SLIDELL, La. – A dramatic attempt to escape police ended in Lake Pontchartrain on Monday, April 14, after an Arabi man accused of stealing a vehicle took a plunge off the Twin Spans.
According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO), deputies responded early Monday to a report of a vehicle theft on North Summerfield Loop in the Slidell area. Officials say the stolen vehicle was soon located traveling along the Twin Spans bridge, but it became disabled after a built-in safety feature was triggered.
That’s when Keith Hebert, 36, allegedly leapt off the bridge and into Lake Pontchartrain in an apparent attempt to evade arrest.
Deputies with the STPSO Marine Division quickly responded and were able to pull Hebert from the water. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment following the ordeal.
Once released, Hebert is expected to be booked into the parish jail on the following charges:
Theft of a motor vehicle (valued over $25,000)
Aggravated flight from an officer
Aggravated obstruction of a highway
Resisting an officer
No driver’s license
Authorities have not stated how Hebert gained access to the vehicle, and the case remains under investigation.
