La. Deputy Struck by Fleeing Car Swerving to Miss Spike Strips

A St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's deputy was struck by a car Saturday on Interstate 12 when the driver, who was being pursued, swerved to miss spike strips that the deputy had put down near the Louisiana 21 exit.

The deputy, who had just thrown down the spike strip, was standing in the median when the driver swerved out of the lane, hitting him. The deputy had heavy bruising but no major injuries or broken bones, according to spokesperson Sgt. Suzanne Carboni. He is recovering at home.

The chase began when a deputy patrolling Louisiana 36 near Covington around 1 p.m. saw a car without a license plate and tried to stop it. The driver, 25-year-old Kody McElveen of Abita Springs, did not stop, according to a news release. The driver continued westbound on La. 36 before turning onto U.S. 190 near Claiborne Hill. Covington Police then joined the chase, which continued onto westbound I-12.

After hitting the deputy, the driver continued west I-12, until he exited at Louisiana 1077.

Deputies found the car at a Rouse's parking lot, and witnesses told them that the driver had gone inside the store. McElveen ran when he saw the deputies but was arrested in the parking lot, where deputies discovered he was armed.

McElveen was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on counts of attempted murder of a police officer, aggravated assault with a motor vehicle on a peace officer, illegal possession of a firearm, aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana and six counts of failure to stop or yield.

"This is an example of how dangerous our deputies' jobs are," St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith said in a prepared statement. "I am thankful this deputy sustained on minor injuries. It could have been much worse."

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