FROGMORE CHASE

By Sr. Agent James Parish

On December 29, 2002 at approximately 2:00 am while in Concordia Parish near Rotaquinta Plantation, I observed a vehicle traveling west on Hwy 566. This vehicle stopped and turned its headlights onto the farm ground adjacent to the highway on several different occasions. Then at approximately 2:07 am the vehicle stopped at the end of the old airport road. It was then that I heard what appeared to be a .22 caliber shot come from the vehicle. At this time I began to follow it. This vehicle stopped one more time at the new game fence at which time I observed a small light shining from the passenger side of the truck and heard another small caliber shot come from the truck. I then turned on my blue lights and siren in an attempt to make a vehicle stop but the vehicle would not stop.

I then notified the Concordia Parish sheriffs dept. And requested assistance. Deputies responding were Sgt. John Mitchell, David Hedrick (son of my lieutenant, Kenneth Hedrick) and Collin Butler. The vehicle turned right on Hwy. 84 and began traveling west bound toward Jonesville. Deputies caught up to the pursuit approximately 4 miles west of the Stacy caution light. Two attempts to box the subjects' vehicle in failed. The vehicle finally stopped on the loop road across from King's Fish Market. The distance traveled from the beginning pursuit to where the vehicle stopped was later determined to be approximately 16 miles.

The vehicle had three subjects in it. Two of them stayed with the vehicle and the third subject fled on foot into an agriculture field. The driver of the vehicle was identified as "a female" from Jonesville and the second subject was identified as "a male", also of Jonesville. They were later transported to the Concordia Parish sheriffs office where they were booked into jail.

Inside of the vehicle I found 1 flashlight, two spent .22 caliber bullets and 1 live round on the passenger side floorboard. There were also 25 live rounds in a Crown Royal sack inside of the truck. "the male" had 15 live rounds in his pants pocket. The flashlight and all .22 bullets were seized as evidence.

"the female" told deputies and myself that the third subject ran because he "had dope" with him.

"The male" told me that he had shot twice at what he thought was a doe deer. He also stated that the gun used to shoot at the deer was his and that it was a single shot .22 caliber rifle. "The male" also told me that he threw the rifle out of the window of the truck between Frogmore and Loop Road. Several attempts were made by wildlife agents to find the rifle but to my knowledge, it was never recovered.

"The male" was issued citations for violation of RS 56:116.3f hunt deer illegal hours, RS 56:116.1 b (1) hunt from moving vehicle and RS 56:116 .3a (1) (b) hunt from public road.

"The female" received citations for violation of RS 56:116.3f hunt deer illegal hours, RS 56:116. 1 b (1) hunt from moving vehicle, RS 56:116.3a (1) (b) hunt from public road and RS 14:108.1 flight from an officer, plus charges from the Concordia Parish sheriff’s deputies. Both gave voluntary written statements of the events that happened on this day.