Suspect tried to hire personal driver to escape pursuit
A 26-year-old New Orleans man led state troopers and sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase from Paradis to Destrehan, sideswiping five vehicles in the process, according to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Cedric Haynes, of 921 N. Lopez St., was driving a stolen blue Dodge Caravan carrying three female passengers when a state trooper attempted to pull the van over in Paradis.
“When he was being chased, he gestured to the state trooper that he wasn’t going to pull over,” Sheriff’s Office spokesman Dwayne LaGrange said. “He sideswiped five cars during the chase and sheriff’s deputies were called in to assist at 5:53 p.m.”
LaGrange said that the van was clocked at 20 to 25 miles above the speed limit on both Highway 90 and I-310.
The pursuit finally ended when the van crashed into a parked train on Longview Drive, which dead-ends at the Canadian National railroad tracks.
“It appears that the driver wasn’t familiar with the area and that’s why he ran into the parked train,” LaGrange said.
When the vehicle was finally stopped, Haynes ran off and led officers on a foot chase through the Red Church subdivision. The three other people remained in the vehicle.
While on foot, Haynes swiped a bicycle from one of the residences in the neighborhood and tried to pay for a ride, according to LaGrange.
“He approached one of the residents in that area and offered them money to drive him to New Orleans,” he said.
After he was refused, LaGrange said that Haynes leapt over a fence and swam across the canal that borders Panther Run and Carriage Lane. He then tried to enter a residence, but was tackled by an officer and handcuffed shortly after.
During the foot chase, LaGrange said that two officers suffered minor injuries.
As of now, LaGrange said it was not clear if Haynes has warrants for his arrest in other areas.
“When someone goes to such lengths to escape officers, like this subject did by jumping fences and swimming through a canal, they tend to have outstanding warrants,” LaGrange said of the vehicle and foot pursuit that lasted for an hour.
Haynes was the only person arrested in the incident – the three females in the van were released.
“This whole incident caused a ruckus and shook up a quiet neighborhood,” LaGrange said. “We are just glad that our officers are OK and no innocent bystanders were injured.”
Haynes is being charged with theft, resisting an officer, criminal trespass and possession of crack and marijuana.
LaGrange said there is the possibility that more charges could be forthcoming.
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