Troopers release name of suspect killed in chase that ended in crash

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A suspect is dead and two people are injured after a police chase ended in a crash on LA 1 in Port Allen Saturday night, authorities said.

The crash happened around 8:15 p.m. on LA 1 North near American Way and was initiated by the Plaquemine Police Department, according to Louisiana State Police.

Troopers said the suspect who was killed is Jonathan K. Williams, 34, of Plaquemine.

Late Saturday night, Plaquemine Police Chief Stephen Engolio released new details about what he said happened before, during, and after the chase and crash.

The chief said the entire incident began with a phone call around 7:45 p.m. from a woman regarding an ongoing domestic violence situation. The chief said that the call came into Plaquemine PD even though the situation happened outside of the city limits. The woman gave police the name of the suspect and a description of the suspect’s vehicle before the call was transferred over to the Iberville Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Chief Engolio said the same woman who made the call Saturday night also called for help a week prior about a situation involving the same suspect within the Plaquemine city limits. The prior case remains under investigation, the chief said.

According to the chief, Plaquemine police officers spotted the suspect driving in a Chevrolet Tahoe on LA 1 in north Plaquemine. The chief said the vehicle began to flee the area before officers initiated the pursuit.

Officers, in compliance with the policies and procedures of the Plaquemine Police Department, used lights and sirens to try to get the suspect to stop, the chief said. He added that the suspect’s vehicle continued at a high rate of speed and that due to the “violent nature of the offense,” officers began a chase. Troopers added that officers initiated a traffic stop but said that Willaims refused to stop.

Chief Engolio said that traffic was light when the chase passed through north Plaquemine and Addis. However, he said that traffic began to get heavier as officers entered the Brusly area. The chief said that a shift sergeant then called via radio and ordered the chase to end.

According to Chief Engolio, the suspect’s vehicle ran a red light on LA 1 as officers began to back off the chase. The chief said the suspect’s vehicle then crashed into the back of another car that was coming across the intersection, causing the suspect’s vehicle to flip over into a median.

Chief Engolio said that the suspect was killed, while a passenger in the suspect’s vehicle was seriously injured. The driver in the passing vehicle suffered minor injuries, the chief said.

Chief Engolio stated that two officers were involved in the chase and that they were both in the same vehicle. The chief said the officer who was driving has been placed on administrative leave.

Chief Engolio said that State Police are investigating the crash, and LSP confirmed they are taking over the investigation into the crash only.

“This will be fully and thoroughly investigated by an outside agency. I am deeply concerned,” said Tony Clayton, district attorney for WBR, Iberville and Pointe Coupee parishes. “We are a nation of laws. We all have to abide by them. It’s all about protecting the safety of our community.”

DA Clayton has reacted to at least one other police chase in the past that ended in a deadly crash. On New Year’s Eve 2022, a chase involving a former Addis police officer ended in a crash that killed two teens and injured a third person. That former officer, David Cauthron, pleaded guilty in court and was sentenced to 32 years with 22 suspended.

DOTD posted about the crash and congestion earlier Saturday evening.

LA 1 between Lansdowne Dr. and American Way was closed for a few hours but reopened around 10:30 p.m.

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