OTTOWA – Facing mounting criticism for leaving New Orleans during an active manhunt, Mayor LaToya Cantrell released a statement Tuesday claiming her surprise trip to Canada was “a rapid-response effort based on an anonymous and highly specific tip” that one of the fugitives had been spotted near the convention center in Toronto.
“I didn’t want to alarm the public,” the mayor said. “But when you get a tip that a known fugitive may be loitering near the same building where you’re attending a leadership summit and networking brunch, you act.”
The mayor confirmed she did not inform local law enforcement of the tip, citing the sensitive nature of international surveillance. “Plus, I figured I could handle it solo. I brought my city-issued binoculars and usual entourage of 5-6 fine ass looking cops.”
She went on to explain that the tip included vague details about a man “matching the general description” of one of the escapees, last seen walking briskly toward a food court inside the Rogers Centre in Ottawa. “It’s all about instincts in these situations,” she said. “And my gut told me to stay close to that buffet with all you can eat snow-crab and prime rib.”
While New Orleans residents awaited updates on the manhunt, the mayor’s social media briefly showed a filtered selfie captioned “Making connections”—which was quickly deleted.
