An 84-year-old man was arrested in St. Charles Parish on Halloween night after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at deputies in a St. Rose subdivision, prompting them to open fire. Herman Alexander was not shot or injured during the encounter and was taken into custody.
Investigators said Alexander was walking around the neighborhood carrying a shotgun when deputies ordered him to drop the weapon, according to WDSU. Instead, he reportedly aimed the gun at the deputies, who then opened fire. Despite the gunfire, Alexander walked away from the confrontation unharmed and was placed under arrest.
No Criminal History, but a Troubled Spring
Deputies told the outlet that Alexander has no prior criminal history. They also said he suffered an apparent mental health episode in May and was sent to the hospital for evaluation at that time, a detail that has drawn renewed attention following the Halloween-night confrontation.
Authorities said they are still working to determine what charges Alexander will face. No further details about the exact location within the subdivision, the time of the standoff, or whether any deputy was hurt have been released.
How Louisiana Law Treats Assaults on Officers
Louisiana law defines aggravated assault with a firearm as an assault committed with a firearm, according to the Louisiana Legislature. Separately, state statute also defines aggravated assault upon a peace officer as an assault committed against an officer acting within the course and scope of their duties, per the Louisiana Legislature. It remains unclear whether either statute will ultimately apply in Alexander's case, as prosecutors have not announced formal charges.
Part of a Wider Pattern of Crisis Encounters
Confrontations between armed residents and law enforcement during apparent mental health crises have played out elsewhere in the country in recent months. In Adams County, a sheriff's deputy was shot and was recovering at home after responding to a mental health crisis call, Local 12 reported, while authorities there said deputies had responded to a report of a mental health-related incident during a separate investigation. In Florida, deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office fired their weapons after hours of negotiations with an armed person who was threatening suicide near Boca Raton, according to WPTV.
Back in St. Rose, the outcome was different: Alexander survived the exchange of gunfire without injury, and authorities are working to determine what charges he may face.
