Caddo DA clears SPD officers in death of suspect

The Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office has completed its review of the officer involved shooting death of DeEric Bailey. Cpl. Hai Phan and Cpl. Jennifer Monereau acted reasonably in dealing with a dangerous and out-of-control motorist on Interstate 20 who posed an immediate threat to the occupants of the fleeing vehicle, officers at the scene and the driving public.

This unfortunate incident apparently stems from Bailey's attempt to operate a motor vehicle at nearly four times the statutory level of impairment.

Monereau made visual contact with Bailey's vehicle as it sat in the middle of the intersection of Cotton Street and Common Street in the downtown area just before 4 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2013. Monereau activated her emergency lights and siren in an effort to make a traffic stop. Bailey refused to stop and drove in the opposing lanes of travel on Cotton Street and Fairfield Avenue prior to entering I-20. Bailey crashed into the rear of a Toyota Camry with two occupants just after entering westbound I- 20.

Phan joined the pursuit as it passed the Fairfield exit ramp. The chase proceeded on I-20 at speeds in excess of 80 mph, ultimately reaching 98 mph.  Bailey's vehicle then ran over the right shoulder of I-20 onto a grassy area embankment. The vehicle then drove back on I-20, spun out, crossed all lanes of travel and crashed into the center concrete barrier. As the two passengers in the vehicle attempted to quickly exit, Bailey drove forward again into the concrete barrier while spinning and smoking the vehicle's tires.

As Monereau and  Phan arrived, they began giving directions to the passengers and Phan yelled at the driver to stop the vehicle. Bailey then reversed the vehicle almost running over the rear male passenger or pinning him between the vehicle and the concrete barrier. The reversing vehicle moved into the area where Cpl. Monereau just exited and drove the open passenger door toward Cpl. Phan.

Phan fired approximately 5 shots at the driver as Phan was hit with the open car door. The driver was again ordered to stop. The driver then shifted into drive and accelerated while appearing to turn the wheel toward Phan and the female passenger in an effort to reenter traffic. Phan fired approximately 11 shots as the vehicle reentered the travel lanes of I-20. The vehicle again crossed all lanes of travel and crashed a short distance away.

The fire department was called and transported Bailey to LSU Medical Center, where Bailey was pronounced deceased. Bailey's blood alcohol content (BAC) was determined to be .304. The legal limit of impairment is .08.

The events which led to the death of DeEric Bailey were directly caused by Bailey himself.  Bailey repeatedly failed to stop when confronted with lawful direction and orders to stop his dangerous behavior.  Bailey failed to stop at the intersection of Common at Cotton streets when