By LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / April 28, 1999

LULING – A Texas man remains jailed in St. Charles Parish after he left aLuling bar, allegedly in a drunken and violent condition, and, following a police chase, faced three counts of attempted murder.

Capt. Patrick Yoes of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office said Monday it wasunlikely authorities will have any more information on what led Mark A.

Imper, 40, of Sugarland, Texas, on his rampage.

Imper was in Brett’s Place on the evening of April 22. Yoes reported thatthe intoxicated Imper was refused further service and stormed from the bar to his rented Mercury Sable.

While he exited the bar, Imper struck a dumpster and a parked car, then headed onto nearby Interstate 310 toward Kenner. By this time, bartendershad called police, and a deputy gave chase, joined by others.

Following a chase of nearly four miles, Imper was halted near the Airline Highway interchange. There, deputies tried to remove him from the carbut, Yoes continued, Imper gunned the engine and attempted to hit three deputies with the car in an attempt to escape.

One deputy fired his revolver, hitting the car’s rear tires, and stopped Imper’s escape.

He was booked in Hahnville on three counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of hit and run driving and one count each of public intimidation, DWI, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, aggravated resisting arrest by flight and resisting arrest.

“He refused to give any information as to why he was here,” Yoes commented.

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