WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Records show officer bonded out his roommate

Records show officer bonded out his roommate

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

ADDIS, LA (WAFB) - Questions surround an Addis police officer who allegedly bonded his cousin, a suspect in several area pharmacy burglaries, out of jail. It is against the law for police officers to bond anyone out of jail. It was put in place because police are considered officers of the court.

Jarod Jackson was arrested for allegedly breaking into Bourg's Pharmacy in Port Allen and stealing $6,000 worth of drugs. Greg Lowe owns the pharmacy. He claimed he had a feeling the culprit had done this before.

"He cut the phone wires and the burglar alarms would've worked, unless he cut the telephone lines," Lowe said. "So, he sat across the street and watched and waited to see if the police would come. When they didn't, he kicked in the front door."

Less than two weeks later, Jackson allegedly struck again. This time, the N and T Pharmacy on Marque Ann Street was the target. East Baton Rouge sheriff's detectives said they saw Jackson pull into the front parking lot of the pharmacy and walk to the back of the pharmacy with two duffle bags. Jackson was "in possession of several pry tools, a battery-operated saw and a drill," the arrest report stated. "Detectives watched him cut the wires to the alarm system and try to gain entry into the building."

Jackson was arrested, but was not behind bars long. According to bail bond documents, Officer Josh Anderson of the Addis Police Department bailed him out. Officer Anderson is Jackson's roommate and the nephew of Police Chief Ricky Anderson. Chief Anderson said he had heard the law forbidding officers from bailing anyone out, but he had never seen it in writing until Wednesday night.

Bond documents show a share of the $4,800 was put up by the officer to get Jackson out of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. However, according to the chief, his officer is in the clear because his grandmother's name is on the check and he did not sign as a surety. The chief said what he did and would have done are two different things. Jim Scott, the bail bondsman, claims Anderson was supposed to sign the document when he returned with the rest of the money, but never did.

"I do know he was investigated, but as of right now, there's no wrongdoing and no charges against him. Nobody has said he did anything wrong. So, as far as I'm concerned, he's out of it," Chief Anderson said.

Days later, Jackson was caught in the act of burglarizing a pharmacy in Grosse Tete. He was arrested and his bond was set at $1 million. The chief said he discussed the matter with the officer, he will only take disciplinary action if his officer is charged.

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