St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrests two men on various charges after they fled from deputies and crashed in a stolen vehicle

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested two men May 1 on various charges, including possession of marijuana, after they fled from deputies and crashed in a stolen vehicle, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The driver of the vehicle, Randy Manuel, 19, of the 5000 block of Pauger Street in New Orleans, was booked with illegal possession of stolen things, reckless operation, hit and run, aggravated flight from an officer, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

The passenger, Derek Jordan Jr., 18, of the 3000 block of Pecan Drive in Chalmette, was booked with possession of marijuana.

On Tuesday, May 1 at approximately 11:30 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about a 2010 black Mazda CX-7 SUV reported as stolen out of New Orleans being spotted in Arabi.

Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle as it turned into the parking lot of an Arabi business, but the driver, later determined to be Manuel, refused to stop and fled at a high rate of speed, westbound on St. Bernard Highway.

Manuel left the roadway several times, struck the side of an 18-wheeler, and lost control of the vehicle which flipped over, hit a light pole and ran into a business storefront in the 7400 block of West St. Bernard Highway.

During the course of the investigation, deputies found one gram of marijuana on Manuel, and another eight grams of marijuana in the vehicle inside a backpack that also contained clothing, a black ski mask, and a flashlight.

Manuel admitted to knowing the vehicle was stolen and claimed to have bought it from a man in New Orleans.

Both men were treated for minor injuries at a local hospital and later transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to booked accordingly. Sheriff Pohlmann said no one else was injured in the incident.

Bond has not yet been set for Manuel; Jordan was released on a $1,250 bond.