February 3, 2009

On Saturday, Feb. 14 an enforcement division agent with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) was injured during a traffic stop in Calcasieu Parish.

Working in the area of Jeff Davis Line Rd. in Calcasieu Parish, Senior Agents Chris Hoag and Jonathan Verret initiated a traffic stop at 8:30 p.m. after observing Tony Gerard Richardson, 19, of Iowa fail to stop at a stop sign.

As Senior Agent Verret made contact with the driver, Richardson grabbed the agent's arm and fled in his vehicle, dragging the agent a short distance before he was released. Senior Agent Verret sustained injuries to his leg, arm and hand as a result of the incident and was later treated and released from Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.

Richardson fled the scene with an unidentified passenger and his vehicle was later located, having been abandoned. Richardson turned himself in to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office on Monday afternoon. The identity of the second suspect who was riding with Richardson is still unknown at this time.

Richardson has been charged with failure to use a turn signal, failure to stop at a posted stop sign, battery of a police officer, attempted first degree murder and aggravated flight from an officer.

Anyone who witnessed the incident or has knowledge of the second suspect should call Ray Price with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office at 337-491-3700.