Picayune Police launch three pursuits into Louisiana in 48 hours
Picayune Police Department had a busy 48 hours, running down three suspects who led officers on pursuits out of their jurisdiction and into Louisiana.
At 5:37 a.m. on Monday, officers were asked to help Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office with a traffic stop on I-59 for a dangerous suspect with a shotgun in the vehicle. The suspect fled before officers arrived, traveling south on the interstate. His erratic driving caused a crash between Picayune and Pearl River vehicles.
The suspect, Gerald Watts, fled into Louisiana, stopping in Marrero only when he hit a concrete barricade, but held officers off for seven hours before leaving his vehicle brandishing the shotgun. He was hit with a non-lethal round and was taken into custody. Watts is charged in Louisiana with simple assault, resisting an officer, aggravated flight with a motor vehicle, aggravated obstructio of a highway, reckless operation of a vehicle and being a fugitive. He will be extradited to Picayune and more charges are pending.
On Tuesday about 9:55 p.m., officers were advised of a be on the lookout for a Kia Optima that had fled officers in Alabama. License plate readers placed him on I-59 and officers tried to stop him when he entered Picayune. The suspect, identified as Tam Nguyen, fled, often reaching speeds over 100 MPH. Nguyen entered Louisiana, wrecking his vehicle in Slidell, where he was tackled by a Picayune officer. He resisted and was subdued by a Slidell K-9 officer. Nguyen, 44, faces charges in Louisiana of being a fugitive, battery of a police officer, reckless driving, resisting arrest, flight from an officer, resisting by refusing to identify, aggravated obstruction of a highway. He will be extradited to Picayune and more charges are pending.
About 16 hours later on Wednesday at 1:28 p.m., officers were flagged down about a suspicious vehicle on Frierson Road with heavy damage. The vehicle was reported stolen from St. Tammany Parish. The suspect, Brant Dorsey tried to flee from officers and fled into Louisiana, but the damaged vehicle became disabled in Pearl River, Louisiana and Dorsey was arrested. Brandt, 19, is charged with possession of a stolen item, being a fugitive, motor vehicle theft, theft over $1,000. He will be extradited to Picayune and more charges are pending.
