The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a man after he struggled with a deputy, causing the deputy's gun to fire.
According to the PPSO, a deputy stopped a vehicle driven by 47-year-old Darren Riley on Highway 11 in Buras. Before the stop, the patrol division received information from detectives that Riley had outstanding warrants from Plaquemines Parish, which included traffic offenses, a simple assault charge and a fugitive warrant issued by the Gretna Police Department.
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It was also learned that Riley was a suspect in an active simple burglary investigation.
During the traffic stop, the deputy tried to arrest Riley, however he resisted and fled the scene on foot, the sheriff's office says. The deputy was able to catch Riley and a struggle ensued. The deputy deployed his TASER, however it was not successful. Riley pulled the TASER from the deputy, causing the deputy to reach for his gun.
The deputy and Riley struggled over the gun and then it fired, the sheriff's office says.
Riley was arrested after assisting deputies arrived on scene. Both Riley and the deputy were taken to area hospitals for for minor injuries sustained during the struggle, however no one was injured as a result of the gun being fired, according to PPSO.
In addition to the outstanding warrants, Riley was arrested on charges of resisting an officer, resisting an officer with force or violence, second degree battery, two counts of disarming a peace officer and simple burglary of a vehicle.
The matter is under investigation as it is PPSO policy that an investigation by the Internal Affairs Division be conducted after every discharge from a departmental issued firearm.