By Kimberly Vetter
The Advocate
ST. GABRIEL, La. — Two St. Gabriel police officers who investigated a fatal car crash in August took $2,000 from the body of the man killed in the wreck, authorities said.
A tip from a disgruntled girlfriend of one of the police officers led State Police to the Thursday arrest of Keith Snowten, 23, of St. Gabriel, and Rodrick Wesley, 32, of Bayou Goula, St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said.
The men were booked into Iberville Parish Prison on one count each of theft and malfeasance in office.
“These two officers committed the worst crime that they could have committed,” Ambeau said. “They violated public trust, and in doing so, they disgraced the badge.”
The theft occurred Aug. 8 when Snowten and Wesley responded to the accident in St. Gabriel, said Trooper Russell Graham II, a State Police spokesman.
Snowten allegedly took $2,000 from the wallet of the victim, then gave half of the money to Wesley, Graham said.
Both officers admitted during interviews with investigators to taking the money.
State Police began looking into the incident three weeks ago when Ambeau notified them about the allegations, Graham said.
Ambeau said the allegations first came from Charles Dwayne Rachal, the brother of the victim, James Darrin Rachal, 40, who died in the crash on La. 74.
Rachal commented in the Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office about the lack of money in his brother’s wallet when he went to pick it up shortly after the wreck, Ambeau said.
The comment got back to Ambeau, who said he questioned Snowten about the missing money.
Snowten denied seeing any cash in the wallet, Ambeau said.
The second allegation came almost two months later from Snowten’s girlfriend after the couple had an argument, Ambeau said.
“When she told me, I was at a loss for words,” he said. “We are grateful that the witness came forth with this information because the deceased cannot speak for themselves.”
Charles Rachal said Thursday he is still grieving the loss of his brother but is pleased with the arrests of Snowten and Wesley.
“It makes me feel good because now I know what happened,” he said. “I’m glad they won’t be able to do it to someone else.”
Ambeau said prior to their arrests, neither of the officers had been in trouble during their two years on the St. Gabriel police force.
“That is what makes this even more shocking,” he said, adding, “This type of behavior will not be tolerated.”
Snowten and Wesley were placed on unpaid administrative leave on Oct. 20 when the investigation began, Ambeau said. A request to fire the men will be made to the St. Gabriel City Council at its next meeting, he said.
St. Gabriel Mayor George Grace said if the men are guilty of what they are accused of doing, “it’s better off they aren’t on the force.”
Copyright 2009 The Advocate