JEFFERSON PARISH, La. (WGNO) — Officials with the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office announced Monday, May 13, that they will not seek criminal charges against two Jefferson Parish deputies involved in the 2019 shooting death of two men.
According to court documents, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives Paul Carmouche and Mike Wibble were reportedly involved in a narcotics investigation that ended in the deaths of Chris Joseph and Daviri Robertson.
In March 2019, JPSO detectives conducted a drug bust at a Terrytown business after receiving a tip of a reported drug deal that was happening in the business parking lot.
Sheriff Joseph Lopinto says when deputies arrived, they attempted to block the truck, driven by 38-year-old Joseph.
Their attempt reportedly failed when Joseph put the truck in reverse and accelerated, striking a deputy.
Other deputies, according to Lopinto, began to shoot, striking Joseph and the passenger, 39-year-old Robertson.
Joseph was pronounced dead on the scene, while Robertson reportedly died at University Medical Center.
According to Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich’s autopsy report, Joseph was shot five times, and Roberston was hit once.
A JPSO deputy was also wounded by gunfire. He was taken to University Medical Center where he underwent surgery that night.
District Attorney Paul D. Connick Jr. said upon receiving the police report from JPSO, homicide detectives concluded lethal force was justified in the matter.
The documents state that the DA’s office began a comprehensive and independent review of the matter without regard to cost, resources and time to come to a fair decision.
“As in all cases, our review must focus upon the elements of proof as well as any legal justifications or defenses that may apply,” said Connick.
In an effort to reach the outcome, Connick said they consulted with use-of-force expert, JPSO Lieutenant Benny Griffin and retained an independent use-of-force expert, Sheriff Ken Katsaris, to give an opinion on the detectives’ actions.
“Both experts agree that the application of deadly force in this situation was reasonable and comports with recognized, accepted and law enforcement training practices. In light of the evidence reviewed in this matter, the State cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions of the detectives rise to the level of criminal conduct,” said Connick.
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