Parish Prisoner Escapee Captured November 26, 2022 An Evangeline Parish prisoner was recaptured a short time after he escaped from deputies. Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles Guillory reported to KVPI News that the inmate, Deonterrian Devon Wilson of Mamou , was being escorted to the parish jail Friday when he took off running and escaped from the deputies. He was considered dangerous. A few hours later, the sheriff's department notified KVPI News that the escapee was recaptured at 11:40pm Friday night without incident and is back in the parish jail.

Evangeline Parish District Attorney Trent Brignac confirmed to KVPI News today the arrest of Christina Sam, a Ville Platte City Councilwoman , who is currently in a runoff race for re-election. The arrest is related to election fraud, forgery and illegally procuring and submitting voter registration applications that are known to be materially false. The violation of election code provision carries a maximum sentence of up to two years imprisonment and a fine of up to two thousand dollars. District Judge Marcus Fontenot set Sam's bond at $15,000.

Evangeline Parish Police Jury Meeting November 7, 2022 The Evangeline Parish Police Jury Monday voted to apply for LGAP funding in the amount of $100,000 for improvements to the Water Tower at the Industrial Park. The jury also agreed to apply for $100,000 in funding to construct a new controls building at the Industrial Park. Police Jury President Bryan Vidrine announced that the Burn Ban in Evangeline Parish has been lifted for local residents. Jury Public Works Director Chester Granger reported that the theft of road signs in the parish is becoming a serious problem. One area the jury is exploring is to purchase cameras to catch those who steal the signs. Also, the police jury tabled the approval of the 2023 operating budget for the Evangeline Parish Communications District to give jurors more time to review until more information is gathered. Several members of the police jury including Juror Eric Soileau praised Granger for "getting the job done" even if it meant working the equipment himself. The jury is considering hiring an Assistant Public Works Director to help Granger in his duties. In other action the police jury: --called a public hearing and special meeting at 4;00pm December 5 to get comments on a proposal to merge the Ward Five and Lone Pine Fire Districts; --received news that sales tax collections for September sales collected In October amounted to $388,626 which is an 11 percent decrease from the previous month; --voted to call their December meeting for Tuesday Dec. 13 at 2:00pm and will be conducted all in the Cajun French language; --voted to give pay raises to Tim Causey, Nolan Soileau, Huey Johnson and Eddie Clark in District Four; --plans to use the $100,000 in NACO funds to be used as matching funds for future grants including the possible construction of a new parish animal shelter.

Unrestrained Driver Killed in Evangeline Parish Crash Evangeline Parish – On November 3, 2022, shortly after 10:30 p.m., an officer with Ville Platte Police Department attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop and a pursuit ensued which ended in a fatal crash that claimed the life of the driver, 41-year-old Gary Macneil Sims of Ville Platte. The initial investigation revealed the officer attempted a traffic stop on a 2004 Toyota Camry after the owner reported an unauthorized use of her vehicle. The driver, Sims, began fleeing from police at a high rate of speed. For reasons still under investigation, Sims lost control of the Camry in a curve and exited LA 10 near Pelican Road. Upon doing so, the vehicle overturned several times before striking a utility pole. Sims was unrestrained and was ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Evangeline Parish Coroner's Office. Due to the extent of his injuries, a toxicology sample was unable to be obtained for analysis. This crash remains under investigation. While not all crashes are survivable, proper seat belt usage can greatly increase the chances of surviving a crash by spreading out those forces across the strong bones of the body. Speed increases those forces and increases the degree severity in a crash. Please be a responsible driver or a responsible passenger, and buckle up every ride, every time. In 2022, Troop I has investigated 48 fatal crashes resulting in 54 deaths.