New details have emerged about the circumstances leading up to the arrest of Derrick Groves.

Escaped Louisiana inmate Derrick Groves was captured in Atlanta after a five-month manhunt. Authorities found him hiding in a crawl space after deploying gas multiple times.(Fulton County Sheriff’s Office)

Atlanta SWAT has been credited with apprehending a man described as a mass murderer without anyone being hurt — but Louisiana authorities played a major role as well.

“This is probably the most extensive manhunt that I’ve seen in 40 years,” said Rafael Goyeneche, president of the Metropolitan Crime Commission.

Acting on a fully vetted tip, Atlanta SWAT moved in on Honeysuckle Lane after careful preparation.

“There were drones deployed in the area. Investigators had to verify as much as they could in order to deploy the resources needed to bring about his arrest,” Goyeneche said.

“I think the people who help us with this know that we need specifics. We need copies of what they’re putting on social media to assist with that investigative process,” said Darlene Cusanza with Crimestoppers.

The arrest marked the culmination of five and a half months of searching — a process that wasn’t easy for either SWAT or Groves.

“They entered the basement and didn’t see him at first. Then they discovered some boards that were nailed over a wall. They pulled those off, found a crawl space, and put tear gas in the tunnel. That’s when they could hear him coughing,” Goyeneche said.

In the end, man’s best friend turned out to be Groves’ worst enemy.

“They ordered him to come out and surrender. When he didn’t, they sent in a canine, and then he surrendered,” Goyeneche said.

And it wasn’t just Georgia authorities who effected an arrest without firing a gun.

“There were Louisiana state troopers there, as well as U.S. Marshals,” Goyeneche said.

“That tip came into Crimestoppers New Orleans. It was provided to the Marshals, the police department and State Police,” Goyeneche said.

Several people who knew Groves told us he still has influence in the area. They declined to go on camera.

One of Groves’ alleged accomplices is already in custody, and investigators say there will likely be more.

“Over a dozen have already been charged, and we’ll see that list grow,” Goyeneche said.

Goyeneche added there’s no way to determine the exact cost of the search effort for Groves and the other nine escapees. He said the situation stemmed from a breakdown in procedures at the Orleans Parish jail.