Elizabeth West/Ville Platte Gazette
Ville Platte Gazette
The Mamou Police Department’s night began with a Toys for Tots fundraiser, but it ended with a high speed car chase at 100 miles per hour through the city limits on Nov. 22.
The high speed chase began after Officer Johnny Freeman attempted to perform a routine traffic stop on a black sedan driven 45 mph in a 35 mph zone. After the driver, who was later identified as Taylor LeBlanc, failed to pull over, backup was called in to assist in the chase that according to Chief of Police Brent Zackery lasted 10 to 15 minutes long.
Police chased LeBlanc down a variety of streets in Mamou, including Pine, East, Hickory, Railroad, Maple and Poinciana Avenue.
Zackery said, “Ms. LeBlanc was driving at such a high speed that me and my officers were driving about 97 mph on East Street trying to catch the vehicle during the pursuit and 100 and something mph on Poinciana Avenue”
The chief of police also stated that “during the pursuit, Ms. LeBlanc also attempted to strike multiple marked and unmarked police units.”
The chase came to an end after LeBlanc turned into a resident’s yard and police were able to block the vehicle in from all sides. Once the vehicle became blocked off by multiple police units, one passenger of the vehicle, who was identified as Cedric Patrick, “exited the vehicle and attempted to flee into a nearby wooded area where he was captured.”
With the vehicle stopped, officers realized that Amber Bias and a juvenile child were also in the vehicle with LeBlanc and Patrick. After the three adults were detained by officers, Bias revealed to police the location of a stolen handgun and 43 clear plastic bags each filled with 0.5 grams of marijuana that Patrick had thrown out of the vehicle during the pursuit.
Bias has been released from police custody since the incident. LeBlanc was booked in the city jail on charges of distribution/manufacture or possession with the intent of a schedule I controlled dangerous substance (CDS), illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a CDS and juvenile, illegal use of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile, illegal possession of a stolen firearm, flight from an officer, careless operation and maximum speed limit (45 mph in a 35).
Patrick was booked on charges of resisting an officer, distribution/manufacture or possession with the intent of a schedule I CDS, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a CDS and juvenile, illegal use of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and carrying of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Following the incident, Zackery said, “I want to thank all of the officers that assisted in the high speed chase. Their quick thinking played a major role in us being able to detain the suspects before people were injured. I also want to remind our community that the MPD is going to continue to work to make our city safe by taking the drugs off of our streets.”