Contempt of Court Warrants Sends Man Back to Jail on Christmas Eve

Wesley Bernard Williams, age 34 and who gives an address on Western Avenue in Hammond, was arrested Christmas Eve on outstanding warrants for contempt of court plus other charges incurred during the arrest.

On December 24, 2021, a Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop Williams who was driving in the Franklinton area. Williams stopped on Highway 10 west and refused to exit his vehicle. Instead, he fled at a high rate of speed with the deputy in pursuit. After turning onto Highway 440, Williams made an illegal U-turn. Reaching speeds in excess of 90 mph, Williams left the roadway and went into a ditch. As the deputy approached, Williams put his vehicle in reverse and attempted to strike the deputy’s vehicle before fleeing into adjacent woods. After a short foot pursuit, the deputy was able to tackle Williams, taking him to the ground. Williams physically resisted until the deputy was able to restrain him.

Williams was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail where he was booked on two counts of contempt of court, aggravated assault with a vehicle on an officer, resisting an officer with force or violence and resisting arrest by flight. His bond was set at $50,000.

Williams has previous arrests in Washington Parish that include two charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, two counts of criminal trespass, battery, being a fugitive from the 23rd Judicial District Court, criminal damage to property, possession of illegal drugs, failure to appear in court, two counts of contempt of court, possession of drug paraphernalia, and burglary. 

“If Williams had yielded when the officer pulled in behind him,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal, “he would have faced only the contempt of court charges. Due to his choice to flee and then fight with our deputy, he now faces more serious charges. Very poor decisions always lead to very poor outcomes.”