SU police officer resigns following assault arrest
A Southern University police officer accused of pointing a gun at someone three times following an argument July 14 has resigned from the department, Southern University spokesman Edward Pratt said Thursday.
Randolph Jehucal Harrell, 29, 2338 Thomas Road, was booked with aggravated assault by East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies July 14, according to an arrest warrant.
According to the warrant, Harrell and the victim got into an argument at 10 a.m. when the victim was at an audio store at 11554 Plank Road having work done on his vehicle.
The victim said Harrell left the scene but returned a short time later driving a black Lexus, the warrant says.
The victim said another man was driving a white Expedition near Harrell and both men parked their vehicles at a store near the audio store, the warrant says.
The victim said Harrell and the other man got out of their vehicles and both pointed guns at him, according to the warrant.
The victim said Harrell pointed a dark-colored handgun at him while the other man pointed what looked like an AK-47 assault rifle at him, the warrant says.
The victim and others near the audio store ran inside the business, and Harrell and the other man left, according to the warrant.
The victim called deputies almost two hours later and said Harrell drove by the store again pointing a gun out of the window, the warrant says.
The victim said Harrell drove by the store again and pointed a gun at him a third time while driving north on Plank Road, the warrant says.
A witness to the third incident followed Harrell to Thomas Road and then deputies went to the Thomas Road area searching for Harrell, according to the warrant.
Deputies spotted Harrell in the Lexus and had him pull over into the parking lot of the Beech Grove Baptist Church on Thomas Road, according to the warrant.
Deputies found a silver handgun with a black handle in the car with one round in the chamber and one round in the clip, according to the warrant.
When questioned, Harrell told deputies he argued with the victim and then left but denied that he had a gun anytime during the argument, the warrant says.
Pratt said Harrell, who has been with the department under Police Chief Ronald Stevens since April 2, resigned Wednesday.