BOBBY ARDOIN Editor/Consulting Writer
What has been called a December domestic incident that involves gunshot injuries to the Opelousas Police chief and his wife at the residence of a city officer has begun drawing attention from national news media organizations.
The New York Post on Saturday carried a story located near the top of its morning website in connection with the incident which briefly hospitalized Police Chief Graig LeBlanc and his wife, St. Landry Parish Sheriff deputy Crystal LeBlanc in addition to excerpts from a written apology issued publicly by Graig LeBlanc last week.
That story followed the Friday HuffPost and Yahoo.com story which also includes the public statement by the police chief, investigative information and the arrest of OPD officer Savannah Butler, who allegedly discharged a firearm after Crystal LeBlanc arrived at Garnet Drive home where Butler lives outside Opelousas.
All three stories in the NY Post, Huff Post and Yahoo.com pointed to an alleged “love triangle” that supposedly had developed among the police chief, his wife and Butler, whose paid administrative leave effective Dec. 27 will be considered at a Tuesday night meeting of the Opelousas Board of Aldermen.
By midday Saturday, The HuffPost and Yahoo.com stories had already received 285 comments from individuals who had reviewed the story content.
One person posted a comment which stated that, “(It) sounds like someone needed a refresher in appropriate officer conduct,” while another wrote that, “it is amazing that this is the level of mental stability of those who are supposed to be protecting the citizens AND allowed to carry a weapon.”
Another person who commented on the HuffPost and Yahoo.com story said that, “Unethical, scandalous behavior by police and those in power isn’t even a misdemeanor in Louisiana…it’s actually seen by the electorate as a virtue!!!”
One writer commented that, “Well, these are Cajuns.”
According to a Jan. 3 magistrate hearing before State District Judge Greg Doucet, Butler has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor negligent injury, and separate single felony counts of illegal carrying or discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice.
The magistrate hearing also indicates that at this point Butler has retained Baton Rouge attorney Harry Daniel III as her attorney.
An affidavit arrest warrant obtained by St. Landry Now.com, contains separate statements from Graig LeBlanc, Crystal LeBlanc and Butler after they were interviewed by St. Landry Parish Sheriff Department First Lieutenant James Bergeron in connection with the Dec. 22 shooting.
In the statement provided by Butler, she admits driving Graig LeBlanc to a hospital and afterward returning to her residence where she said she began clearing blood on the concrete with Fabuloso and water.
Crystal LeBlanc said in her statement that she drove to the house where Butler lives after failing to contact her husband by phone. Crystal LeBlanc said she assumed Graig LeBlanc would be at the Garnet Drive address.
Graig LeBlanc said in his statement that he was walking back inside where Butler was standing by the door and observed Butler with a firearm in her right hand. Graig LeBlanc stated that Butler had no reason for handling a firearm in her right hand and reached for the weapon, which he said then discharged.
