By Vickie Jambon

Staff Reporter

RESERVE – Two men, previously arrested for assault by drive-by shootings, tried to avoid being arrested Thursday morning after St. John the Baptist Parish law enforcement officials pulled the two men over, along with two others, during a routine traffic stop, said Public Information Officer Sgt. Dane Clement.

Three Reserve men were taken into custody Thursday morning, following their holding-up in a Homewood Drive house for 20 to 30 minutes, said Clement. The fourth man escaped and is still being sought.

Four men were riding in a silver Chevrolet Cavalier when a St. John Parish sheriff’s deputy spotted the vehicle’s driver and its front passenger not using seat belts, Clement said,

He said the car was travelling northbound, along East 13th Street in Reserve.

Despite being signaled by the deputy to pull over, the driver instead went to the home of two of the passengers.

The four got into an argument with the deputy once they got out of the vehicle, Clement continued. The front seat passenger, Joshua Posey, 23, shoved the deputy and broke away from the deputy’s grasp when the officer tried to intercept Justin Posey, 22, and an unidentified passenger.

The driver, Tjaden Cambre, 22, of 246 E. 12th St., surrendered immediately, but the Posey brothers locked themselves into their house at about 9 a.m., at 352 Homewood Drive, and refused to come out for most of an hour.

Meanwhile, more deputies arrived, and the vehicle was searched. The search turned up two loaded handguns, and marijuana valued at $20 was found in the yard, Clement said.

Eventually, the Poseys were persuaded to come out, walking backwards with their hands behind their heads, at about 10 a.m.

Cambre was charged with a seatbelt violation, expired brake tag and open container violation. He was later released on bond. Justin Posey was charged with resisting an officer by flight. He was also released on bond. Joshua Posey, charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, resisting arrest by flight and illegal possession of a firearm with a controlled substance, is still awaiting his bond hearing as of press time.

Tjaden Cambre has a criminal record that includes acts of violence and drug involvement. His record stems from the year 2000 until present, and includes one 2003 charge of assault by drive-by shooting, several disturbing the peace charges for fighting and cursing, numerous criminal damage to property charges and one possessing stolen property charge.

Cambre has charges for contempt of court and for drug possession.

Joshua Posey has a rap sheet which also includes violent acts. He was charged with battery several times, and was charged once with principal to assault by drive-by shooting. Posey has numerous charges for disturbing the peace, trespassing and damage to property.

Authorities are investigating whether or not the men were planning to use the discovered guns in another drive-by shooting.