St. John deputies nab fleeing drug suspects
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 13, 2000
ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / September 13, 2000
LAPLACE – Thanks to the quick action of a St. John the Baptist Parishdeputy, three men suspected of dealing drugs and trying to kill a Jefferson Parish deputy are under arrest.
The incident began in Kenner when a man carrying a bag filled with 20 pounds of marijuana tried to get past a baggage check-point at the Moisant International Airport.
When the man was asked to turn the bag over to be checked, he ran out of the airport and got into a white Chevrolet occupied by two other men.
Sgt. Mark Pennison of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Department got in frontof the car and ordered the suspects to get out. The driver put the car ingear, and Pennison drew his pistol and fired, putting a hole in the windshield.
The suspects then hit Pennison with the car and took off toward St. JohnParish. Pennison did not require medical attention.The St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office was alerted by Jefferson Parish that thesuspects were headed their way.
Around 2:35 p.m. St. John Parish Deputy Jeremy Mince was traveling east onAirline Highway when he spotted a white Chevrolet with a bullet hole in the windshield heading west on Airline.
Calling for backup, Mince chased the car. According to Capt. Mike Tregre ofthe St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, 10 to 12 units were involved in thechase, which included the help of Louisiana State Troopers.
The suspects were pulled over at the corner of Ormond Boulevard and Airline Highway, and they gave up with no resistance.
“It went quickly and professionally,” said Tregre. “We were happy that it wentas well as it did.”The suspects were arrested, and the car impounded. The three men wereturned over to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The three suspects are An Marble, 22, Killeen, Texas; Hwang Pollack, 19, Harker Heights, Texas, and David McDonald, 19, Austin, Texas. All threewere charged with possession of marijuana and as fugitives from Jefferson Parish. Marble, who drove the car, also faces charges of attempted murderfor running over Pennison.
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