LaPlace Man Arrested After Disturbance and Assaulting an Officer

Published 12:44 pm Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Donald Washington, 37, of LaPlace was arrested Sunday, January 15, 2023 after causing a disturbance at a local business and assaulting an officer.

On Sunday, January 15, 2023, about 2:15 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 800 block of West Airline Highway in LaPlace in reference to a male subject, later identified as Washington, standing on a table outside the business, causing a disturbance. As an officer attempted to detain Washington, he began pushing the officer and screaming at him. The officer ordered Washington to place his hands behind his back, but he refused all verbal commands. The officer then tased Washington, but Washington pulled the taser prong from his upper body, charged at the officer and began throwing punches at the head and body of the officer.

Applying open hand strikes to Washington, the officer was able to remove himself from the altercation. Washington then fled the scene on foot towards Cambridge Drive. Shortly after, Washington returned to the scene and was taken into custody. He was booked with resisting an officer by force or violence (felony), disturbing the peace (misd), and battery of a peace officer(felony). He is being held in custody in lieu of a $50,250 bond.

The officer sustained minor injuries to the face, knees and elbow. Washington was not injured.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said he is grateful to those citizens who sent videos of the incident directly to him, which aided in the investigation. He also greatly appreciates a witness who stepped in to help the officer.

The witness, a Kenner resident, was recently the victim of an attempted carjacking, Sheriff Tregre said.

“He expressed to me his feelings of being fed up with crime,” Sheriff Tregre said. “He saw this foolishness and came to the aid of the officer. We’re thankful for his cooperation and appreciate him coming forward with information that led to this arrest.”