By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Minden man is scheduled to stand trial in Webster Parish next Monday, June 17.
Aaron Demon Wright was arrested by Minden Police October 2, 2022 for aggravated assault with a firearm, then again April 9, 2023 for reckless operation of a motor vehicle (attempting to drive his car into a crowd of around 300 persons), two counts of resisting an officer with force and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
According to then-police Chief Steve Cropper, during the October incidence, “the complainant was attending a voter registration event when the suspect drove up in his Camaro, parked and exited, attacking the complainant. A fight ensued and witnesses reported that Wright brandished a handgun from the center of his waistline and pointed it at the complainant.”
No shots were fired and Wright reportedly returned to his vehicle, left the scene but returned several times “as if taunting the victim.”
During the April 2023 event current police Chief Jared McIver said Sgt. Chris Cayer and Off. Cadyn O’Connor were dispatched to the scene around 9:30 p.m. Easter Sunday.
“There were around 300 people there,” McIver confirmed. “As the officer walked through the crowd, he noticed a gold pick up truck driving in excess of the posted speed limit and passing vehicles using the oncoming traffic lane while approaching the crowd on the side of the road.”
McIver said Sgt. Cayer approached the vehicle on foot and told the driver, Wright, to pull over.
“Wright began arguing with the officers that he was not driving recklessly and at that point, had not placed his vehicle into ‘park,’” said the chief. “Wright was given a loud verbal command to step out of the vehicle due to his argumentative behavior, the fact that there were other passengers in the vehicle and the possible danger of him driving off.”
Even though Wright was given several loud verbal commands, he allegedly refused to exit his truck, telling officers: “No, I’m not.” He allegedly resisted being removed by pushing and shoving Off. O’Connor and Sgt. Cayer away.
“He locked his legs to remain inside the vehicle,” McIver said. They used the amount of force necessary to remove him from the vehicle.”
The two more serious charges have been combined, and Wright is to go in front of a petit jury in Judge Allie A. Stahl’s courtroom, 26th Judicial District Court Monday. Jimbo Yocom will serve as prosecutor and Dhu Thompson is Wright’s defense attorney.