State Police arrest one of their own after Lt. Chad Lacoste falsely claimed damage to his vehicle last September. Sgt Dustin Dwight said Lacoste reported he was involved in a hit and run crash in his unmarked department vehicle in Orleans Parish, but investigators found his car was involved in a separate incident the day before in St. Tammany Parish.
“Investigators determined that Lt. Lacoste intentionally failed to stop at the scene of the initial crash in St. Tammany Parish and then falsely reported that damage to his vehicle during the second alleged hit and run crash in Orleans Parish,” said Dwight.
Dwight said Lacoste faces one count each of Malfeasance in Office in both St. Tammany and Orleans parishes and one count of Injuring Public Records in Orleans Parish.
“In addition to the charges related to the false reporting of the incident Lt. Lacoste received a summons for hit and run driving and careless operation of a motor vehicle for his role in the St. Tammany Parish crash,” said Dwight.
Lacoste who has been with the State Police since 2003 and was assigned to the Criminal Investigations Division, is on administrative leave pending the conclusion of the investigation.
Dwight said Superintendent Col Lamar Davis told public safety employees he supports their efforts and…
“He has stressed since the beginning that he will always continue to hold each and every one of us accountable for our actions,” said Dwight.
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