A man and woman were arrested on Independence Day after Ruston Police after a Ruston police officer was resisted and battered during an investigation of illegal fireworks.
Lessell Foster, 43, and Tamarcia Heard, 31, both of Ruston, were arrested at about 10:30 p.m. on July 4 after an officer returned to a Groveland Avenue residence for repeated incidents of shooting fireworks in the city limits.
Earlier in the day, the officer had advised a group of people near the residence that fireworks were not allowed in the city and to clean up the debris. Returning later, the officer saw the group was still shooting fireworks. When the officer attempted to talk to the adult he had spoken with earlier, she ran into the house. While waiting for someone to bring the woman back, Foster approached the officer, claiming he lived at the residence and wanting to know what was happening.
The situation was explained to Foster, and that since he stated he lived there, he was also responsible for the fireworks. The woman returned and they were asked to stand in front of the patrol car. While the officer was speaking to them, people began gathering around. One woman, Heard, walked up to Foster telling him to “come on.” She was told to walk away, but she continued to tell Foster to walk with her.
At one point Heard grabbed Foster’s arm to drag him away while the officer was talking to him. When the officer attempted to arrest her for obstructing the investigation, she pushed the officer away from her and began to run.
The officer was able to gain control of Heard on the ground after a brief struggle. While the officer was on the ground with Heard, Foster yelled, “I’ve got something for you. I’ve got something for you!” and ran inside the house.
The officer perceived Foster’s statement to be an immediate threat and drew a service weapon in case Foster returned with a firearm. Foster came out of the house with his left hand behind his back walking toward the officer despite loud commands to show his hands. The officer was eventually able to see if Foster had a phone in his left hand. Another officer was directed to place Foster under arrest.
Foster was booked for public intimidation and use of fireworks within the city limits. Heard was booked for obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, and battery of a police officer.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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