By Pat Culverhouse
A 56-year-old Reno, Nevada man is in custody in Ouachita Parish in connection with a hit-and-run incident at a local truck stop which sent one person to a Bossier City hospital earlier this week.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said John Desersa is being held by Ouachita authorities for charges in that parish related to the incident and is expected to be transferred to local custody.
“When he either serves his time on their charges or bonds out, we will be picking him up to face our charges,” McIver said.
Desersa is accused of attempting to run down an individual with his vehicle in the parking lot of Love’s Travel Stop around 2 a.m. Tuesday.
McIver said a second person believed to have accompanied his friend to site was struck during the incident and taken to the hospital with a possible broken foot. His condition is unknown.
According to the chief, a female believed to be Desersa’s estranged wife and five juveniles were in the vehicle at the time of the incident. After slamming two vehicles and striking one man, Desersa reportedly fled eastbound on Interstate 20.
A BOLO was issued for the vehicle and Louisiana State Police reportedly made the stop near Monroe.
During interviews, detectives reportedly learned domestic issues in Reno apparently resulted in Desersa leaving Nevada with his wife and children. He was reportedly tracked via cellular phone to the Minden area by the individual he allegedly attempted to run down with his vehicle.
“We’re still investigating the circumstances that led him to leave Reno with his family and why he had come to Minden,” McIver said. “Our detectives are also working with the Gingerbread House to gather more information.”
McIver said multiple charges will be filed against Desersa once he is in local custody, but the extent of those charges is still to be determined.
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.