12-4-19
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS LAYING OFF 42 PEOPLE, WHO WILL BE RECEIVING THEIR FINAL PAYCHECK IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS MONTH, AND REDUCING THE NUMBER OF PROGRAMS IT RUNS. SPOKESMAN JOHN MOWELL SAYS THEY HATED TO LAY OFF PEOPLE DURING THE HOLIDAYS BUT FELT IT WAS BETTER TO LET THEM KNOW NOW BEFORE GOING THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS AND POSSIBLY ACCUMULATING DEBT. IT’S HOPED THAT THE SAVINGS FROM THESE MOVES WILL ENABLE THEM TO RAISE SALARIES FOR THE REMAINING STAFF AND DEPUTIES IN ORDER TO HELP WITH RETENTION. THE STARTING SALARIES FOR DEPUTIES IS THE LOWEST IN THE PARISH.
LAFAYETTE GENERAL WILL BE TAKING OVER MANAGEMENT OF THE JENNINGS AMERICAN LEGION HOSPITAL. THE TWO HAVE BEEN AFFILIATED SINCE 2016, BUT, UNDER THE NEW AGREEMENT, THE AMERICAN LEGION WILL RETAIN OWNERSHIP AND LEASE THE HOSPITAL TO LAFAYETTE GENERAL. DOCUMENTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE FINALIZED NEXT YEAR WITH LAFAYETTE GENERAL TAKING OVER IN OCTOBER. LAFAYETTE GENERAL ANTICIPATES INVESTING SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN TECHNOLOGY, INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES AND MORE.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN IS ACCUSED OF CARJACKING A WOMAN’S VEHICLE AFTER FIRING SHOTS AT THE VEHICLE, THEN CRASHING THAT VEHICLE LESS THAN A BLOCK AWAY. MEGAN KELLY REPORTS.
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A STUDENT AT CORPORAL MICHAEL MIDDLEBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE WAS FOUND IN POSSESSION OF A B-B GUN YESTERDAY. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER ALLISON DICKINSON SAYS PROPER PROCEDURES WERE FOLLOWED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AN INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY. DICKINSON TELLS KATC TV THAT THEY COULDN’T RELEASE ANY OTHER DETAILS AT THIS TIME.
I-TEN IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH WAS SHUT DOWN FOR AWHILE LAST NIGHT BECAUSE OF A FATAL ACCIDENT. IT HAPPENED AT MILE MARKER 54 NEAR THE WELSH EXIT ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE AT AROUND 11:30 LAST NIGHT. POLICE HAVE CONFIRMED THAT ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND TWO PEOPLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL THOUGH THEIR CONDITIONS ARE NOT KNOWN. BOTH LANES WERE OPENED THIS MORNING. THE WELSH POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE CRASH.
MARTINVILLE CITY OFFICIALS RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS LETTER CLAIMING POLICE CHIEF RICKY MARTIN’S HIGH SCHOOL EQUIVALENCY DIPLOMA WAS FORGED, AND INCLUDED A COPY OF HIS G-E-D. MARTIN TELLS
KLFY TV THAT THE ALLEGATION IS UNTRUE AND HE’S WAITING FOR DOCUMENTATION FROM THE STATE THAT WILL PROVE HIS G-E-D WAS NOT FORGED. MARTIN SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING AT SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS IN THE DEPARTMENT WHO MAY HAVE GOTTEN INTO HIS PERSONNEL FILES AND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE WILL FACE REPERCUSSIONS. MAYOR MELINDA MITCHELL SAYS THE POLICE CHIEF IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR G-E-D.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A RASH OF VEHICLE BURGLARIES THAT HAPPENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS LAST SATURDAY IN THE BAYOU PLAQUEMINE ROAD AREA NORTH OF CROWLEY. ELEVEN VEHICLES WERE ENTERED WITH MONEY, GUNS AND ELECTRONICS TAKEN, PLUS A TWENTY-FIFTEEN CHEVY TRUCK WAS STOLEN BUT LATER RECOVERED IN FRONT OF A BUSINESS ON WEST SECOND STREET IN CROWLEY. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SHOWS THE SUSPECTS ARE TWO PEOPLE IN THEIR TEENS TO MID-TWENTIES WEARING HOODED SWEAT SHIRTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT CAN HELP THE INVESTIGATORS IS ASKED TO CONTACT CRIMESTOPPERS AT 789-TIPS.
A Kaplan man has pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated and causing a crash that killed two teens. KLFY-TV reports 22-year-old Tyler Meaux pleaded guilty Monday to vehicular homicide and vehicular negligent injury. Police said Meaux was traveling south in the northbound lane of U.S. 167 when he collided with 16-year-old Alana Duhon’s car in 2018. Duhon was properly restrained but suffered fatal injuries. Fifteen-year-old Sydney Colomb was a passenger and also died from her injuries.
