A trio of teenagers from Louisiana has been charged in connection with the death of a sergeant from St. Tammany Parish. They are also facing charges for tampering with evidence, as well as conspiracy to distribute marijuana.
Indicted by a grand jury, 17-year-olds Adrian Waughtal and Mason Fischer, along with 18-year-old Michael Lanier, are held accountable for the March 23 incident that resulted in the death of Sergeant Grant Candies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, as reported by FOX 8.
Candies had deployed spike strips in an effort to halt the suspects’ vehicle on Brownswitch Road. The teenagers were trying to escape a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Slidell after their car was noted for “reckless driving and lacking a tag.”
Their vehicle reached speeds of 85-90 mph. During the deployment of the spike strips, Sergeant Candies was struck by the suspects, according to the Officer Down Memorial Page.
The memorial page also stated that the suspects’ vehicle was eventually spotted in New Orleans near Crowder Boulevard after colliding with a New Orleans Police Department unit. The officer in the police vehicle sustained minor injuries.
Since all three teens were under the age of 18 at the time of Sergeant Candies’ death, they are not eligible for the death penalty. However, the District Attorney’s office is advocating for the maximum sentence allowed for the suspects, according to WDSU.
Their arraignment is scheduled for July 14, as per the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s office.
[Feature Photo:: Sgt. Candies/Officer Down Memorial Page]
