Police: Man used dogs, knife to threaten children

A 43-year-old Luling man was arrested after authorities say he threatened four children with a knife and sent his dogs after them while impersonating a police officer.

The incident began when Alan Cole, of 307 Estates Drive, approached four siblings between the ages of 16 and 4 and began yelling at them, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said.

“The parents went outside when they heard the yelling and confronted Cole, who told them that he had every right to yell at the children because he was a St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputy,” LaGrange said. “Cole then reached into his waist band like he had a weapon.

“The whole time this was going on, he was yelling racial slurs at the kids and parents.”

Cole left, but came back shortly after with two dogs and sent them after the kids, according to the arrest report.

“The only way they were able to escape them was by jumping into the back of a pickup truck,” LaGrange said. “He also pulled out a knife and told the children he was going to hurt them.”

The parents, who had already called the police, confronted Cole again. LaGrange said he continued to say he worked for the Sheriff’s Office.

When officers arrived, they searched Cole and found three large knives and two box cutters.

He was arrested and charged with three counts of aggravated assault, five counts of simple assault and impersonating a police officer.

“We are not affiliated with this guy and we want everyone to know that we would never use these kinds of tactics,” LaGrange said.

According to the report, the parents told officers that they have never had a problem with Cole before.

“We don’t know what set him off and if this was something that he had planned to do,” LaGrange said. “I can tell you that we will not tolerate it.

“He could have caused some harm to the children if he had gotten close enough to them with the dogs or his knives.”

Cole was transported to the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center in Killona. His bond was set at $11,000, and he bonded out.