Three teenagers from Louisiana are facing charges following the death of a St. Tammany Parish Sergeant. They have been accused of obstructing justice by tampering with evidence and conspiring to distribute marijuana.
The individuals, Adrian Waughtal, Mason Fischer, both aged 17, and Michael Lanier, aged 18, were indicted by a grand jury for their involvement in the incident that led to the death of Sergeant Grant Candies from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 23, as reported by FOX 8.
Sergeant Candies had deployed spike strips while trying to stop the suspects’ vehicle on Brownswitch Road. The teenagers had been attempting to escape from a traffic stop on Interstate 10 in Slidell after their vehicle was seen “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]
