A local bail bondsman may have exceeded his authority when he claimed to be a police officer during an incident that occurred in Turkey Creek on Thursday.
The incident revolved around a situation where Ville Platte bail bondsman James Bertrand requested that Ricky M. Gatte go to a residence located on Cedar Lane, which Gatte was supposedly not allowed. Gatte had previously been told by a representative for the individuals residing at the Cedar Lane residence to stay away. That representative for the two Turkey Creek residents an arrest warrant in connection with this matter described as “mentally challenged,” is the village’s mayor, Heather Cloud.
As their representative, Mayor Cloud said, “I secure pretty much everything for them. Speak on behalf for them to all agencies and pretty much all decisions have to be approved by me. I mean even with the state.”
Mayor Cloud, said Bertrand had gone to the residence to question the individuals living at the home about her, due to the fact that she helps care for the residents.
According to an arrest warrant for Gatte, which was issued and signed by 13th Judicial District Court Judge, Chuck West, on October 11, Gatte told law enforcement that when Bertrand asked him to go to the Cedar Lane residence, he told Bertrand “he could not be there.”
In the arrest warrant it stated that Gatte said Bertrand then replied, “Just come over here. They can’t arrest you if I’m here. I’m the police.”
It is unclear if Bertrand has a state commission to be a peace officer, other than his powers as a bails bondman. If he is not commissioned and the police report is accurate, Bertrand could be charged with violating Louisiana Revised Statute 14:112.2 which defines false personation of a peace officer as the performance of: impersonating any peace officer or assuming without authority any uniform or badge by which a peace officer or firefighter is lawfully distinguished; performing any act purporting to be official in such assumed character; making, altering, possession, or use of a false document or documents containing false statements which purports to be a training program certificate or in-service training certificate or other documentation issued by the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training; or equipping any motor vehicle with lights or sirens which simulate a law enforcement vehicle.
Whoever commits this crime shall be fined not more than $1,000, imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years or both.
According to the arrest warrant, when Turkey Creek officer Rodney Lofton responded to the incident on Thursday, Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud and Bertrand’s employee Ashley LeBlu appeared on the scene.
In the warrant it states while Mayor Cloud and Bertrand were talking, “Leblu exited Bertrand’s vehicle and began to record their conversation.”
Officer Lofton reported in the warrant that he “could hear, several times, Bertrand get verbally loud toward Mayor Cloud, and closing the distance between them.”
In the warrant it alleges that Mayor Cloud advised Bertrand he had no legal right talking to the residents, “due to the fact that they are mentally challenged and are in the care of the state. She then told Bertrand that he needed to leave the property several times, and he refused to.”
When Officer Lofton confiscates Bertrand’s camera during the incident, the bail bondsman stated “he would have me (Lofton) arrested for theft.” At this point Officer Lofton returned the camera “to keep down any further arguments.”
Finally, “Mayor Cloud advised Gatte that he was not welcomed on the property and that she previously advised him to not return.” This ultimately led to the Mayor requesting that charges be pressed on Gatte for trespassing.
In regard to Mayor Cloud being the one requesting for Gatte to leave the property, she said, “I can speak for them (residents of the home) to an extent as their authorized representative.” And when asked if she as their representative could ask someone to stay away from the residents of the home, she said, “Yes, I can ask for someone to stay away!”
Following the situation that occurred, Mayor Cloud responded with this statement, “I’ve remained quiet during this entire fiasco, but I will not be silent and still as yet again these precious people who have mental handicaps are intimidated and exploited for a political ploy. Imagine two mentally handicapped people are held in their home by a man, James Bertrand, carrying a badge and a gun acting as an officer refusing to let them leave, and refusing to let them use their phone until all of his questions are answered.
“What is enough and when is it enough? This is exploitation in the worst of ways. I say here and now it stops.”
Gatte, who also had a warrant for his arrest in Acadia Parish, was arrested at the scene and booked in the parish jail on one count of criminal trespassing. His bond was set at $2,5000 and he was ordered by Judge West not to go within 100 yards of the victims or anyone living in the victims home, their place of residence, or place of employment/school. Gatte was also ordered not to abuse, harass, stalk, follow, track, monitor, or threaten the victim or anyone living in their home.
Since his arrest, Gatte has been released from jail on a $2,500 bond.
Turkey Creek police have confirmed this matter is an ongoing investigation and that there could be more arrest to come in the future.
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ELIZABETH WEST Managing Editor