THE INVESTIGATORS: Former officer accused of dumping evidence turns himself in

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A former Baton Rouge Police Department officer turned himself in to authorities on Monday, June 6, after facing arrest on some serious charges. He is accused of dumping guns that were part of an investigation into a trash pile.

The chief has identified the former officer as Benjamin Zeringue.

According to Central Police Chief Roger Corcoran, three guns were found by some kids in a neighborhood. The guns had been thrown in a box in a trash pile on Roble Avenue in Central.

“We are lucky this did not end in tragedy and we’re thankful that those kids who found the guns did not shoot themselves or others,” the chief said.

The chief said the kids took the guns home to their mother and, once they were turned over to Central PD, paperwork was found showing the guns were linked to the Baton Rouge Police Department.

“It turns out the guns were part of an ongoing investigation with BRPD and they were supposed to have been in evidence,” said Chief Corcoran.

The arrest warrant states the guns were seized on three different dates: April 14, 2018; May 24, 2018; and Feb. 2, 2019.

A source close to the case said the former officer turned himself in around 2:30 p.m. Monday through an agreement with his attorney. That same source said federal marshals would have gotten involved with bringing him in if he did not turn himself in.

Zeringue was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on malfeasance in office (3 counts), injuring public records (3 counts), and theft of firearms (3 counts).

Jail records show Zeringue posted an $18,000 bond later that night and was released from jail.

It has been confirmed that Zeringue worked with the West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office from July 2020 to November 2021. He also worked at the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office from December 2021 to April 2022.

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