A Eunice Police officer planned to stop the car and give the driver a warning for not having his headlights on, Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
Sunset occurs a few minutes after 5 p.m. and it was 5:30 p.m. Saturday when the officer attempted to make the stop at South East Street and U.S. 190.
“He was going to get a warning to turn his headlights on,” Fontenot said.
Instead, Courtney Patton, 40, of the 2400 block of 22nd Street, Lake Charles, proceeded to flee the scene, Fontenot said.
The Eunice Police Department radio logs included the following:
17:30 Traffic stop at South East and U.S. 190 but is not stopping. Continuing on South CC Duson approaching Maple.
17:35 Subject is southbound and approaching the Cleco power plant on La. 13 at speeds up to 75 mph.
17:40 Acadia Sheriff’s deputies set up spike strips at La. 365 and 13. Subject hit them and is slowing down.
17:45 Throughout the pursuit driver was throwing things out of the driver’s side window and there are drugs scattered on the driver’s seat.
17:52 Rights read and understood verbally.
Patton was charged with driver’s license suspended, careless operation, lights required, failure to signal when turning within required distance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule II less than two grams, possession of synthetic cannabinoid first offense and obstruction of justice.
“I guess we had enough charges on him,” Fontenot said in response to a question about whether Patton was charged in Acadia Parish.
The spike strip flattened three tires on Patton’s Chevrolet Impala, he said.
“Once stopped and removed from the vehicle by an officer he was very cooperative and didn’t resist,” he said.
“Patton said the reason he ran was because he was loaded,” Fontenot said.
Also found in the vehicle were syringes and a crystalline substance, he said.
Patton was booked at the Acadia Parish Jail and taken to the Eunice Jail.