St. John Parish Sheriff's Commander Shot and Killed; Manhunt

[LaPlaceFF]

St. John Parish Sheriff's Commander Shot and Killed; Manhunt Ends

A man suspected of shooting and killing the commander of the St. John parish narcotics unit surrendered to authorities and released his hostage unharmed just before noon following a standoff that culminated an early morning crime spree.

Suspect John Lee Cheek is being sought in the killing of a St. John parish narcotics commander. The suspect, identified as 31-year-old John Lee Cheek, is believed to be from Texas and is wanted on charges there, according to trooper Joey Piglia. The incident ended at a home located at 124 Joy Street in River Ridge.

According to St. John sheriff Wayne Jones, cheek and a female companion identified as 27-year-old Crystal Reed, were being stopped by a patrol car during a drug interdiction around 1 a.m. Jones said Cheek and his companion stopped their car but fired shots and sped off as officers approached. One of the deputies was shot in the foot and was taken to the hospital.

As the chase continued, cheek was approached by narcotics commander Octavio Gonzalez who was shot and killed during the altercation. During the chase and search that ensued, Jones said Cheek broke into a home in the South Grand Lake subdivision of Kenner and tied up an 81-year-old woman, her daughter and a 12-year-old child before stealing the older woman's car and some cash. The woman was taken to a hospital with a hip injury.

Jones said Cheek then crashed his car into a ditch in the River Ridge neighborhood of Little Farms before getting out on foot. His female companion was caught and brought to jail. Deputies from St. John parish and law enforcement officers from neighboring parishes honed in on River Ridge and began a house-to-house search for Cheek. A rough perimeter was set around Caroline and the River Road and several homes were evacuated. John Curtis school's summer camp was cancelled due to the search.

The slain commander, Octavius Gonzales was remembered by an emotional Jones. "he was my narcotics commander," said Jones. "he was an outstanding officer who was married with a wife and two children."

[Janice]

That is so sad. I hope both get the maximum in these crimes.