Ruston man accused of attempted murder of an officer
by KNOERUSTON, La. (KNOE) - Police in Ruston have arrested a man on a slew of charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
According to police, the arrest follows an incident that happened on January 30, 2020, around 9:40 p.m. They say an officer was on patrol in the area around Martin Luther King Avenue and Clay Street. The officer observed a traffic violation and stopped a vehicle solely occupied and driven by Keyone LaDravon Womack, a 27-year-old male from Ruston.
Police say the officer detected the odor of marijuana and saw a suspected marijuana cigarette and other drug paraphernalia in plain view.
When the officer opened the driver's side door to arrest Womack, they say Womack resisted and began to dig around in his vehicle. Police say the officer took hold of Womack’s arm in an attempt to take him into custody when Womack attempted to pull away. This caused the officer to partially be pulled into Womack’s vehicle, they say. Police say Womack then began to drive off, accelerating rapidly.
Ruston PD says the officer began to be dragged by the vehicle, so he pulled himself further into the vehicle to keep from being run over. They struggled for control of the vehicle. Police say the vehicle crossed the center line and was headed for a utility pole when the officer was able to steer the vehicle to the side, where it struck the utility pole’s guidewire.
After the vehicle stopped, they continued to struggle. A Taser was used on Womack and the officer was able to take Womack into custody.
Police say a subsequent search of Womack’s vehicle revealed a Beretta handgun, seventy-one (71) dosage units of suspected MDMA, Marijuana, a digital scale, and clear, empty plastic bags.
Womack was booked on the charges of:
*Attempted First Degree Murder
*Aggravated Flight from an Officer
*Illegal Carrying of a Weapon in the Presence of CDS
*Illegal Window Tint
*Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
*Resisting an Officer
*Possession with Intent to Distribute – Schedule I
*Possession of Schedule I
*Seatbelt Required