Opelousas Police Chief to remain in office after arrest, other officers on paid leave
Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said today that Police Chief Graig LeBlanc will remain in office after his arrest in the wake of his shooting, but that the other members of the Opelousas Police Department have been placed on paid administartive leave.
OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) -- Opelousas Mayor Julius Alsandor said today that Police Chief Graig LeBlanc will remain in office after his arrest in the wake of his shooting, but that the other members of the Opelousas Police Department involved have been placed on paid administrative leave.
In a news conference in the city council chambers this morning Alsandor said he hopes to simply see the community come together to move forward as the police department continues their mission to protect and serve.
LeBlanc, 45, was arrested and charged with failure to assist, obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office, all felonies, and Opelousas Police officer Tyrone Abrams, 49, is charged with principal to obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office in connection with the shooting of LeBlanc and his wife, Crystal allegedly by Savannah Butler, another Opelousas police officer.
"I know this is alarming news to the community, to businesses, to all of us, but we still have to go forward and that I can commend the Police Department on the work that is continued to be done and that will be done by the entire police staff," Alsandor said.
LeBlanc has admitted that the incident was the result of infidelity on his part with Butler, who is accused of shooting Graig and Crystal LeBlanc at Butler’s Opelousas residence on Dec. 22.
Butler surrendered to authorities on New Year’s Day, according to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. She is charged with two counts of negligent injury and one count each of obstruction of justice and illegal discharge of a firearm.
Abrams is accused of removing blood evidence from the scene.
Abrams and Butler have been placed on paid administrative leave. LeBlanc, as an elected official, cannot be uniulaterally removed from office by the mayor or city council.
Latest news
- Black business owner wins with family banana pudding recipe
- Menendez, awaiting corruption trial, concerned about scammers on Venmo, Zelle, Cash App
- What we learned from 2024 candidates' year-end fundraising reports
- Jeffries vows to expand child tax credit even further under a Democratic majority
- Trump doles out millions to lawyers: Here’s who’s getting the most