Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
METAIRIE, La. (WGNO) — A New Orleans man was arrested following a pursuit Thursday morning.
Surveillance video from a nearby business shows the moment the truck crashed into a wooden wall attached to The Little Red Schoolhouse of Metairie.
It happened shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday during a police pursuit.
Following the crash, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies say the man who was driving ran away but was apprehended minutes later at the corner of Beverly Garden Drive and Codifer Blvd.
“One suspect, adult male from New Orleans, was taken into custody, vehicle’s been recovered,” Captain Jason Rivarde, with the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, said. “Also inside the vehicle were an adult female and three children, two toddlers and a teenager. We do not believe they were involved or had any knowledge; they’ve been released.”
According to investigators, the truck was stolen out of New Orleans, and deputies were tracking it.
“Look, we’re fortunate in Jefferson Parish that we are a very well staffed and very well equipped agency with the support of our community,” Cpt. Rivarde said. “This ain’t the place you want to come. We are going to do whatever we have to do to keep Jefferson Parish safe.”
Councilwoman Jennifer Van Vrancken called the incident disturbing but praised the sheriff’s office for making a swift arrest.
“Criminals don’t respect the parish lines,” Van Vrancken said. “We are a region, and this problem is affecting us as a region, and we’re very fortunate in Jefferson Parish to have a phenomenal sheriff and Sheriff’s Department.”
Van Vrankcken says despite Thursday’s morning’s pursuit, her constituents should feel safe but adds there are ways to make your community safer.
“Always be mindful. Don’t do things that invite the criminals into the community,” Van Vrancken said “So, keep your car doors locked, don’t leave front doors open, don’t leave the car doors open. Anything you could do to deter the criminals, let’s do as a community.”
Investigators also say they recovered a large amount of narcotics and a gun near a toddler’s seat while searching the truck.
The woman inside the truck, along with the two toddlers and teenager, were not injured.
A deputy received treatment for a cut on his hand that he sustained while apprehending the suspect.
According to Capt. Rivarde, this is not related to the chase from Wednesday night where a deputy fired his weapon at a suspect they were chasing.
Just after 10 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of N. Arnoult and S I-10 Service Rd., deputies attempted to conduct a traffic stop when the driver fled. The suspect crashed into another motorist near Manson Avenue.
The driver and passenger got out of the car armed with guns. One of those firearms was reported stolen. The vehicle they were in was also stolen from New Orleans.
Investigators believe the suspect fired at was injured. However, they cannot confirm if the injury was from the crash or gunfire.
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