Gazette Staff Report
Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau released a statement Monday regarding the recent arrest of Mamou Police Officer Christopher Ryan Lemaire.
On Friday April 1, 2016, Mamou Police Chief Allen Noel contacted the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division for assistance with the misconduct of a police officer.
Chief Noel stated that on Friday, April 1, 2016 Mamou Police Officer Lemaire conducted a traffic stop at the intersection of Martin Luther King and 6th Street in Mamou.
During Lemaire’s traffic stop he received a verbal consent from the driver to search the vehicle.
Lemaire located an ounce of Marijuana and a bong. He confiscated the drug and paraphernalia.
Lemaire then discarded the evidence prematurely without authorization before processing it as evidence.
The driver admitted to the possession of both items found, but no arrest was made.
After a thorough and complete investigation, a Warrant of Arrest and Affidavit was authored by Evangeline parish Sheriff’s Office. The warrant was then signed by 13th Judicial Judge Chuck West with a bond set at $25,000.00.
Lemaire was arrested and booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail on the charges of malfeasance in office.
Lemaire has been released from jail on bond.