On Wednesday, March 7, at 8:07 p.m., a member of the Bogalusa Police Department was flagged down on Austin Street by a “hysterical female,” according to Major Percy Knight, public information officer for BPD.

“The female was upset because her child was being taken away by the child’s father,” he said. “The officer noticed a vehicle backing up to leave and the BPD officer yelled for the driver to stop. The driver disobeyed the officer’s orders and left the scene at a high rate of speed, disobeying the traffic light at the intersection of Austin Street and Carolina Avenue.

“The officer attempted to pursue the vehicle but it was no where to be found.”

Knight said that the woman identified the driver as Tristian Gill, 21, of Bogalusa. She reportedly stated that Gill probably went to a relative’s residence on West 8th Street.

“Officers went to the residence on West 8th Street, and located Gill’s vehicle,” Knight said. “After checking the residence, officers located Gill and the child. Gill was placed under arrest, and during the patdown search, a small plastic baggie of suspected marijuana was located in Gill’s pants pocket.”

Gill was booked on the charges of resisting an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, disobeyed red light, child desertion and simple possession of marijuana.

“The child was unharmed and turned back over to the mother,” Knight said.