Driver in crash that killed deputy booked on murder charge

The man troopers say is accused of crashing his SUV into a Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office vehicle, killing a detective sergeant, has been arrested on a capital murder charge.

Anthony H. Savoie, 33, Bourg, was arrested Wednesday on charges of first-degree murder of a police officer, attempted first-degree murder of a police officer and aggravated flight from an officer, Louisiana State Police Troop C said in a press release. Bourg was also held on a warrant alleging failure to appear in 32nd Judicial District Court.

Bourg is accused of running his Chevrolet Tahoe into two marked Sheriff's Office units just before 5 a.m. Saturday on La. 1 near Klienpeter Road in Thibodaux.

The initial investigation indicated that an officer with the Houma Police Department attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation, Troop C said. The suspect fled at a high rate of speed.

Police pursued the suspect and, at some point during the pursuit, the suspect stopped. Officers attempted to negotiate with the suspect, who sped off and rammed into a Lafourche Parish deputy’s unit stopped nearby.

The crash killed Detective Sgt. Nicholas Peppers of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office.

Savoie has been in custody at a local hospital while receiving medical treatment for injuries sustained in the crash. Louisiana State Police, with assistance from the Thibodaux Police Department, maintained custody of Savoie in the hospital until his release Wednesday. He was secured and transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center and, after being booked, was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex for housing.

The Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office will be handling the criminal proceedings.