Bazile
A Minden man found himself in trouble with police after he allegedly fled the scene of a crash.
Jonathan Ace Bazile, 23, of the 700 block of Pershing Street, was arrested Saturday, Nov. 28 and charged with DWI (second offense), hit and run, attempted disarming of a peace officer, driving under suspension, resisting an officer by flight and reckless operation. Bond was set at $66,850.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says Officer First Class Jesse Cutrer, Officer Terry Stephens and Sgt. Joel Kendrick were dispatched to the intersection of College and Richardson Streets in reference to a one-vehicle crash.
“While Officer First Class Cutrer and Officer Terry Stephens were in route, they were notified by the dispatcher that the suspected driver of the vehicle had tried to leave the scene,” he said. “Once they arrived and the officer was walking towards the accident, a witness told him ‘You better get him, he’s running.’”
When Cutrer turned around, according to reports, he observed the driver, later identified as Bazile, running east on College Street towards Sullivan Street.
“The officer gave loud verbal commands to stop running,” Cropper said. “He did not comply and continued to run towards Sullivan Street. Jesse Cutrer actively pursued Mr. Bazile. Mr. Bazile ran through a back yard, across Sullivan Street and ran into a back yard on the east side of Sullivan Street.”
Officers caught the suspect on the east side of College Street, police say. As the officers attempted to detain Bazile, he reportedly tried to take a police-issued baton from the officer’s belt.
Cutrer maintained control of the baton, and at that time, Stephens arrived on scene to assist in detaining Bazile.
Bazile was taken into custody and placed inside the patrol unit. At that time, officers noted the odor of alcoholic beverages coming from his person as well as noting slurred speech. His eyes also appeared to be bloodshot, police say.
Police then returned to the scene and confirmed with an eye witness that Bazile was the driver of the vehicle at the time of crash, the chief said.
Cropper says Bazile was taken to Minden Medical Center for evaluation due to the nature of the crash. Upon medical release, Bazile was taken to the Minden Police Department, booked and then transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.