ARREST BRIEFING: TURKEY CREEK POLICE OFFICER DETAINED!

On January 29, 2022, Deputies with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office were dispatched to 7301 Veteran Memorial Hwy. (The Y-Not Stop) located in the Vidrine / Reddell area in reference to a suicide threat. Upon arrival, Deputies observed a marked Evangeline Parish Sheriff's unit and a Turkey Creek Police Department unit at the gas pump area.

During that time, responding deputies made contact with the off-duty sheriff's deputy that was on scene.  He advised that he had Officer Zack Johnson with the Turkey Creek Police Department detained in his unit after having to spray him with pepper spray and wrestle him to the ground. Responding deputies later learned that prior to their arrival, there was a disturbance between the Turkey Creek Officer and a female who works at the store.

 The female store worker advised that she was approached inside the store by Officer Johnson, whom she knows from previous interactions. Officer Johnson asked the store worker to step outside. As she walked outside with Officer Johnson, he started to cry and yell curse words at her. Officer Johnson then went into his patrol vehicle and threatened to kill her and everyone at the store before taking his own life.  Shortly after, Officer Johnson exited his patrol vehicle and pointed his service weapon at the store worker.  She was later able to talk Officer Johnson down, handed her his service weapon, and drove away in his patrol vehicle.

Seconds later, Officer Johnson returned to the store parking lot and demanded his service weapon back from the store worker.  It was during that time that the off-duty Sheriff's Deputy arrived on scene and detained Officer Johnson.  Officer Johnson attempted to resist the Sheriff's Deputy but was unsuccessful due to the Sheriff's Deputy deploying his issued pepper spray.

After the incident, Acadian Ambulance medics arrived on scene and transported Officer Johnson to a local hospital for a psychological evaluation.  Once released from the hospital, Officer Johnson will be charged with Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and resisting an officer.   This is an ongoing investigation and more charges against Officer Johnson are possible. 

Zachary Jeta Johnson

W/M DOB 06/14/1990

As always, Sheriff Charles R. Guillory and the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office is always seeking information on criminal activity and urges the Public to contact their Investigation Department via phone at 337-363-2161 or through the agency's website at www.evangelineparishsheriff.org.  Any person reporting information will remain anonymous.