Police and fire briefs for June 18, 2012

Police: SUV driver was unlicensed teen

A teenager landed in the Juvenile Detention Center Sunday after he took his parents SUV and drove it around McKinley High School’s track until he lost control and smashed into school property, police said.

The driver, 16, took two other boys with him in the Yukon SUV when he drove to the high school about 5 a.m., Lt. Don Kelly said Sunday in an email.

The boy drove the vehicle onto the running track and started driving until he lost control, clipped a pole, took out about 16 feet of chain-link fence and crashed into the bleachers, Kelly said.

After that, the teen drove to the front of the school, parked the Yukon and called police about 5:50 a.m.

“He tried to tell the responding officer that he had accidentally hit a pole in front of the school, but the physical evidence didn’t match up and the officer didn’t believe his story,” Kelly said. “Through further investigation and questioning (the officer) eventually got the truth about what actually happened.”

Kelly said the driver’s parents pressed charges. Their son was placed in the detention center, charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driver’s license required, he said.

The passengers, one 16 and the other 13, were not charged, he said. They were released to their parents.

Kelly said he could not release the names of the boys because they’re juveniles.

DWI arrests include 3rd and 4th offenses

Authorities arrested at least eight people suspected of driving while intoxicated — including a man on a third-offense DWI and another on a fourth-offense — in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, booking records show.

Those booked and the counts against them:

  • Nancy Bueche, 53, 25980 4H Club Road, Denham Springs, first-offense DWI, driver’s license suspended or revoked, reckless operation and improper turns.
  • Nathan Cannon, 19, 8300 Pin Oak Lane, Zachary, first-offense DWI, failure to dim headlights and monetary instrument abuse.
  • Chelsea Gauthier, 18, 24290 Oma Harris Lane, Denham Springs, first-offense DWI, driver’s license not in possession, improper lane usage and possession of marijuana.
  • Darminic Johnson, 21, 7485 Oakleaf Drive, first-offense DWI and careless driving.
  • James Lewis, 27, 2424 W. Contour Drive, third-offense DWI, reckless operation and following too close.
  • Charles McGaff, 26, 36 Muirfield Drive, LaPlace, second-offense DWI and speeding.
  • Henry Montgomery, 53, 6270 San Juan Drive, fourth-offense DWI, disobeying a red light and ignition interlock device off.
  • Manuel Ventura, 47, 7550 Pecue Lane, first-offense DWI, operating a vehicle without lawful presence in the U.S., failure to maintain control and possession of alcoholic beverage in vehicle.

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.


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Comments (11)


1) Comment by tradewinns - 18/06/2012

instead of pressing chatges, the parents should have pressed his backside with at least a strap, unless they have something more striking.

2) Comment by kita - 18/06/2012

No, they are not great parents. It is not okay to let the law discipline your children. Sadly, this 16 years old child was doing what majority of us have done when we were his age, took our parent car without permission. Does he deserve to be drug through the criminal justice system? Nope. We all know that jail/detention system is not a place where rehabilitation occurs. What better way to learn how to be a criminal than in jail/detention system surrounding a bunch of troubled teens. So please quit praising these parents.

3) Comment by Whatnow - 18/06/2012

Wow, great parents by teaching consequences for his actions, which is so lacking in parenting today. It's always someone else's fault. I know a guy who gets his kids to blow into his ignition interlock device so that the car will start. Third and fourth offense DWI? What does it take? I guess someone has to get killed by these idiots. When they drink and drive, they become a potential weapon.

4) Comment by zeuslaughed - 18/06/2012

4th offense DWI? how do you have a license after a 3rd offense?

5) Comment by spqr - 18/06/2012

Give Piyush Final time and he'll link every teen crime to teacher failure..."teacherguy", go to Barnes &Noble and buy "Playing School" written by a local teacher. You might like it as it echoes your sentiments.

6) Comment by tradewinns - 18/06/2012

put james and henry on the next bus to angola.

7) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 18/06/2012

HOORAY for the parents, stood up and laid the wood to Jr.

8) Comment by Get Real - 18/06/2012

2 teacherguy...I'm pretty sure that Piyush wil still use this to say that teachers are not helping students make the right choices.

9) Comment by Momo - 18/06/2012

****Comment Removed for Violation of Terms of Use****

10) Comment by teacherguy - 18/06/2012

I'd like to add that with so much focusing on test scores, drill and practice to pass them and make the teacher look good when they bubble in the correct answer...time to teach common sense has been squeezed out.

11) Comment by teacherguy - 18/06/2012

And the future of my career is dependent on these kids test scores??? This is an example of WHY teachers are against Value Added...we don't mind being evaluated on what WE do in the classroom, but these boys' teachers ain't got a chance...not only was there the "driver" but the other two went along for the ride. If this happened during the school year, Governor Jindal would surely try to link these boys' poor choices to failing teachers... :)