Minden Press-Herald

Mini-riot on Marion Street causes three arrests

An elderly cane-carrying Minden woman apparently sparked a mini-riot on Marion Street Thursday night when she attempted to stop repossession of a vehicle.

As a result of the incident, three Minden men were arrested – two on felony charges, and a Minden Police officer went to the emergency room with a cut to his forehead.

Henry Banks, 23, of the 500 block of Marion Street, was taken into custody for public intimidation, resisting an officer, disturbing the peace and resisting a police officer with force or violence.

Demetrius Banks, 19, of the 800 block of Spring Lake Road in Homer, is charged with two counts of resisting an officer and battery on a police officer.

A third individual, 20-year-old Lee Turner, of the 500 block of Marion Street, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of interfering with a police officer and resisting an officer.

According to Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper, a repossession company chose between the hours of 10 and 11 p.m. Thursday to take custody of a vehicle from a Marion Street residence.

"Laws have changed in the last few years," Cropper said. "Companies like that used to have to go through the sheriff's office and file paperwork. Then the sheriff's office would locate the vehicle and have it towed."

Now, according to the law, the companies can go anytime – including the middle of the night – and take the vehicle.

"Apparently, that's what happened Thursday night," Cropper said. "The company had a pick-up order on Marion Street. They made a courtesy call to our department and, after making a couple of drive-bys, decided they wanted an officer for security while they picked up the car."

Cropper said a couple of his officers were sent to the location to stand by.

"Before the officers got there, an elderly woman who was somehow associated with the vehicle came out with a cane and a cell phone in her hand and got between the wrecker and the vehicle, not allowing the repo company to pick up the vehicle," Cropper said.

The officers reportedly explained to the woman the repo company had legal documentation allowing them to take the vehicle.

"She was steadily on her phone, calling people to come 'help'," Cropper said. "Some young men came up and started to interfere with the repo company and officers who asked them numerous times to leave. They began cussing officers and kept interfering with the repo company."

The chief said the interference escalated to the point where officers decided to arrest the men.

"When the officers started to arrest the men, they broke and ran inside the apartment," Cropper said. "The officers called for more units, so there would be someone to cover the back door. Officers went in to arrest these two young men, who decided they didn't want to go to jail."

At that point, the chief said, "things went south."

The men reportedly resisted arrest and began fighting the officers.

"A third male got involved," Cropper said. "We had to use pepper gas, an officer went to the hospital, we had officers that received the brunt of the pepper gas."

The chief said Officer 1st Class Chris McClaran received a cut to his forehead but was treated and released from the hospital.

Other Minden officers on the scene included Officers 1st Class Joel Kendrick and Danny Turner, Officer Chase Wimberly, Lt. Kirk Morgan and Sgt. Ryan Barnette.

Cropper said the Webster Parish Sheriff's Office and Louisiana Troop G arrived on scene to assist.

"I believe Dixie Inn sent a unit over there, too," he said.

No charges were filed against the unidentified woman wielding the cane.