BEAUMONT, Texas — More details have been revealed about the Louisiana men who were arrested after a high-speed chase and shootout with a Vidor Police Officer in Calcasieu Parish on Saturday.
On October 7, 2023 a little before 12:30 a.m. Beaumont police responded to a robbery in progress at the Porky’s gas station on Calder according to a Beaumont police news release.
When officers arrived they learned that two men wearing hoodies entered the store armed with guns and demanded money from the clerk.
The clerk was behind bulletproof glass and did not comply with the men. The suspects then stole a few items from the store and fled in a silver Mazda according to the release.
It was later discovered that the Mazda was stolen out of Jefferson County.
Shortly after the robbery at Porky’s, a Vidor police officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the Mazda for speeding. The Mazda then took police on a high-speed chase.
The Vidor Officer chased the vehicle across Orange County and into Louisiana before it exited the interstate at mile marker four in Calcasieu Parish.
The Mazda, which wrecked about a mile south of the interstate, had been stolen at gunpoint in Port Arthur on earlier that night according to police.
The suspects, Bracelon Charles, 20, of Sunset, La. and Trenston Semien, 17, of Opelousas, La., ran from the vehicle and began firing at the Vidor Officer who returned fire but no one was hit according to a Vidor Police Department news release.
In dashcam video released by Vidor Police at least six or seven shots can be heard being fired from one of the men as they run from their vehicle after it came to a stop off the road after attempting to make a turn at a T-intersection.
As the police cruiser comes to a stop the officer can be heard firing at least six rounds at the fleeing suspects.
They managed to elude police for several hours.
Officers and deputies from Calcasieu Parish, the Louisiana State Police, Vinton, Orange County and Vidor set up a perimeter to search for the pair.
Calcasieu Parish deputies were able to arrest the two men at about 9:35 a.m. along with one of their uncles who picked them up and tried to help them escape the area according to the release.
Charles, 20, and Semien, 17, were arrested and both charged with illegal possession of stolen items, aggravated assault with a firearm on a peace officer, aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated robbery and illegal discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence.
Semien was also charged with illegal possession of a firearm by a juvenile.
Justin Jules Colligan, 43, also of Sunset, La., who police say picked the suspects up, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact according to the Vidor release.
All three are being held in the Calcasieu Parish Jail. They will eventually be extradited to Jefferson County.
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This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.