A Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office sergeant with 19 years on the job was arrested by Kenner police on an impaired-driving charge early Monday morning, and resigned from the department soon after. Ronald Bodenheimer was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on a state charge of operating a vehicle while impaired, following a traffic stop that began with a 911 call from a convenience store witness.
According to WWLTV, the incident unfolded around 3 a.m. Monday, when a witness at a convenience store called 911 after seeing Bodenheimer leave a marked JPSO unit and believing he appeared impaired. Kenner police pulled him over as he was leaving the store, per the station's report, and then took him to the police station for further evaluation.
Breath Test and a Refused Field Sobriety Check
Before being taken to the station, Bodenheimer refused a field sobriety test, the report notes. The Kenner police chief said he ultimately provided a breath sample measuring 0.174. He was then booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center on the impairment charge, according to the same account.
Bodenheimer resigned from the Sheriff's Office shortly after his arrest, per a statement given to the station. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson Capt. Jason Rivarde is identified in the report as the agency's spokesperson on the matter, and the outlet said it had requested additional information from both Kenner police and the Sheriff's Office.
Other JPSO Impaired-Driving Cases
In August, former JPSO Deputy Kyle Nugent was accused of driving his marked patrol vehicle while impaired, with authorities telling nola.com his blood alcohol content measured 0.166%, twice the legal limit. Nugent, a nine-year department veteran, was fired after that arrest, the outlet reported.
In a separate case, JPSO employee Aaron Verrette, described as a 14-year veteran of the agency, was arrested after allegedly driving while impaired in his personal vehicle on a Monday, Sept. 21, according to a report from Yahoo News; JPSO officials said his breath sample read 0.155g%, and he was fired following the arrest. That report did not specify the year of the incident.
What Louisiana Law Says About Repeat Offenses
Louisiana's impaired-driving statute, R.S. 14:98, addresses how repeat offenses are handled under state law. Per the Louisiana Legislature, a conviction on a fourth or subsequent offense under the section requires sentencing under a separate statute, R.S. 14:98.4, and a conviction on a third or subsequent offense is treated as presumptive evidence of a substance abuse disorder. It is not established whether any such provisions bear on Bodenheimer's case.
The disposition of Bodenheimer's charge has not been reported. WWL Louisiana said it had sought additional details from Kenner police and the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office following the arrest.
