Veteran former Eunice police officer Varden Guillory arrested for his handling of domestic abuse case

Former Eunice Police Lt. Varden Guillory, 47, was arrested Monday at the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office for obstruction of justice and malfeasance in office, a news release from St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz stated.
The charges are in connection with the arrest of Heath Bergeron on June 19 for domestic abuse battery.
Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot requested the assistance of the Sheriff’s Office in an investigation on June 23, the news release stated.
The release stated:
“The investigation revealed that on June 19, 2016, Heath Bergeron was picking up his two sons from his ex-wife Christina Renee Bergeron at the Eunice McDonald’s parking lot for a Father’s Day visit when a domestic abuse incident occurred. The incident began over the time the visit would end and then turned violent when the mother disagreed. A witness who was with Heath Bergeron at the time contacted the Eunice Police Department requesting assistance. Seeing the escalation of the abuse, the complainants eventually drove to the Eunice Police Department to file the report.
“Upon arrival to the police department, Heath Bergeron and the witness was placed in the visitation room where Bergeron was handed a statement form to complete. The investigation showed that Heath Bergeron requested the assistance from the witness in writing his statement. Lt. Varden Guillory and another officer arrived at the police station, entered the visitation room then escorted Heath Bergeron to the booking area with his statement in hand. While the three were walking through the doors to the booking area, Lt. Guillory then ripped the statement of Bergeron saying his wife coached him what to write on the statement and used obscene language towards Bergeron. Lt. Guillory then reportedly told Bergeron if he wasn’t in uniform, he would tear his head off. Heath Bergeron was arrested for Domestic Abuse Battery (Felony), while never being allowed to give his account of what occurred without being influenced by law enforcement namely, Lt. Varden Guillory.”
Guidroz stated in the news release, “Investigators found that Lt. Guillory did not allow Heath Bergeron to finish his statement nor did he question him, the witness or the children about what happened at the McDonald’s parking lot. Lt. Guillory altered and mutilated the unfinished statement that the witness was writing for Mr. Bergeron and that Lt. Guillory threatened to do bodily harm to Mr. Bergeron in the presence of two other officers. After completing the investigation, sufficient probable cause was gained to obtain an arrest warrant on Lt. Varden Guillory. Eunice Police did later arrest Christina Rene Bergeron and charged her with Domestic Abuse Battery.”
Guillory had served 25 years with the Eunice Police Department. He has served as deputy chief and was a lieutenant when he retired June 26, Fontenot said.