Three Louisiana teens have been indicted in connection with the death of a St. Tammany Parish Sergeant, along with obstruction of justice by tampering with evidence, and conspiracy to distribute marijuana charges.
Adrian Waughtal and Mason Fischer, both 17, and Michael Lanier, 18, were indicted by a grand jury for the March 23 death of St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Grant Candies, according to FOX 8.
Candies deployed spike strips in an attempt to stop the suspects’ vehicle on Brownswitch Road. The teens were fleeing from a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Slidell after their vehicle was observed “driving recklessly without 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]
