Update:
On Monday, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office shared a press release in regard to a high speed chase that has resulted in the arrest of Samuel Lee.
In the release it stated that on April 9, 2018, the EPSO "was contacted by the Louisiana State Police Troop E and advised that they were in pursuit of a stolen vehicle driven by Samuel Damien Lee, of Ville Platte." The release went on to state that "LSP advised they were entering Evangeline Parish on U.S. 167 N."
It was at this time that "deputies responded and joined the pursuit, which led them throughout the northern portion of Evangeline Parish."
According to the release, "during the pursuit, Mr. Lee struck two Louisiana State Police marked units" before coming to a "stop on La. Hwy. 106 (Beaver Rd.) near Henry Cole Lane."
Lee was then taken into custody.
The EPSO reported that "no law enforcement officers were harmed during the pursuit."
Lee was transported to Mercy Regional Medical Center, and according to the EPSO "he was cleared by emergency personnel."
The Ville Platte man is currently being held in the Evangeline Parish Jail for several charges, which the release stated are "aggravated flight from a peace officer, aggravated assault on a peace officer involving a motor vehicle, and several arrest and bench warrants." Lee is currently being held without bond.
Lee was also involved in a pursuit that took place on Saturday, April 7, 2018, which led officers through four parishes including Evangeline, St. Landry, Avoyelles, and Rapides. During the April 7, 2018 pursuit, Lee is believed to have been accompanied by Ashley Denise Lamb.
According to the EPSO release, "a warrant has been obtained for Miss Lamb."
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Lamb is asked to contact the EPSO at (337) 363-2161.
In the release, the EPSO also thanked the Louisiana State Police Troop E and I, Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, Pine Prairie Police Department, and the Ville Platte City Marshal's Office for assisting with this matter.
Earlier Story:
Local law enforcement officers have arrested a male subject who sent officers on a high speed pursuit on Monday, April 9, 2018. The pursuit began around 10:45 a.m. and ended on La. Highway 106 headed towards Beaver at around 11:20 a.m.
Major Jeremy Mitchell, with the EPSO, confirmed that this incident has resulted in the arrest of Samuel Damien Lee of Ville Platte.
Lee, who was described in an EPSO press release as an individual with "an extensive criminal history involving auto theft," was driving a stolen white 2013 Chevy pick-up truck during Monday's pursuit. The Ville Platte man is responsible for another high speed chase that occurred on Saturday, April 7, 2018, where he was driving a car that had been stolen from Jefferson Parish.
The EPSO shared a press release on Sunday regarding the pursuit on Saturday, which stated that "deputies of the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office observed a grey Honda Civic traveling west on Old Park Rd." According to the release, deputies had attempted to stop the vehicle on Saturday after identifying the driver as Lee, "due to Mr. Lee having several felony warrants."
The release went on to state that Lee "refused to yield and led deputies on a pursuit, which traveled through Evangeline, Avoyelles, St. Landry, and Rapides Parishes."
After coming to a stop on a "mud road off of Cheneyville Echo Rd. in Rapides Parish," Lee and an unidentified white female "fled on foot into a nearby wildlife refuge."
According to the release, "Deputies from Evangeline and Rapides Parishes, officers of Bunkie and Cheneyville Police Department, and Louisiana State Troopers of Troop E, tracked Mr. Lee and the female through the refuge for several hours, until calling off the search "due to weather conditions and officer safety."
Following the second pursuit on Monday, Lee was transported to the Evangeline Parish Jail, where he remains incarcerated at this time.