By John A. Colvin
The Advocate
LAFOURCHE PARISH, La. — Within a 12-hour span, Lafourche Parish Deputy Sheriff Jeremy Doucet was recognized as an outstanding law enforcement officer, arrested an intruder and saved a fellow deputy.
On Wednesday, members of the Larose Veterans of Foreign Wars honored Doucet, who commented on his pride of working in Sheriff Craig Webre’s office.
Following the ceremony, Doucet went on duty, setting his award plaque on the front seat of his patrol car, Webre said in a news release
Early Thursday, Doucet responded to a call about an intruder on East 2nd Street in Larose, about 20 miles outside of Houma, along with fellow Deputy Jennifer Cheramie.
Doucet arrived on the scene before Cheramie and located David Vercher, of Prairieville, standing outside the residence.
As Doucet took Vercher into custody, Cheramie slammed her patrol unit into a tree along the curve of La. 653 and East 2nd Street. Doucet handcuffed Vercher and drove to Cheramie’s vehicle that had caught on fire.
The steering wheel had trapped Cheramie, and Doucet’s initial efforts to extinguish the fire failed.
Doucet eventually freed Cheramie and moved her 10 feet from the car by the time sheriff’s Sgt. Todd Prevost arrived to help.
Doucet’s actions in rescuing Cheramie are a fine example of the caliber of his young officers, Webre said.
Cheramie underwent surgery at St. Anne Hospital in Mathews for a shattered knee, a compound fracture below the knee and one above the ankle in addition to cuts, authorities stated, adding that she may have also suffered broken bones in her foot.
Doucet completed Vercher’s arrest and finished his shift, officials said.
Vercher remained at the parish’s detention center Thursday afternoon with a $5,000 bond set on counts of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and hit-and-run. Vercher also is wanted in St. John the Baptist Parish on an unrelated warrant.
Copyright 2008 The Advocate