Two EPD officers arrested by SLPSO

By Todd C. Elliott
todd.elliott@eunicetoday.com

Two Eunice police officers were arrested Monday by St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s following an alleged investigation into malfeasance while in office.
The investigation was conducted at the request of Chief Ronald Dies, who wrote a personal request to Sheriff Bobby Guidroz to investigate the matter.
Officers Jade Weaver, 27, and Officer Talya Fruge, 33, had been allegedly placed on leave from the Eunice Police Department “for weeks”. Weaver and Fruge were arrested following the parish investigation.
Weaver and Fruge were relieved of duty after allegedly assisting a fellow officer during an altercation on April 2.
“Eunice Police Chief Ronald Dies filed a formal complaint with our office on April 9 requesting for us to complete a formal investigation on two of his officers,” said Sheriff Bobby Guidroz in a press release on Tuesday.
“Officer Talya Fruge and Officer Jade Weaver were both accused of intentionally not responding to a fellow officer that was in need of assistance while in a physical altercation. The initial incident occurred on April 1, 2014.”
Guidroz said that both Fruge and Weaver were put on administrative leave while the investigation was under way. They were both booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on Monday and have both since been bonded out.
Weaver and Fruge were both released on $2,500 bond.
According to records, Weaver and Fruge were two of three officers dispatched to deal with an allegedly recalcitrant and belligerent suspect following an auto accident.
Andy L. Rider was allegedly driving a vehicle which hit Bertrand’s Printing on North 8th Street about 9 p.m.
The first officer on the scene chased Rider to his nearby residence where a scuffled ensued.
Rider allegedly punched, kicked and assault the officer, whose name was not released.
Calls to the 911 Center allegedly claimed two officers were standing by while the third was attempting to deal with Rider, was tased at one point and apparently eventually subdued by a K-9 officer.
Rider was booked on a number of charges.