Chase ends in Morgan City man’s death
by James A. Robichaux
Oct 11, 2012 | 9885 views | 8 8 comments | 46 46 recommendations | email to a friend | print
MORGAN CITY, La. -- A Morgan City man evading sheriff’s deputies was killed when his vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle and overturned on Railroad Avenue Wednesday afternoon, according to parish and state authorities.

Irvian Singleton Jr., 44, was pronounced dead by the St. Mary Parish coroner, according to Tfc. Stephen Hammons of the Louisiana State Police.

Singleton was driving a white 1995 Mercedes Benz and was unrestrained, according to Hammons.

Sheriff Mark Hebert said at about 4 p.m., St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics agents were conducting an investigation into illegal drug activity in Morgan City when they noticed Singleton’s vehicle commit a traffic violation. When the agents attempted to conduct a stop, Singleton then sped away, Hebert stated.

The sheriff did not release the charges for which Singleton was being investigated.

The vehicle that Singleton struck was a 2009 Nissan Altima driven by Ronshawna Ruffin, 27, of Vinton, who had turned onto Railroad Avenue from Oak Street. She was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City where she remains in stable condition.

Hammons said that “charges are pending the outcome of the investigation” and does not yet know if Ruffin will be issued a citation.

Morgan City Police Department Assistant Chief Glenn Blanco said that the sheriff’s department notified his department of the chase and that one of his vehicles was assisting the sheriff’s deputies in pursuit by the time it crossed Myrtle Street shortly before the wreck.

“It’s tragic. Like any other agency, we help any way we can,” Blanco said.

Morris Price, chief of the Morgan City Fire Department, said that his crews worked the scene until 11:30 p.m. cleaning up the wreckage.

His firefighters responded at 4:18 p.m. with three trucks, eight on-duty personnel, six off-duty personnel and three volunteers, Price said.

Some witnesses at the scene of the accident, including District 3 city councilman the Rev. Ron Bias, asked why law enforcement officers would conduct a high-speed chase through a residential area where many pedestrians walk.

Mayor Tim Matte said, “I share everyone’s concern about anyone who would be driving through our city at a high rate of speed anywhere in our city, especially in a residential area,” he said.

“We don’t decide where the suspect’s going to drive. The police agencies have to respond. It obviously put people in danger, without a doubt. Now, did he put people in danger because he was being chased, or did he put people in danger because he was up to no good. I don’t know,” Matte said.

The sheriff’s department would not yet comment on a policy for chasing suspects.

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Comments
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mrsverret
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October 14, 2012
I don't think Mr. Singleton 'sped off' because he was about to be issued a traffic violation.He was obviously up to no good. When cops put their lights on that doesn't mean speed off in a residental neighborhood putting everyone in danger. Then, when something happens just blame the police for chasing him. Mr. Singleton put others in danger, not the police. To see people say "if the cops would've just backed off..." makes me wonder what's wrong with society. What about-- Mr Singleton should have just pulled over.
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v&thekids
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October 14, 2012
you know what really agitates me is when people make comments and they don't know anything about , person if you knew mister singleton you would know that he was neer i convicted of any drug charges. so before you pass judgement on somebody son father ,children's father, uncle cousin, brother make sure you know exactly what you're speaking on before you speak. This is how rummers get started people don't know what you're talking about. The last time he turned himself in without any incidents so look back before you look forward and judge someone miss Everett . The only thing he was ever guilty of was taking care of his children. Unlike some of the men in your family and fighting dogs while you know he was not a child molesters or robbers in everything else like in your family don't judge mister singleton.
mrsverret
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October 18, 2012
Well, v&thekids, I am just going by what I do know of Mr. Singleton. He was running from the cops and HE put the public in danger. I can't really understand half of what you're saying because you fail to use complete sentences. And how are you going to say I have dog fighters in my family when you obviously have no idea who I am? It is YOU who is passing judgements on people. People who abide by the law don't run from the police, period.

Mrs Verret
mrsverret
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October 18, 2012
The accident on October 10, 2012 occurred when the SUSPECT in a drug investigation, who was known to be a CONVICTED FELON and suspected of being DANGEROUS, sped off at a high rate of speed after Sheriff’s deputies attempted to stop the suspect’s vehicle as deputies were about to execute a search warrant at the suspect’s home.

I guess the Sheriff's office is just assuming things too, right v&thekids? Looks like he was doing more than taking care of his kids.
waynedg24
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October 12, 2012
What a tragedy that occured to Mr. Singleton in his passing and the lady that was injured in the process. I have done previous research in another town on police policies when engaging a pursuit. Police officers are not allowed to engage a suspect no matter what the alleged crime may be due to the safety of the general public. It is the duty of the police officer and department supervisor to determine if pursuit will or will not cause harm to the general public and if any pursuit is suspected of causing harm to the general public then any pursuing officer have to disengage. Pursuit chase training is at a minimum in the state of Louisiana many officers do not know how to pursue. In this case, Ms. Ruffin could file suit against the MCPD, City, & Sherriff department for failing to abide by policy. This incident occured during after school hours during a busy area-common sense should have been applied. A suspect could be a serial killer, rapist and bank robber all in one, but if that suspect is speeding through a town police officers have to disengage for the safety of the public. That's just how far this chase policy goes. The city have insurance to cover for faults made by their officers. This is substantial. This event could really bring the MCPD to consider restraint when dealing with the general public. I advise bringing the entire black community, black leaders, and organizations together to pursue this injustice!
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swimminginspam
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October 12, 2012
Point to clarify, this was the sheriff's department's chase. MCPD had 1 car there. The city department was asked for assistance as it was in their jurisdiction only.
stevenreaux23
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October 12, 2012
First off lets look at the time when all this happen, it was around the time when kids were about to get off the bus from school. If the police is chasing someone and the suspectturn down a busy street, they should have automatically back off. C'mon man it's Morgan City, where can he possible escape to, you guys could have call ahead and cut him off on the corner of railroad and federal. Damn use your common sense, but the task force is more worried about getting there guy, just to say they arrested another black drug dealer. It's not like he was a murder or a child molestor, even if he was that doesn't give them the right to do a high speed chase on a busy street where kids are getting off the bus. Something has to be done about this, because this is some BS, everyone involved in this accident should be suspended.
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myblackman
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October 12, 2012
I'm with stevereaux23 this is popasterious the officers act like they had never been in contact with this man before. This is a man that is born and raised there . Come on,its his home. It was less then a year these same officers where in contact with this man . And they posted all over the news, but he turned him self in . WITH OUT INCIDENT! They should have backed off when it became dangerous.

All of this for a traffic violation he commited , while you where doing an investigation . If your investigating Why didn't you do just that and let the other officers deal with a traffic issue.He has a shop they could have waited for him there. But these thing happen when the trophies become more important then a LIFE! I'm sure every police there knew him .Now do to their inappropriate actions who's going to take care of his kids now! Does every black men have to be a killed? NO! But if he had done a ponzi or a hedge scime would they have taken these actions NO ! officers are put in place to help and protect . NOT TO MAKE OR BREAK LAWS AS THEY SEE FIT .



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