Staff Report
A Church Point Police officer received minor injuries during a vehicle pursuit on Sunday, and some of the suspects from the incident fled the scene on foot.
The officer, whose name was not being released, was injured when his patrol unit was struck by a suspect’s vehicle, sending the unit into a ditch and flipping it on its side. The officer was treated at an area hospital and released later that same day. The officer suffered injuries to his left leg as well as bruises, but he is expected to make a full recovery.
In a news release on Sunday, Police Chief Dale Thibodeaux stated, “A Church Point Police officer was sent to the hospital this evening after attempting to stop a vehicle where the driver and passengers had felony warrants from previous shootings in the Church Point area.
“As the officer attempted to pull the vehicle over, a chase occurred. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle hit the Church Point unit causing the Church Point unit to hit a ditch and flip on its side. The Church Point officer was transported to Lafayette General with non life threatening injuries.”
The suspect vehicle’s driver, identified as Carey Citizen, 30, of Church Point, was arrested and booked for aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated criminal damage to property, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and convicted felon in possession of a firearm.
“Mister Citizen has an extensive criminal history for home invasion and drug violations,” Thibodeaux stated. “Mister Citizen was also booked on the outstanding warrant from St. Landry Parish for domestic abuse child endangerment and criminal damage to property.”
The chase began around 4:50 p.m. Sunday when the officer identified the suspect, who had outstanding warrants, and attempted to pull over the vehicle he was driving on North Main Street.
“The driver of the Audi sped away from the officer, and the chase went down several streets in the Town of Church Point,” Thibodeaux stated in a Monday news release. “During the pursuit, the suspect threw an automatic handgun from the vehicle, which was recovered. The chase continued out of the Town of Church Point to the community of Branch. The suspect vehicle hit the officers unit causing the officer to lose control. The crash sent the Church Point unit into a ditch, and the unit overturned on its side. The suspects then fled the scene on foot, and the driver was apprehended by assisting units a few blocks away.”
Citizen was transferred to the Acadia Parish Jail to await bond. Thibodeaux stated that at this time, further charges are pending further investigation, and more information will be released after the further investigation is complete.