Lead: Cecil Michael Stratton, 46, was taken into custody at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, after a multi-day manhunt in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. Authorities say Stratton fled the Berwick Police Department Jail during a lockdown by throwing a chemical substance into an officer’s face, enabling his escape alongside another inmate. The other detainee, 22-year-old Brandon Lee Brunet, was recaptured early Thursday. Officials recovered Stratton hiding in a boat at a Morgan City business and arrested him without incident.
Key Takeaways
- Suspect: Cecil Michael Stratton, 46, accused of escaping Berwick Police Department Jail during lockdown and assaulting an officer with a chemical substance.
- Capture: Stratton was arrested at 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Morgan City after a tip led officers to a local business.
- Companion inmate: Brandon Lee Brunet, 22, was recaptured early Thursday after fleeing with Stratton.
- Charges: Stratton faces counts including unauthorized entry of a critical infrastructure, disarming a police officer, battery on a police officer, aggravated battery, and simple and aggravated escape.
- Prior record: Local reporting says Stratton has a long criminal history with charges including theft, possession of stolen property, marijuana possession, attempted first-degree murder and resisting an officer.
- In-jail incident: Police described a brief struggle during routine lockdown procedures as the moment the chemical substance was deployed.
- No injuries reported at time of arrest; the scope and type of the chemical agent have not been publicly confirmed.
Background
The incident began while jail staff were conducting lockdown procedures at the Berwick Police Department Jail, a routine measure used to secure inmates during shifts in control or to manage specific security risks. Local police said a brief confrontation occurred between Stratton and officers, during which a chemical agent was reportedly thrown into an officer’s face. That action allowed Stratton and another inmate to slip away from custody inside the facility.
Stratton is described in statements as having a history of violent behavior and a record that includes serious charges. Local media cited prior escapes and a previous breakout from a North Louisiana prison, raising questions about supervision and transfer protocols for inmates with established escape histories. St. Mary Parish law enforcement agencies coordinated a multi-day search that culminated in a tip-driven recovery in Morgan City.
Main Event
Police reports say the escape occurred Wednesday night during the jail’s lockdown procedures; the precise timeline released by Berwick authorities places a short physical struggle at the moment an unidentified chemical was thrown at an officer. Officials say the assault temporarily incapacitated or distracted staff enough for both inmates to flee the facility perimeter.
Brandon Lee Brunet, 22, was located and arrested early Thursday morning, according to police. Investigators continued searching for Stratton for several days, canvassing local tips and nearby waterways. On Friday night, law enforcement received information that Stratton had been seen inside a residence in Morgan City.
Responding officers found Stratton lying inside a boat at a Morgan City business and took him into custody without incident at 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. Authorities booked him on multiple charges including disarming an officer and aggravated escape; booking records list both simple and aggravated escape counts as well as battery-related charges.
Analysis & Implications
The use of a chemical agent in an attempted escape elevates concerns about inmate access to improvised weapons and the preparedness of small local jails to manage high-risk detainees. Even when nonlethal in effect, chemical exposures can momentarily disable staff or create confusion that facilitates flight. For local departments with limited staff, a single disruptive event can cascade into an insecure perimeter and delayed response times.
Stratton’s reported prior escape from a North Louisiana facility and his documented violent history highlight decision points in detention management: classification, supervision level, and transfer protocols. Agencies must weigh security upgrades, staff training on chemical exposures, and review of classification practices for inmates with repeated escape attempts. The case may prompt internal reviews at Berwick and broader county-level audits of jail procedures.
Legally, the charges filed against Stratton—aggravated battery and disarming a police officer—carry potential for extended custody and enhanced sentencing if proven. From a public-safety perspective, rapid coordination between municipal police and parish sheriff resources was decisive in preventing an extended fugitive period that could have endangered the community.
Comparison & Data
| Date/Time | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday night (earlier in week) | Stratton allegedly escapes Berwick Police Department Jail after a struggle and chemical exposure to an officer. |
| Early Thursday | Brandon Lee Brunet, 22, recaptured. |
| Friday night tip | Tip places Stratton at a Morgan City residence; officers respond. |
| 12:15 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025 | Stratton arrested without incident in a boat at a Morgan City business. |
The timeline shows a rapid sequence: escape, near-immediate recapture of one inmate, and multi-day search ending in Saturday’s arrest. This pattern is consistent with many local-jail escapes where community tips and interagency coordination lead to swift resolution.
Reactions & Quotes
“He fled while jailers were securing inmates during lockdown procedures,”
Berwick Police Department statement
The police statement framed the escape as occurring during routine security operations, a point officials later cited when describing procedural reviews. Local sheriff’s office releases emphasized interagency cooperation that produced the tip and subsequent arrest.
“He was taken into custody without incident at 12:15 a.m. Saturday,”
St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office
That succinct description confirmed the end of the search and the absence of further public safety incidents at the time of arrest. Local reporters also noted Stratton’s prior convictions and an earlier escape from a North Louisiana facility, underscoring the individual’s known risk profile.
Unconfirmed
- The precise chemical agent used in the assault has not been publicly identified and remains unconfirmed by officials.
- Any broader plan or outside assistance in the escape has not been established in public records or statements and remains unverified.
Bottom Line
The capture of Cecil Michael Stratton ended a multi-day search that relied on local tips and coordinated response by law enforcement agencies. The use of a chemical substance during the escape raises operational and safety questions for small jails, especially about handling inmates with known violent histories and prior escapes.
Authorities have filed multiple charges that could keep Stratton in custody for an extended period if convicted; investigators and local officials are likely to review lockdown protocols and staff training to reduce the risk of similar incidents. For the public, the swift arrest illustrates the role of interagency cooperation and community reporting in resolving escapes without broader harm.