Driver Flees Police, Arrested With Drugs

By Jessie Williams

A routine traffic stop escalated into a dangerous situation for local officers and nearby drivers last week. 

 

According to reports filed by Clint Hestand of the Lafayette Police Department, he witnessed a driver, later identified as 40-year-old William Douglas Caldwell, fail to stop at the intersection of Ellington Drive and Hwy 52 Bypass W. 

The officer stopped the vehicle, discovered Caldwell’s license was revoked and asked him to step out of the vehicle.

Caldwell then allegedly put the vehicle in gear, was told to stop by Officer Hestand, and then drove off in an attempt to evade Officer Hestand and Officer Stacy Woodard.

Caldwell exceeded the posted speed limits several times and passed multiple vehicles on the wrong side of the road and the shoulder of the road, putting other drivers in danger.

Once the officers were able to stop Caldwell, they learned the vehicle was uninsured. 

Caldwell continued to resist arrest, causing Officer Woodard to deploy his taser. 

The suspect was found to be in possession of a powdered substance believed to be heroin, a burnt spoon, digital scales and a prescription bottle containing two types of pills – one that matched the bottle’s label and a second unidentified pill. 

During their pursuit of Caldwell, he struck both Officer Woodard’s and Officer Hestand’s patrol cars. 

Caldwell was charged with driving left of center, improper passing, speeding, driving on a suspended license, evading arrest, resisting arrest, simple possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a legend drug, failure to atop for sign/signal, reckless driving, reckless endangerment and obedience to a law enforcement officer. 

His bond is set at $29,000, and he is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on July 17, 2019.