On July 20^th, The Pine Prairie Police Department responded to a call near 4^th Street involving a man assaulting a female, dragging her into a green mini-van and driving away.  Detective Estes with the Pine Prairie Police Department spoke with a witness at the scene who advised the female had “walked across the yard and was crouching near a tree” when the van drove by and turned around recklessly down Oak.  The witness said the man “started beating the woman and dragged her into the van and then drove away.”  Detective Estes and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office began looking for the van and an alert was put out over KVPI.  Detective Caleb Stelly with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle near Tom’s Fried Chicken.  He alerted Pine Prairie P.D. and Detective Estes arrived and identified the female as Abby Elizabeth Clark who stated it was just an argument and that was all.  The male was identified as Elliot Billy Travis.  When Detective Estes approached the van, he found 5 children inside and he questioned them about what happened.  One child advised Travis “hit his mom” and all of the children said Travis “pushed their mom into the van.  Elliot Billy Travis was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery and Careless Operation and booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail. Travis is scheduled for a Gwen’s Law hearing today (Thursday) at 1:00 p.m.  A Gwen’s Law Hearing is a bail hearing for certain offenses against a family or household member or dating partner.

UPDATE:

Travis remains incarcerated with a $12,500.00 bond set by Judge Gary Ortego in the Gwen's Law Hearing held at 1:00 p.m. today.