Lake Charles, LA –
On May 1 at approximately 2:00 a.m. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to a residence on Walcott Road in Westlake in reference to an alarm activation.
When deputies arrived they observed a car that had crashed into an electrical pole on the property, causing the wires to fall and electrocute a fence. Shortly after arriving deputies observed a man, later identified as Kendrick D. Richard, 38, 1405 Hunter Drive, Lake Charles, walking in a field near the accident.
When deputies spoke with Richard they smelt a strong odor of synthetic marijuana emitting from his person. Deputies also observed Richard to have glossy eyes. Richard advised deputies he was driving the car but would not say how the crash occurred. During the investigation deputies learned Richard, who has two prior DWIs, was driving under suspension for a previous DWI. During further investigation and after a search of the car, deputies located a partially burnt cigarette containing suspected synthetic marijuana. Deputies also located an open alcoholic beverage inside the car.
Richard, who refused standard field sobriety testing, was arrested and transported to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for breath intoxilyzer testing, which revealed he was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Deputies asked him to submit to a toxicology blood draw, which he refused. Deputies then obtained a warrant to have his blood drawn for a toxicology report; he was transported to a local hospital.
After hospital personnel collected the blood sample Richard was transported back to CPSO. He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with DWI 3rd; operating a vehicle while under suspension; possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle; possession of synthetic marijuana. Judge David Ritchie set his bond at $62,000.
CPSO Deputy Kerrick Gabriel, Jr., is the arresting deputy on this case.
On May 3 at approximately 11:00 p.m. a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a truck near the intersection of Nelson Road and Gauthier Road in Lake Charles.
When the deputy spoke with the driver, Jairus A. Matt, 31, 6108 White Oak Drive, Lake Charles, he observed him to have slurred speech along with delayed reactions when deputies asked questions. While speaking with Matt he advised the deputy he had taken prescription medication prior to driving. After a search of the truck the deputy located a prescription bottle belonging to Matt, with pills not matching the prescription located on the bottle. They deputy then located a pill matching the prescription on the bottle, on the floor of the truck. The deputy also located a baggie of suspected methamphetamine inside the truck.
After Matt, who has two prior DWI arrests, performed poorly on a standard field sobriety testing he was arrested and transported to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for breath intoxilyzer testing, which revealed he was not under the influence of alcoholic beverages. The deputy asked him to submit to a toxicology blood draw, which he refused. Deputies obtained a warrant to have his blood drawn for a toxicology report; he was then transported to a local hospital.
After hospital personnel collected the blood sample Matt was transported back to CPSO. He was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with DWI 3rd; running a stop sign; failure to maintain lane; possession CDS II; possession of CDS IV. He was released the following day on a $51,500 bond set by Judge Michael Canaday.
CPSO Cpl. Tyler Jones is the arresting deputy on this case.