New Iberia Suspect in Custody Following Police Pursuit

It was not a sleepy June evening for residents along the Highway 14 corridor between Abbeville and New Iberia last night. The relative calm of a typical evening was interrupted by a police pursuit in which the suspect and police exchanged gunfire.

Here's what we know.

The incident began in Abbeville at about 6 pm Tuesday evening. That lead to a police chase involving gunfire from Vermilion Parish into the city of New Iberia. The pursuit was brought to a close near the intersection of Santa Clara Street and Santa Ines. When the smoke had cleared the injured suspect was being taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries, we assume, were sustained during the pursuit.

Trooper Thomas Gossen, Public Information Officer for Louisiana State Police Troop I told KATC television:

Vermilion is handling the first incident that kicked everything off. They do have charges and they will be booking him on those charges. Our charges will follow.

The suspect was reported to have been released from the hospital into police custody. The suspect, whose identity is known but has yet to be released, will be transported back to Vermilion Parish so that they may be booked and officially charged. As Trooper Gossen suggested in his comments more charges are pending.