A Louisiana police chief admitted “infidelity” led to one of his officers shooting him and his wife before Christmas.
Opelousas Police Officer Savannah Butler surrendered to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office on January 1 and was charged with two counts of negligent injury and one count each of obstruction of justice and illegal dscharge of a firearm for the December 22 incident that saw her shot Opelousas Police Chief Graig LeBlanc and his wife, St. Landry Parish Captain Crystal LeBlanc, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
Deputies determined that Crystal LeBlanc went to Butler’s home on that night to speak with her husband, who was there. The chief came outside to speak with his wife, and the two began to argue.
“Butler then entered the doorway armed with a gun,” the sheriff’s office said. “When Chief LeBlanc put his hand out in front of the weapon to retrieve the gun, he was shot in the hand. The bullet then traveled through the chief’s hand and hit his wife Crystal in the arm.”
Both were treated at a hospital.
On Wednesday, Graig LeBlanc posted a mea culpa on the police department’s web page saying that his “actions caused pain and distress” and that he “must acknowledge the role I played in this unfortunate situation.”
He did not, however, plainly acknowledge what role that was, other than to say that “infidelity is not only.a breach of the personal commitments I made but also the professional standards we all expect from someone in public service.”
LeBlanc did not offer to resign, but he said that he had initiated an internal review and pledged to “cooperate fully in any investigations and legal proceedings that may arise from this incident.”
Both Butler and Crystal LeBlanc were placed on administrative leave from their respective departments pending the conclusion of the investigations, and Crystal LeBlanc was issued a summons for trespassing on Butler’s property.
Her boss, St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, said his “office conducted a thorough, impartial, and transparent investigation” before filing charges against Butler and giving Crystal LeBlanc a summons. Graig LeBlanc faces no charges.
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[Featured image: Graig LeBlanc/Opelousas Police Department]
