Police and Fire Briefs for Aug. 19, 2012
Driver killed when tree falls on truck
A tree that fell on a pickup truck Saturday morning on College Drive fatally injured the driver, a police spokesman said.
The call came in reporting the incident at 11:34 a.m. in the 5900 block of College Drive, Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
Nathaniel Evans Jr., 66, 17505 Plank Road, was driving north on College Drive toward Jefferson Highway when the tree fell on the cab of his 2007 Chevrolet Silverado truck, McKneely said.
Evans died at the scene, McKneely said.
Police believe severe weather caused the tree to fall over, McKneely said.
Resident escapes house fire unharmed
The occupant of a home destroyed by fire late Friday escaped unharmed, possibly with the help of neighbors, the Baton Rouge Fire Department said.
The fire at 4655 E. Brookstown Drive started about 11:30 p.m. Friday, and firefighters had it under control about 12:50 a.m. Saturday, Fire Department spokesman Barry Mounce said in a news release.
The person inside the home escaped before the Fire Department arrived, Mounce said.
The blaze ignited in or around a water heater in the back of the house, Mounce said. The fire left the house a total loss, Mounce said. Damage, including contents, is estimated at $157,000.
Sleeping family saved from burning house
An electrical malfunction caused a house fire Saturday morning at a house on Monmouth Avenue, a Fire Department spokesman said.
Neighbors noticed smoke coming from the roof of the residence at 5510 Monmouth and alerted the sleeping family inside, Barry Mounce said in a news release.
Firefighters who arrived at 9:22 a.m. had the blaze under control by 9:52 a.m., Mounce said. The fire started in the attic and was contained to that area. Other rooms sustained smoke and water damage , Mounce said.
No one was injured, Mounce said.
18 arrested on counts of intoxicated driving
Authorities arrested at least 18 people suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Saturday, booking records show.
Those booked and the counts against them:
- Richard Arbour, 59, 157 State St., first-offense DWI and seat-belt violation.
- Trey Bezet, 23, 9960 Magnolia, first-offense DWI.
- Brandon Chambers, 31, 791 Carrollton Ave., first-offense DWI, improper lane usage and drinking in a motor vehicle.
- Carter Clements, 18, 2230 Rockhaven St., Houston, first-offense DWI.
- Garrin Costa, 27, 805 Spanish Town Road, first-offense DWI and backing unsafely.
- Joseph Delton, 38, 7463 Glen Oaks Drive, first-offense DWI, flight from an officer and failure to maintain control.
- Marco Fairley, 30, 4833 Greenwell St., first-offense DWI, reckless operation and operating a vehicle while under suspension for a prior offense.
- Justin Guelfo, 32, 4649 Blecker Drive, first-offense DWI and failure to yield on a private drive.
- Benjamin Hallack, 23, 8013 President Drive, first-offense DWI and failure to maintain control.
- Christopher Johnson, 19, 16111 Hogenville Ave., first-offense DWI and stopping a vehicle in a roadway.
- Jason Lamberth, 40, 18540 Lake Harbor Lane, Prairieville, first-offense DWI and failure to maintain control.
- Donald Lewis, 35, 13821 Chalmette Ave., fourth-offense DWI, driver’s license suspended or revoked, operating a vehicle while under suspension for a prior arrest and reckless operation of a vehicle.
- Thao Le Phoung, 18, 27 Schill, Kenner, first-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
- Michael Messina, 44, 7516 Vice President Drive, first-offense DWI, hit and run, driver’s license suspended or revoked and failure to maintain control.
- Jacob Pepperman, 19, 710 E. Boyd Drive, first-offense DWI.
- Luke Richard, 20, 1443 Brightside Drive, first-offense DWI, failure to maintain control and possession of alcohol in a vehicle.
- Jeanell Varnadore, 19, 400 Parker, Zachary, first-offense DWI.
- Micah West, 28, 5522 Highland Road, first-offense DWI, failure to maintain control, driver’s license suspended or revoked, flight from an officer and resisting an officer.
Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.