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A daughter of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff, who works for that department in a clerical capacity, was arrested Saturday by a state trooper and summonsed for driving while intoxicated and speeding.
A State Police spokesman, Trooper Jesse LaGrange, said the trooper was conducting radar surveillance at about 12:30 a.m. on the West Main Street near La. Highway 3040 when he observed an auto allegedly traveling 59 mph in a 40 mph speed zone.
The trooper stopped the vehicle and “detected signs of impairment,” LaGrange said. The driver, identified as Lindsey Larpenter, was given a field sobriety test which she failed, and was arrested. She was then taken to Troop C in Gray.
After allegedly registering .21 on a breath test that was administered, Larpenter was issued a summons for speeding and for DWI first offense.
Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said he was advised of the arrest the next morning by a relative, and had not been contacted by either his daughter or the State Police.
Lindsey Larpenter is employed at the department’s training academy in a secretarial capacity and has the rank of sergeant.
“Hopefully she has learned a valuable lesson in life,” Sheriff Larpenter said. “She should not have been drinking and driving no matter what. Now she will have to deal with the consequences.”
Because her position does not involve patrol, Sheriff Larpenter said, his daughter was not suspended or placed on a modified assignment. Asked why or how or why TPSO was listed as the person to whom custody was given upon her release from Troop C, Larpenter said he did not know, but did not express concern.
“She must have called somebody to come get her,” Sheriff Larpenter said, adding that he was not aware of who made the pickup, or and whether they were on duty or off.
“That’s not a problem,” he said. “She lives about a half mile from the troop.”
Another sheriff’s office employee, former detective captain Tara Whitney, was arrested for DWI in June and was also given a summons.
The Terrebonne Parish jail refuses misdemeanor bookings in general when at or near capacity, but does give priority to DWI cases and those involving domestic violence. Nonetheless, said Maj. Doug Cain, a State Police spokesman, the decision to bring a DWI suspect to the jail or issue a summons rests with the arresting officer and usually left up to his or her discretion.
From Jan. 1 through June 29 of 2016, local troopers handled 373 DWI cases. Out of those cases 346 people were booked into jails. In 27 cases summonses were issued, meaning individuals were able to leave without posting a bond. Out of those cases, Cain said, 19 were in Terrebonne Parish.
The effective difference is that with a summons and no initial jailing, no bond is required. Had Sgt. Larpenter been booked she would have remained, likely in a holding cell, until a pre-set bond was posted. A check with local bail bondsmen indicated that the pre-set bond would have likely been $1,500 cash, with likely less than $200 paid out up-front to a bondsman.
Officials said that in accordance with general practice, Sgt. Larpenter will likely have to be booked and possibly post a bond after her initial court appearance. At that time she will also be able to enter a plea. In DWI cases as in all others courts presume innocence prior to trial or guilty plea, and as with all other defendants Sgt. Larpenter will have an opportunity to make the state prove its case if she wishes.
