3 BRPD officers injured after crash with suspected drunk driver

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - Three Baton Rouge police officers were injured while working a crash on I-10 early Saturday, August 21, after a suspected drunk driver plowed into the original accident scene, BRPD spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola said.

The car the man was driving hit two officers standing outside their police units and another police unit that had an officer inside, the spokesman said.

One of the officers, who was standing outside his unit, suffered severe head injuries while the other suffered a broken leg. The officer who was inside the police unit had multiple leg injuries. All three officers were taken to a hospital.

“This morning I visited the hospital where they were being treated,” said Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome in a written statement. “I’m guardedly optimistic and encouraged that they will be on the path to recovery soon. A special thank you to the doctors and medical team taking care of them. Please pray for the officers and their families during this time.”

Officers arrested the driver, Joseph A. White, 27, of Gonzales. He was charged with DWI, as well as several counts of negligent injuring and one count of reckless operation. His blood alcohol content (BAC) was more than twice the legal limit, investigators said.

Officers said White had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and had “blood shot eyes, slurred speech, and poor balance,” according to the arrest record.

He was also charged as a fugitive out of Caddo Parish where records show he is wanted on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The incident happened near College Drive just before 3 a.m. Saturday.

White appeared in court on Monday, August 23.

The court set a bail of $82,000 and if White makes bail he needs to follow the conditions of the bond:

Defendant shall be under the supervision of Criminal Justice Services for a period of TBD to ensure compliance with this order upon release on bond.

Defendant shall not be released on Bond without first meeting with His Bond supervisor.

Defendant shall not operate a motor vehicle unless it is equipped with a functioning interlock device, and this device must be installed within fifteen (15) days from posting bail.

Defendant shall have affixed to His ankle a functioning GPS device to ensure that He complies with the bond conditions set forth herein. This device shall be monitored by His bond supervisor.

Defendant shall observe a daily curfew from 8 P.M. to 6 A.M.

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