RECKLESS DRIVER, SCHOOL ZONE, BATTERY OF A POLICE OFFICER

RECKLESS DRIVER, SCHOOL ZONE, BATTERY OF A POLICE OFFICER – LINDA JEAN BLANTON

PIERRE PART – Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reports the arrest of Linda Jean Blanton, 58, of 7702 Jefferson Place, Baton Rouge, LA, on felony charges originating from a reckless driver complaint.

On December 7, 2022, a fully P.O.S.T. Certified School Resource Officer was directing morning school traffic at Pierre Part Elementary. The deputy was in full uniform with reflective safety equipment and had her patrol unit properly positioned and lighted.

The deputy observed a vehicle eastbound on LA 70 at a high rate of speed in the school zone. The deputy stopped the vehicle to allow ingress and egress traffic at the school. The deputy then heard a transmission over her police radio of a vehicle driving recklessly in the Pierre Part area. The description of the suspect vehicle appeared to be similar to the vehicle she just stopped in the school zone.

The deputy made contact with the driver and then ordered her to pull off the roadway. The suspect replied “No” and drove off at a high rate of speed with the deputy still engaged. The deputy was able to free herself and avoid serious injury.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that the vehicle in the first complaint as well as the school zone incident and the driver were one in the same. The driver fled the area.

Deputies obtained arrest warrants for the driver, now identified as Linda Jean Blanton.

On December 9, 2022, Linda Jean Blanton was arrested by the Morgan City Police Department on the warrants from Assumption Parish.

Linda Jean Blanton was transferred to Assumption Parish on Friday evening and booked into the detention facility on charges of:

*Speeding – School Zone
*Failure to Obey a Police Officer – Signs and Signals
*Felony Battery of a Police Officer
*Aggravated Battery with a Dangerous Weapon

Linda Jean Blanton remains incarcerated with bond set at $50,000.

For additional information concerning this News Release, contact Sheriff Leland Falcon or Public Information Officer, Lonny Cavalier at (985) 498-9353 or (985) 369-7281.