David Cauthron
Service Record
Pointe Coupee Parish Louisiana Sheriff's Office
| Last Known Status | Separated |
Addis Louisiana Police Department
| Rank | Officer |
| Dates of Service | February 2022.[1] - January 9, 2023.[2] |
| Last Known Status | Resigned[2] |
Incident Reports
2022 Deaths of Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill
On December 31, 2022, Cauthron responded to a report that Tyquel Zanders had stolen his father's vehicle. Cauthron pursued Zanders, ran a red light, and crashed into another vehicle "at a very high rate of speed". Maggie Dunn and Caroline Gill were killed in the incident, and Maggie's brother Liam Dunn was critically injured.[3]
Zanders was charged with two counts of manslaughter in addition to charges related to home invasion, vehicle theft, and aggravated flight from officers.[3][4]
Cautheron was going 86 mph and did not apply his brakes before hitting the other vehicle.[1]
The incident was captured on an in-vehicle camera and surveillance video.[5]
Response Timeline
On January 1, 2023, Cauthron was charged with two counts of negligent homicide and one count of negligent injuring.[1]
On February 1, 2023, the town council voted to accept Cauthron's resignation, effective January 9, 2023.[2]
On February 24, 2023, a grand jury indicted Cauthron on two counts of manslaughter, one count of aggravated obstruction of a highway, one count of negligent injury, one count of malfeasance in office, and one count of reckless operation of a vehicle.[6]
On November 22, 2023, Gills' parents sued Cauthron for violating Gills' civil rights.[7]
On March 18, 2024, Cauthron pleaded guilty to manslaughter and negligent injuring. Cauthron was sentenced to 32 years, with 10 years in prison and 22 years suspended.[8]
Public Comments
LEO Ratings
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Police officer arrested for negligent homicide after high-speed pursuit left innocent teens dead, WBRZ, 2023-01-02
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Lester Duhé, Council accepts resignation of officer involved in police chase crash that killed 2 teens, WAFB, 2023-02-01
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Officer charged in fatal crash that killed 2 high school cheerleaders, ABC News, 2023-01-03
- ↑ Suspect faces charges for teens' deaths after high-speed chase; officer arrested over deadly crash, WBRZ, 2022-12-30
- ↑ After officer's arrest, WBRZ obtains key video in Addis chase investigation, WBRZ, 2023-01-05
- ↑ Grand jury indicts officer involved in deadly crash during police chase; driver accused of fleeing also indicted, WAFB, 2023-02-24
- ↑ Sarah Lawrence, Parents of teen killed in crash stemming from Brusly police chase sue officer, law enforcement, WBRZ, 2023-11-22
- ↑ Former Addis Police officer pleads guilty to manslaughter, negligent injuring for fatal police pursuit that killed 2, WBRZ, 2024-03-18
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