus of law at Tulane University, said Sticker should answer questions about the documents.

“If the public is sufficiently informed about Captain Martin’s background from his time with the Orleans Parish Sheriff and his history of violations, disciplinary actions and his eventual termination, and learns that he was hired by the new sheriff despite all of that, then it seems to me that the sheriff is responsible and should explain why and how he did that,” he said.

Sticker will take office on July 1.

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