An incident in Ellender Hall escalated into three arrests and one student being temporarily suspended from school on Friday, Nov. 15.
University police headquarters received a call about an argument in Ellender residence hall and Officer Michelle Harris, Investigator Julio Gerena and Captain Danny Kramer responded.
Kima Truehill, freshman from Thibodaux, and Shanna Walker, freshman from New Orleans, were involved in an altercation where Walker allegedly pulled a knife on Truehill. Truehill then called her mother, to come to campus to pick her up because, as stated in the incident report, she was “afraid.”
Jacqueline Truehill, Kima Truehill’s aunt arrived while University Police officers were on the scene to pick her up.
Judy Daniels, dean of student life, spoke with the two students after the altercation took place and told them both to leave campus for the weekend and to not return until Monday Nov. 18. They were each allowed one-hour to get their things in order to leave campus.
Daniels said based upon the evidence in the case, and also accounts from witnesses, a decision as to the disciplinary action to be taken will be discussed at a hearing with the discipline committee.
“Because of the incidents that followed the confrontation between the roommates, the initial plan has gone up in flames,” Daniels said.
“I am required to go through with the code of conduct, and in that I will refer to the criminal investigations.”
As of press time, Walker had been temporarily suspended and is awaiting a hearing by the discipline committee.
Shortly after the argument between Truehill and Walker took place, Darlene Walker and Devona Bourgeois, both of 1632 Gallier Street in New Orleans, arrived on campus to take suspect Shanna Walker home.
“The two ladies went into the dorm room and University Police told them to leave, they resisted, and they were arrested,” Michael Delaune, director of university relations, said.
Both women were charged with resisting and officer, failure to comply and also remaining where forbidden.
It was at this time that James Green, of 1632 Gallier Street in New Orleans and husband of one of the arrested women, was asked to move his vehicle, which was illegally parked.
“He was parked in front of Ellender Hall and he was asked to move along because he was blocking the road, he parked when asked, but was verbally abusive in the process,” Delaune said.
“When he continued to be verbally abusive, he was told to leave the campus, and he refused. When an officer approached him to perform an arrest, for disturbing the peace, he took off.”
“He was then advised that he was under arrest, at which time he fled in his vehicle onto Madewood Drive with officers in pursuit,” as stated in the incident report.
While fleeing from the officers, Green made several attempts to ram the officer’s car. Green appeared to stop, and as both officers got out of the car, he struck the lower right door of the patrol car.
Upon hitting the patrol car, Green exited his vehicle and moved towards the officers, then turned back to go to his car. At this time, Gerena was forced to use physical force detain Green until “back-up units from Thibodaux Police Department and the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office arrived,” as stated in the incident report.
Green was arrested and taken to Thibodaux Police Department for booking. He has been charged with disturbing the peace, improper stopping or parking, flight from and officer, aggravated criminal damage to property and battery of a police officer.
Both officers involved in the incident were taken to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, and after being evaluated, were released from the hospitals care.