By ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

EDGARD – A 17-year-old Edgard man was arrested Sunday and booked with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer after authorities say he fired a gun at a St. John Parish Sheriff’s deputy during a foot chase on East 6th Street in Edgard.

Capt. Dane Clement, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office said the suspect, Lamar Farnell, 210 E. 5th St., Edgard, fired one shot at the deputy, who was not injured during the incident. Farnell was taken into custody at his residence late Sunday night after witnesses identified him as the shooter, Clement said.

According to a report from the Sheriff’s Office, around 2 a.m. Sunday, deputies were called out to disperse a group of about 12 subjects, including Farnell, who were loitering at the corner of East 6th Street and River Road in Edgard. When the group was asked to move on, one of the unidentified subjects refused and started cursing at the deputy. As the deputy approached, Farnell and another man ran away.

Clement said as the deputy pursued the two men down East 6th Street, Farnell produced a handgun, pointed it at the deputy and fired one shot.

Clement said deputies caught up with Farnell a short time later with another unidentified man.

When the men were ordered to the ground, Clement said Farnell fled again, this time into a home on East 6th Street.

Deputies searched the home and discovered that Farnell had escaped through a window. Clement said there was no relation between Farnell and the home’s owner.

Clement said witnesses on the scene were able to identify Farnell as the shooter. Farnell was apprehended at his East 5th Street home later that evening. Clement said the suspect remains in jail at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on $514,000 bond.