Stafford suspended without pay from MPD

   Two Marksville city police officers who were at the scene of a fatal shooting have been cleared and have returned to duty while an officer charged with murder in that incident has been suspended without pay, Police Chief Elster Smith said today.

   Derrick Stafford, a city police lieutenant who was working as a Marksville City Marshal’s deputy on Nov. 3, has been suspended without pay while he sits in the Rapides Parish Detention Center under $1 million bond, Smith said.

   He is charged with 2nd-degree murder in the death of 6-year-old Jeremy Mardis and  attempted 2nd-degree murder of the child’s father, Chris Few.

   Smith said Kenneth Parnell and Jason Brouillette have been cleared in the State Police investigation and have returned to duty.

   Parnell was on-duty with MPD on the night of Nov. 3 when responded to the call on Martin Luther King Drive. His body camera captured video of the incident that has made nationwide headlines. 

  Brouillette was moonlighting as a Ward 2/Marksville Marshal’s deputy when he arrived at the scene that night.

  Norris Greenhouse Jr., also charged with murder in connection with the shooting, was a reserve officer with MPD and was used on an as-needed basis. He is currently out on $1 million property bond. Greenhouse was also a part-time ward/city marshal’s deputy and was in the patrol car with Stafford.

  Stafford and Greenhouse have also been fired from their jobs with the Alexandria City Marshal’s Office. Greenhouse was a full-time deputy and Stafford worked part-time.

  Smith said MPD Assistant Chief Bryan Bernard remains on administrative leave with pay in connection with the Nov. 4 shooting incident in which Sharon Lachney was wounded during a stand-off on Addison Street.

   In that incident, Willie Ray Lachney barricaded himself in a home and held police from state, parish, municipal and tribal agencies at bay for nine hours. He was arrested and charged with several offenses, including attempted 1st-degree murder for allegedly firing a shotgun in the direction of law enforcement officers.

  At one point during the stand-off, Ms. Lachney reportedly attempted to wrestle a shotgun away from her son. During that incident, Bernard shot and struck the woman in the arm.

  That incident is still under investigation by the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office.