Two Eunice Police officers were injured when a car they were pursuing on U.S. 190 made a left turn into their vehicle and forced it into the median near the Spirit truck stop, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
The officers, Cody Miller and Trace Tilbury, were treated and released at Acadian Medical Center. Both were unable to return to duty, he said.
Markel Devon Reed, 25, 100 block of Brilet, Opelousas, was charged with stop sign violation, flight from an officer, aggravated flight from an officer, driver’s license suspension, revocation of license, and texting while driving.
The incident began with reports of 30 to 40 vehicles being driven erratically on U.S. 190 toward Eunice.
Once the vehicles arrived in Eunice and police started following them, the vehicles scattered, he said.
The vehicle driven by Reed headed east on U.S. 190 with Eunice Police in pursuit, he said.
Reed turned a Nissan Altima into the police unit, a Ford Crown Victoria, causing it to go airborne into the median, he said.
Reed’s vehicle was stopped and a handgun was discovered in his vehicle, he said.
Fontenot said the erratic driving of groups of vehicles has increasingly reported. The activity is organized, he said.
The driving includes lane changes, speeding, slowing and people hanging out windows.
Fontenot asked that the public call 911 or Eunice Police at 337-457-2626 to report erractic driving.