WARDENS IN THE DMZ 

By Senior Agent William Vosbein

 

The speaker on the ceiling barked, “ WJ 12, we have a male subject with a GSW (gun shot wound) to the head. No pulse, no respiration.”  I looked at Senior Agent Kris Bourgeois and asked him if he heard that. Agent Bourgeois said that the night is just beginning.  A Sheriff’s deputy nearby advised us that Monday nights are usually the busiest.  Before the night was over, we would experience several “surprising” scenes.

Here we were, Kris and I at a local hospital in New Orleans.  We were there with a prisoner that was complaining of gastrointestinal problems immediately after being arrested for alligator violations.

It all started around 3:00 p.m. on July 30.  We received a complaint from the Region office that a subject with a rifle, riding on a bicycle had just entered a wooded area in western Jefferson Parish.  Agent Bourgeois and I were familiar with this area, and familiar with an alligator poacher with a matching method of operation.  The area consists of miles of scrub brush with inter-connecting canals.  Agent Bourgeois accessed a levee to set up surveillance.  I remained near the main highway, in case the subject exited the woods.  Agent Bourgeois radioed that he was observing the subject from a distance, and that the subject was leaving the area, headed my way with an alligator.  I set up on foot near a canal, and Agent Bourgeois proceeded to a location near me.  Eventually, the subject came riding up on his bicycle, and we stopped him. The subject, whom we will call “Willie,” did have a dead alligator along with his rifle.  It was determined that Willie was in violation of several wildlife violations, and he was placed under arrest.

Willie suddenly started gagging, and complained of stomach problems.  During a search of his pockets, we discovered the usual portable pharmacy of over-the-counter antacid tablets. During previous arrests, Willie always had a pocket full of pills.  I asked Willie if he needed medical treatment.  Willie said yes.  I called dispatch, and requested EMS.  The ambulance arrived, and checked Willie.  The EMT advised that he would transport Willie to a local hospital.  So off we went.  I had to ride in the ambulance, and Kris followed with a patrol truck. We arrived, and a doctor categorized Willie as low priority.  A nurse showed Kris and I where to wait.  So, we waited.

I had never been to this particular hospital before, but have seen it on the news many times.  While waiting, a female prisoner in her 20's began talking to Kris and I.  She was shackled and handcuffed.  She went on and on about how she was caught smuggling cocaine across the Mexican border.  She continued on about how she could not duplicate Louisiana identification cards, and advised that when released, she was going to a “ stupid state, like Kansas” because their state identifications were easy to duplicate.  I looked at Kris and asked him if he was hearing all of this.  Agent Bourgeois advised me that I hadn’t seen anything yet, that the gunshot victims would be rolling in soon.  I couldn’t believe all this.  I began thinking about possibly asking for a priority upgrade so that we could leave.  That would not happen.

A short time later, a speaker mounted to the ceiling came alive.  It was an EMT advising of a gunshot victim.  The EMT advised that it was a head wound, and that there were no vitals.  Now, several law enforcement officers were nearby with their prisoners, waiting for service. One of the officers looked at me and said, “Oh, it’s just beginning.”   A short time later, the speaker comes alive again.  It was EMT’s advising the hospital of a case.  I could not understand the medical terminology, but a nearby city police officer filled me in.  He advised me that there was a subject en route who had been shot in the back with a .45 caliber.  Sure enough, the subject arrived and was wheeled into the operating room.  I made a mental comparison of our situation to that of a safe haven in a war zone, known as a DMZ, or demilitarized zone.

Finally, a nurse called for us, and Willie.  We were escorted into a room and a doctor checked Willie.  The nurses rolled Willie into a stall, and connected an intravenous drip to Willie.  Kris and I had to wait for some time while the hospital personnel attended to Willie.

While waiting, a male subject was rolled in on a stretcher with a city police officer at his side. This patient was sitting up and appeared to be on cloud nine. Sure enough, we overheard the doctor’s diagnosis.  The individual was experiencing a large dose of crack cocaine.  Agent Bourgeois looked at me and said, “It’s still early yet.”  I shook my head in disbelief.  I went outside for some fresh “er” air.  Some of the nurses were on break, and asked why game wardens were in the city.  I explained the situation to them, and they wanted to see the alligator. I showed the nurses the alligator.

Now, back in the room with Willie and Agent Kris Bourgeois, we saw that the nurse had came back to check on Willie.  A doctor came by, and talked with the nurse.  The doctor advised that Willie was being released.  After getting our release papers, we finally left, with Willie.  We proceeded to the Jefferson Parish Lockup, where Willie was booked in for the alligator violations.  I looked at Kris and said, “Man what a night.”  It was 4:00 a.m.