Wednesday, May 18, 2022

For the first time ever, Observations is late posting this week because of extra work involved in daughter Verity Gentry announcing her candidacy for District Judge Tuesday night and because my wife Laurie had two doctors’ appointments in Shreveport Wednesday. Sorry for the delay.

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed the calendar week in which May 15 falls as National Police Week, and May 15 was selected as National Peace Officers Memorial Day.  The special week pays remembrance to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others, according to Sheriff Aaron Mitchell.

It was nice to have a President who recognized the importance of police in order to have an orderly civilization.  Wish we had one now.  We have always been very pro-law enforcement and take this special time to remember the Sabine Parish Police Officers who lost their lives and to appreciate and honor those who still serve us.

(NOTE:  No photos of Officers Andrew Leone or Howard Evans Jr. were available.)

The deaths of five Sabine Parish law enforcement officers while on duty has been reported to Observations and we would like to remember each of those during this special week.  Because of the press of a deadline and other business, we did not have the time to do proper research, but we remember: 

Many Police Officer Waymon Wade Ferguson who was born Nov. 25, 1935. His watch ended Monday, March 18, 1991.

State Police Sgt. Clarence J. Miller was killed in a two-car collision on Hwy. 171 South of Many on Thursday, Dec. 4, 1975, just 12 minutes before completing his shift.  He was only 47 at the time of his death and had been in law enforcement for 24 years.

Patrolman Howard Evans Jr. worked with the Zwolle Police Department. The end of his watch came Saturday, April 24, 2010.  He suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to a vehicle accident and a medical emergency call.  He had served with the Zwolle Police Department for 16 years.

Detective Jimmy Allen Kinney worked with the Sabine Sheriff’s Office and the end of his watch came on Monday, Feb. 20, 1989.  He was shot and killed during a traffic stop near the Middle Creek Rd. just east of Many.  He was an Army veteran who had served with the Sheriff’s Office for 11 years and the Many Police Department for six years.

It has also been reported that Andrew Leone who was a deputy with the Sheriff’s Office died of a heart attack while making a traffic stop.  Our friend Danny Lopez of Zwolle said he remembered the incident.  Deputy Leone was only 62 and died on May 14, 1981.

We remember these gentlemen with admiration for their dedication and their efforts to be sure we live in an orderly society, and we are thankful for their service.

And in a related matter, we learned last week that Many Attorney Ronald Brandon once worked as a law enforcement officer for the Natchitoches Police Department and survived being shot.  Ronnie is an Assistant District Attorney for DA Don Burkett.  The officer, who is related to legendary Zwolle Chief of Police Quinton Brandon, had planned at the time to make law enforcement his career.

Back on Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 9, 1982, Ronnie, who was 22, and Officer Ronald Spencer, 28, both were shot when they answered a called to Pee Wee’s, a bar in Natchitoches.  The call came in at 5 a.m.  The report was that a fight between two women was underway.  Ronnie had been on the force only six months, and he and officer Randy Weaver were in the final 15 minutes of their graveyard shift.

When Ronnie and Weaver arrived, officers Ronald Spencer and Victor Jones had already banned Dan Davenport of Robeline from the bar and were trying to stop the fight.  It should be noted that Victor Jones went on to honorably serve Natchitoches Parish as Sheriff for many years.

In recalling the event for an article in The Shreveport Times in 1987, Ronnie remembered, “I could see the two officers were having problems when we pulled up, so I went to help Spencer.  Ronald and Spencer were standing next to each other after separating the women when Jones saw Davenport coming down the street in a car and he yelled ‘Look out.’”

Ronnie continued, “When Victor yelled, I looked up.  I could see fire coming out of the gun.”  Both officers were hit by the blast from the .410 shotgun, but Ronnie did not at first realize he was wounded.  Said he, “I had called for backup when Spencer said he was hit and then one of the officers told me I was hit too.  I didn’t realize it until I saw my shirt was wet with blood.”  He was taken to the Natchitoches Parish Hospital with a wound in his left side, while Weaver went to tell Pollie, Ronnie’s wife of 11 months.

Spencer later resigned, but Ronnie said in the interview, “Pollie knew it was no use to even mention it.  She knew I’d always wanted to be a police officer and that was just one of the hazards.”

After the shooting, he said the event made him more cautious.  He recalled a time not long after the shooting when he had to serve an attempted murder warrant.  Recalling the event, he stated, “I knocked on the door and I could hear the suspect inside, but he didn’t answer.  I cut through the carport and met him coming through.  He had a gun and began to raise it, but my gun was already out and aimed.  I was beginning to pull the trigger when he realized I had him and put his gun down.  I don’t think I would have reacted that quickly before.”

Concluding the 1987 interview, he said, “I think about the shooting often. I’ve looked back on it a thousand times to see what I did wrong and I can’t find anything.   It’ll never go away.  I always see the fire coming out of the gun but you just have to live with it.”

Law enforcement was his passion at the time, but later he went on to get his law degree, moved back home to Zwolle and started his very successful law practice in Many.  Ronnie and Pollie also operate Century 21 Real Estate, and their son Heath also practices law with his father.

The Campaign to Elect Verity Gentry Official Kickoff was a good success Tuesday evening. It was broadcast on KWLV and KTEZ with host Tedd Dumas.

Verity shared during the announcement, “I commit to you that if you are a litigant in my court, I will listen to you. You will have the ability to argue your case in court, and you will have my full attention. I will treat you with respect. Each resident of this parish deserves that from their elected officials. I will be fair. That applies to everyone, no matter who you are or who you know, because that is all anyone wants – a fair shake, to be treated the same no matter your station in life,” she said.

“I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your support has been amazing, and I promise you my best as we continue forward together,” she said afterward.

Highlights of the evening included remarks by former Sen. Don Kelly, an original song performed by Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, “This Ole House,” which recounts growing up in Sabine, the National Anthem trio style in three-part harmony by Debbie Stewart, Steve Birdwell and Laurie Gentry, as well as a heartfelt opening prayer by the Rev. Brian Coplin of First United Methodist Church in Many.

The Campaign to Elect Verity Gentry thanks all who were involved and gave interviews throughout the evening, and all who attended to show their support.

The guy who writes Observations also purchases gold, silver and coins from his office in the radio station building in Many.  During the past few months, three different people have come all telling the same story and asking if jewelry they purchased from a stranger at a service station and/or convenience store is the real deal.  Unfortunately, all looks gold colored, is marked 14K and 18K but is as fake as can be.  The person who came in last week bought three rings and a bracelet, was told it was worth $12,000, and paid $300 for it.

I urged him to report it to the Sheriff’s Department and he agreed to do it.  Most of the three stories are the same:  It is reported that the man who makes the deal is an Arab and has a woman with him.  The last time he was driving a small white SUV.  The guy tells some kind of sob story such as he has to get to Florida to see a sick relative and needs the money for gas.

I suspect that the con people live somewhere in the area and pull their jobs in nearby towns.  So remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you have any information or see these con artists, call the Many Police Department at (318) 256-5617.

Sheriff Aaron Mitchell announces the arrest of Malik Quendell Newton, age 24, and Kianna Ezernack, age 23, both of Many, on May 9.

The Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Tactical Narcotics Team (TNT) had been investigating Newton’s illegal drug sales at Apollo Plaza Apartments in Many for several months. Newton lived with his girlfriend, Ezernack, and her small child in C-Building at the complex.

TNT Agents were able to obtain a search warrant for the apartment where Newton and Ezernack were living. Agents located three firearms, numerous pills, and drug paraphernalia inside the apartment.

Newton was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center for Possession of schedule II (Amphetamines), Possession of schedule V (Promethazine), Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile, Possession of firearm while in possession of CDS, a warrant for two counts of Distribution of schedule II (Meth), a warrant for Illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.

The warrant for Illegal use of weapons stems from an incident on the night of March 30, 2022, where Newton was observed on Apollo Plaza Apartment video shooting a rifle multiple times in the field at the border of the property.

Ezernack was booked into the Sabine Parish Women’s Jail for Possession of schedule II (Amphetamines), Possession of schedule V (Promethazine), Possession of drug paraphernalia, Possession of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile, Possession of firearm while in possession of CDS.

Newton’s total bonds were set at $70,300 and Ezernack’s bond was set at $20,500 by the 11th Judicial District Court.

As of press deadline, both subjects were still incarcerated.

(A special thank you to Det. D.W. Seegers for supplying the above information.)

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