NEW ORLEANS — Two Slidell Police officers and a K-9 officer are out of the hospital and recovering after being attacked by a swarm of angry hornets during a manhunt for a suspected car thief in a New Orleans East marsh Monday afternoon.
According to the Slidell Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call from a man reporting that he just witnessed his 2005 Ford F-250 being stolen from the parking lot of Club 4 Fitness on Brownswitch Road.
The man told police that he went into the gym for a moment and came out to hear his truck starting up and then speeding away.
A Slidell Police officer spotted the vehicle near Interstate 10 and when attempting to stop the truck, the driver fled toward New Orleans police say.
The suspected car thief then crashed the truck, which burst into flames near the Michoud Boulevard exit. The suspect continued to flee on foot by crossing the interstate and into the woody marsh.
A manhunt into the woods was underway. The agencies participating in the search included Slidell Police, New Orleans Police, the FBI along with other, agencies.
Police said K-9s and drones were also deployed in the manhunt.
During the manhunt, two officers and one K-9 officer were injured when they were stung by hundreds of hornets.
“Both officers, along with the K-9, were rushed back to Slidell to a local emergency room. All three have been treated and released, with the K-9 having to be closely monitored for any allergic reaction to the stings,” the Slidell Police Department reported.
The manhunt was called off and the suspect they were searching for was able to elude police and remains at large.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or Slidell Police at 985-643-3131. You can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward.
► Get breaking news from your neighborhood delivered directly to you by downloading the new FREE WWL-TV News app now in the IOS App Store or Google Play.