Standoff ends with Cut Off man’s arrest

A stolen vehicle report turned into a one-hour standoff on Monday morning, as Louisiana State Police SWAT team, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted Louisiana State Police Troop C in negotiations with Michael Rockwell, 37, of Cut Off.

Early Monday, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office alerted Troop C of a burgundy pickup truck that was stolen from the Shop Rite on La.. 1 in Raceland.

At 6:09 a.m., troopers from Troop C saw a truck that fit the description on U.S. 90 near La. 316. Rockwell refused to stop and led troopers on a 15-mile chase before stopping in the middle of the westbound lanes, stopping traffic.

According to the report, Rockwell refused to exit and threatened to kill himself with a gun if troopers did not give him crack cocaine.

Throughout the hour-long negotiations, Rockwell held his hand in his jacket as if holding a gun toward his head, reports said. Upon surrendering, searches found a hairbrush in his jacket and not a gun.

During the standoff, traffic was detoured to LA 20 between the Chacahoula and Gibson exits. U.S. 90 reopened at 7:49 a.m.