By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

LULING – The St. Charles Sheriff’s Office arrested a 19-year-old Luling resident late Wednesday night, after he allegedly drove drunk and attempted to fight officers at his residence and later at the hospital.

Ryan Bourgeois was allegedly seen driving drunk through his neighborhood, recklessly peeling out and screeching his tires throughout the 200 block of Fourth Street in Luling.

A resident of his block spotted Bourgeois in the car and called the St. Charles police, who arrived to find Bourgeois parking the car at his house at 206 Fourth St., just before midnight.

He reportedly stumbled out the driver’s side of the car and reeked of alcohol when officers approached him, and told police &#8220he was drinking, messing around and having fun.”

An officer told Bourgeois to put his hands behind his back and turn around. The teenager appeared to comply for a moment but then spun around and punched the officer in the face, according to the Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

A struggle broke out and Bourgeois allegedly struck another officer in the chest, was brought down momentarily by a chemical agent, but continued to kick and punch any officer that came near him.

Police eventually handcuffed him and transported him to a local hospital, where he tried to escape through an emergency door. Officers caught up to him and attempted to detain him but he continued to fight off anyone near him, LaGrange said.

Once they were able to subdue Bourgeois, police transported him to Nelson Coleman Correctional Center. He was booked with a $20,650 bond and has since been released.

&#8220This is very unfortunate that these types of incidents occur,” said Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office. &#8220People that expect to get behind motor vehicles while under the influence should really think about what they’re doing. Battery of a police officer is a very serious offense.”

Bourgeois was charged with D.W.I. under 21, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, disturbing the peace, battery on a police officer, attempted simple escape, two counts of simple criminal damage, two counts of battery on a police officer with injury and two counts of resisting an officer by violence.