Pubdate: Sun, 18 Aug 2002
Source: Daily Advertiser, The (LA)
Copyright: 2002 South Louisiana Publishing
Contact:  http://www.theadvertiser.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1670
Author: Todd Billiot
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/corrupt.htm (Corruption - United States)

GRAND COTEAU POLICE CHIEF ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES

CARENCRO - Grand Coteau Chief of Police Raymond Simmons was arrested by 
Carencro police Friday night and charged with possession of Schedule IV 
narcotics and malfeasance in office, Carencro Police Chief Timmy Duhon said 
Saturday.

Simmons, 49, spent the night in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. 
He was released at 9 a.m. Saturday after posting $20,000 bail, booking 
records show.

Simmons, an elected official, is accused of buying Lortab, a prescription 
pain reliever, from a person in a house in Carencro. Grand Coteau is 
located a few miles north of Carencro, across the parish line in southern 
St. Landry Parish.

Simmons' home phone number is unlisted. Messages left for him at the police 
department were not returned.

Grand Coteau Mayor Jean Coco said a Board of Aldermen's meeting will be 
held this week to discuss Simmons' arrest with the town's attorney. Coco 
said she does not think Simmons will have to step down from his elected 
position unless he is convicted of the charges.

"Our main concern is that we don't have any interruption in police 
services," she said.

The town of approximately 1,100 has an assistant police chief, three 
full-time officers and one part-time officer, Coco said.

Duhon said a house in Carencro where pills are sold has been under 
surveillance for four months. He said investigators recently learned a law 
enforcement official from St. Landry Parish was buying pills from a person 
in the house, but investigators did not know who the official was because 
he was using his personal vehicle.

"Come to find out, it was the chief himself," Duhon said.

Duhon said Simmons told him that the pills were not for him, but for a 
friend who has medical problems.

"We hate that it came down to this, but we have to do what we have to do," 
Duhon said.

Duhon said no one who lives in the house under surveillance was arrested, 
but more arrests from the investigation are expected.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom