Councilman cited for hit and run

St. Charles Parish Councilman Paul Hogan has been cited for hit and run of an industrial vacuum and power pole at a gas station in Boutte.

An employee notified the Sheriff’s Office of the damage following an inspection of the front parking lot of the On The Run gas station in Boutte around 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 21, according to the police report. A deputy arrived on the scene and documented the vacuum was pushed off its base and a small power pole pushed away from a large power pole. Entergy was later called in to fix the power pole.

The employee told the deputy that a witness saw “a white unknown make or model truck backed into it and drove off,” according to the report.

Hogan owns a white 2006 Ford 250.

On Aug. 27, a deputy met with Hogan and issued a citation for hit and run.

The deputy apparently told him they’d obtained written statements and a photo lineup where Hogan was identified by a witness as “Driver No. 1.”

In a written statement to the deputy, Hogan states he did recall stopping at the station on the day in question, bought food or a drink, returned to his truck and struck what he believed was the curb then left. He states he “was unaware if he struck the air pump.”

Last Thursday, Hogan told the Herald-Guide that if he did the damage to the pump and pole that he will pay for it.

“They said I hit it,” he said. “I know I hit the curb, but if I also hit the pump, yes, I’m paying the damages.”