Three-parish chase ends in Minden

A high-speed pursuit traversing three parishes ended in Minden Saturday afternoon with no reported injuries.
George Werney, III, 45, of Goliad, Texas, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated flight and reckless operation of a moving vehicle.

According to Ruston Police Department Public Information Officer Curtis Hawkins, at approximately 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Werney allegedly snatched a woman’s purse in the Ruston Wal-Mart parking lot and fled the scene in a  Dodge pickup.

Ruston authorities were notified of the incident and shortly afterwards came in contact with Werney’s vehicle. Werney refused to stop and the officers gave chase, with speeds at times topping out around 100 miles-per-hour.
Ruston police officers and Lincoln Parish deputies followed Werney west on I-20, during which time Bienville deputies joined the chase. Werney turned north onto La. Hwy. 9 and when the pursuit entered Claiborne Parish, deputies from that department took the lead.

Werney turned west onto La. Hwy. 518  and then onto La. Hwy. 79, at which time State Police officers deployed spike strips, deflating two of the tires on the Dodge. During this time, a State Police chopper was following the chase from the air.

Werney continued traveling towards Minden on La. Hwy. 79 on two flat tires, with Webster Parish deputies and Minden Police taking the lead in the pursuit.

Werney crossed over La. Hwy. 531 at a high rate of speed, heading towards downtown Minden. When Werney neared J.P. Ranch, the transmission in his pickup truck locked up and he pulled into the restaurant’s parking lot.
Officers took Werney into custody without incident and charged him with aggravated flight from an officer and reckless operation of a vehicle. He is currently incarcerated at Bayou Dorcheat Correction Center.

A hold has been placed on Werney by the Ruston Police Department. Charges are pending by each of the jurisdictions involved in the pursuit.

 

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - http://www.mamboportal.com/
All right reserved