The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking Raishad Batiste after a high-speed chase that began in LaPlace on December 28. According to the St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office's Post, during the incident, a deputy was injured while attempting a traffic stop. Batiste allegedly fled in a white Toyota Venza, reaching speeds up to 120 mph, and later abandoned the vehicle in Metairie.
The pursuit began on Airline Highway after Batiste fled a gas station where a traffic stop was attempted. He failed to stop at a sign at Highway 51 and Main Street, colliding with a patrol deputy’s vehicle and causing a non-life-threatening leg injury. The chase continued onto Interstate 10, where Batiste’s vehicle struck another car; the Kenner Police Department handled that crash.
During the chase, the Sheriff's Office reported that Batiste drove at excessive speeds in a 60 mph zone, made dangerous lane changes, and used the highway shoulder to evade traffic. The chase was called off once he entered Kenner, Louisiana.
Raishad Batiste has been identified as the driver, and an arrest warrant has been issued, approved by Judge Vercel Fiffie. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the St. John Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS, Detective Gage Thomas at 985-618-9559, Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111, or submit tips online through the Sheriff’s Office website.
