GUNSHOT FATAL TO ASSUMPTION DEPUTY

Paincourtville Officer Died After Sting Operation

An Assumption Parish Sheriff's deputy was killed Wednesday night
during an undercover drug operation, Sheriff Mike Waguespack said this morning.

Sgt. Jeremy Newchurch, 31, of Paincourtville, died at Assumption
Community Hospital following the 8:30 p.m. shooting, Waguespack said.

Newchurch was shot in the upper chest area just above his bullet
proof vest during a scuffle with a man officers were trying to arrest
after a high-speed chase, Waguespack said.

Newchurch and seven other drug agents were trying to execute felony
drug warrants, Waguespack said.

Officers walked up to a vehicle that was illegally parked. The driver
put the car in reverse, fled and later crashed into a ditch on
Georgette Street, south of Napoleonville, Waguespack said.

When Newchurch and another deputy tried to arrest the man, a struggle
ensued and the man tried to take the other deputy's gun, Waguespack said.

During the struggle, the gun went off and Newchurch, an 8-year
veteran of the Sheriff's Office, was hit, Waguespack said.

The suspect, Byron Meads, 22, of 129 Violet St., Labadieville, was
arrested and booked with first-degree murder, aggravated flight from
an officer, and possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine,
Waguespack said.