| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 1283 | 2011-08-31 | Troop A | Laurent's Body Found in Mississippi River |
TROOP A - NEWS RELEASE August 31, 2011 Suspect in Several Cases Jumps from Bridge after Fleeing LSP Units Update: Laurent’s body was recovered from the Mississippi River in Norco near the Valero Docks this morning shortly after 8:00 am. Valero personnel noticed a body floating in the water, recovered the body, and immediately contacted authorities. Laurent’s body was transported to the New Orleans Forensic Center, where an autopsy was performed this afternoon. Update: The active grid search on the Mississippi River that has been conducted continuously by multiple agencies since Laurent jumped from the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge is being discontinued effective immediately as well as the Command Post that was established at the foot of the bridge. All agencies involved in the search conducted a debriefing and are in the process of returning to normal operations. The U.S. Coast Guard and the Port of South Louisiana have issued pertinent information to all river traffic regarding the search. All agencies along the Mississippi River have been informed of the latest information, and all agencies involved with the case and the search are in constant communication. Gramercy – A Vacherie man jumped from the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge today after fleeing Louisiana State Troopers in St. James Parish. The suspect fled from Troopers assigned to Troop A after they attempted to stop him on LA 18 in St. James Parish. Shortly before 1:00 pm today, Troopers initiated a traffic stop on Kylan M. Laurent (B/M, age 22) of Vacherie on LA 18 when he immediately fled in a 2005 Chevrolet Impala. Laurent was originally the suspect in an Aggravated Battery and False Imprisonment case in Baton Rouge. Detectives assigned to the East Baton Rouge Violent Crimes Unit (EBRVCU) (Baton Rouge Police Department, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, EBR District Attorney’s Office, and LSP Bureau of Investigation Troopers) began an investigation and were able to identify Laurent as a suspect in several additional cases in the Baton Rouge area. After working with detectives from Kenner Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, they were able to name Laurent as a suspect in a homicide investigation being conducted by Kenner Police Department and two homicide investigations being conducted by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office. As a public safety precaution, LSP Detectives working with the EBRVCU were monitoring Laurent and requested assistance from Troop A to initiate a traffic stop when the pursuit began. During the pursuit, Laurent drove north across the Veterans’ Memorial Bridge near Gramercy, stopped near the top of the bridge on the right shoulder, exited his vehicle, and jumped over the bridge rail into the Mississippi River. State Police Air Support, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, St. James Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Port of South Louisiana personnel promptly began searching the river and the immediate area for Laurent. The search will continue until he is located. Each of the cases remains under investigation and detectives from all agencies are working in partnership to bring the cases to closure. The Impala has been taken to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office Crime Lab for processing. Detectives urge anyone with information regarding any of these or similar cases to contact the EBRVCU through the Louisiana State Police at 1-800-434-8007. Contact Information: TFC Russell G. Graham II | |||
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