For the second time in the past 12 months, a local bail bondsman has been arrested in the Village of Turkey Creek.
James C. Bertrand, 75, was arrested by the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s office and booked into the parish jail on Thursday, October 31, according to the sheriff office’s website.
Bertrand was charged with entry or remaining after being forbidden and bonded out of jail later that same evening on a $1,000.00 bond.
Specific details surrounding the incident are not known at this time as the Ville Platte Gazette is awaiting the initial report. Look for the specifics in next Thursday’s edition of The Gazette.
Bertrand was previously arrested last October in Turkey Creek on two counts of false imprisonment, false personation, and criminal trespassing.
At that time, the counts of false imprisonment followed incidents where Bertrand was accused of refusing to allow two Turkey Creek residents to leave their home.
An October 21, 2018, article in The Gazette reported the following, “Bertrand’s charge of false personation, according to the Turkey Creek Police Department, is the result of and incident that also occurred on September 24, 2018, where Bertrand allegedly went to Miss Sue’s Restaurant in Turkey Creek. While there, the police report states Bertrand approached a worker, ‘showing her a badge, but only for a brief moment.’
“According to the report, the worker told police, ‘Bertrand advised her that he was with the FBI and was investigating the Town of Turkey Creek.’
“Turkey Creek Officer, Rodney Lofton, also stated he has ‘been advised by several people that they have seen Bertrand’s vehicle speeding around town, while using blue emergency lights that he has on his dash.’”
August 2, 2026
