St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrest a Georgia man after he shot a Grand Coteau police officer in the arm during a traffic stop for a red light violation. Sheriff’s Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux says 59-year-old Michael Dewayne Lucas shot at Officer Kiara Harris when she walked up to his vehicle.
“Then he fled with his vehicle, crashing his vehicle. She gave chase. She was not going to let this person get away. Her survival instincts and her tactical training kicked in,” said Thibodeaux.
Lucas eventually exited the vehicle and ran for a bit more before getting restrained. Thibodeaux says the suspect is also wanted for murder in a rural county in the Florida Panhandle.
“When we brought him in and questioned him, he implicated himself in the murder and the theft of that vehicle and he also admitted to his actions against Officer Harris by shooting and fleeing,” said Thibodeaux.
It’s unclear why Lucas was in St. Landry. Thibodeaux says they are glad that Officer Harris was able to put up the fight and get the suspect off the streets because it appears he’s got a long history of run-ins with the long arm of the law.
“This guy has an arrest record in the seventies and in four different states, ranging from misdemeanors to felonies to battery on spouses or dating partners and battery on police officers,” said Thibodeaux.
The officer is recovering and in good spirits.
