By Bonnie Culverhouse

In a pursuit that began in Bossier Parish, Haughton Police chased a motorcycle driven by 33-year-old Robby Lerille into south Webster Parish early Friday morning.

Haughton Police Chief Todd Gibson said the pursuit began as a routine traffic stop on Hwy. 157 in Haughton just after midnight.

“The reason for the stop was no license plate on the motorcycle,” Gibson said. “Nor did it have any license plate lights, nor did it have any rear signals. It was routine, but the subject decided he wasn’t going to stop.”

According to Gibson, the motorcycle turned south on Highway 371, onto Nursery Road south of Sibley where it crashed.

“We believe talking to residents in that area, with the assistance of the Webster Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police, he just took that road to evade capture,” Gibson said. “We do not have any belief that he had any ties to the Sibley area or Nursery Road.”

The suspect reportedly laid down the cycle and fled on foot, where he ran in front of a Haughton Police unit.

He was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and the officer was not injured.

“He was transported to a local hospital – they released him – they usually notify us, but for some reason this time they didn’t. An officer was with him at one point but the officer left. It is unclear why he left and why we weren’t notified, ” Gibson said. “Obviously his injuries were very, very minor.”

The chief said Lerille is from the Monroe area but also has ties to New Orleans.

“There are arrest warrants for him,” Gibson said. “Charges will be for possession of methamphetamine – 4 grams, aggravated flight from an officer and resisting an officer.”

This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.