St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office conducting search and rescue for a 14 year old who jumped into Mississippi River following a vehicle pursuit

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is conducting a search and rescue effort along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the New Orleans Harbor Police to find a 14-year-old male juvenile who is believed to have jumped into the Mississippi River following a vehicle pursuit, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

On March 8, shortly before 2 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies were attempting to conduct a traffic stop on a silver Infiniti FX35 near the intersection of Paris Road and Casa Calvo Street in Chalmette after observing a moving violation.

The suspect vehicle, later determined to be reported stolen out of Orleans Parish two days ago, refused to stop, and fled at a high rate of speed southbound on Paris Road, disregarding the traffic signal at St. Bernard Highway, and headed onto the Chalmette Ferry landing. The suspect vehicle then left the roadway and crashed into the guardrail of the ferry landing, becoming disabled.

The driver, believed to be the 14 year old who is missing, fled on foot southbound on the ferry landing. He was last seen in the Mississippi River, on the east side of the Chalmette Ferry landing.

The search and rescue efforts for the 14 year old are still underway.

The passenger in the vehicle, a 15-year-old male juvenile, exited the vehicle and fled on foot, but was apprehended by deputies. He was booked with resisting arrest, possession of stolen property and obstruction of justice.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.