[StBernard] St. Bernard drug suspect flees courtroom, ends high-speed chase in fiery crash

Westley Annis westley at da-parish.com
Wed Nov 14 08:50:25 EST 2012


St. Bernard drug suspect flees courtroom, ends high-speed chase in fiery
crash

By Naomi Martin, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune
on November 13, 2012 at 9:09 PM, updated November 14, 2012 at 6:22 AM Email

| Print


An alleged third-time drug offender sat in a St. Bernard Parish courtroom on
Tuesday about 3:30 p.m. and pondered his options: He could either accept a
plea deal of seven years in prison, or risk a longer prison sentence at
trial. Suddenly, 37-year-old Cyprian Robertson bolted for the door.

Robertson, of Chalmette, sprinted to his car parked outside the courthouse,
and sped onto St. Claude Avenue toward New Orleans, according to a news
release from St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann. Officers gave chase,
eventually setting out spike strips on St. Bernard Highway, which flattened
Robertson's front tires. Yet Robertson drove on, barreling onto the
Industrial Canal Bridge.

Once over the bridge, he slammed into the rear of a Chalmette High School
track coach's car that was stopped at the Poland Avenue traffic signal.
Coach David Koontz suffered minor injuries, a sheriff's spokesman said.

Robertson's car burst into flames. He tried to run, but he soon collapsed,
his leg broken. He was carried away from his burning car by Louisiana
Probation and Parole Agent Andrew Bodine, then taken by paramedics to
Interim LSU Public Hospital, Pohlmann said.

"I couldn't go back to jail," Robertson reportedly said as he lay handcuffed
in the street. The fiery crash closed bridge traffic in both directions for
at least 30 minutes.

Robertson, who already has two drug convictions, had been free on bond after
being arrested on charges of possession of heroin, cocaine and marijuana.

Once he is released from the hospital, Robertson will be booked in New
Orleans on several traffic charges and in St. Bernard on charges that
include aggravated flight from officers, reckless driving and driving with a
suspended license, Pohlmann said.

State District Court Judge Jacques Sanborn, who had been hearing Robertson's
case initially, ordered Robertson held on a high bond once he is back in St.
Bernard Parish Prison.




More information about the StBernard mailing list