DeSoto Parish Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle would like to announce the arrest of a subject following a reckless driver complaint. 

 

On May 14, 2015, at about 1:22 p.m., a complainant contacted the Sheriff's Office in reference to a vehicle which was observed swerving across both lanes of traffic on Highway 171 heading south.  Sheriff Arbuckle was en route, along with Clerk of Court Jeremy Evans, to a D.A.R.E. graduation at North DeSoto High School.  A deputy clerk in the vehicle with them observed the BOLO vehicle and saw what they believed to be a physical altercation occurring between a male driver and female passenger. 

 

Due to not being in his department vehicle, he contacted the Sheriff's Office and requested a marked patrol unit to intercept the vehicle.  The vehicle began driving erratically and nearly caused an accident at the traffic control light in front of NDHS and the entrance to North DeSoto Estates. 

 

Sheriff Arbuckle exited the privately owned vehicle (POV) and approached the driver.  He identified himself and verbally informed the driver to stop the vehicle.  The driver refused to stop, at which time Sheriff Arbuckle attempted to reach in the vehicle and remove the driver. 

 

A physical confrontation between Sheriff Arbuckle and the driver occurred and the driver began to drive away from Sheriff Arbuckle while he was still reaching inside the vehicle.

 

Once Sheriff Arbuckle realized the vehicle was moving and he was not going to be able to remove the driver, he pushed himself away from the vehicle.  He was run over by the rear driver's tire of the fleeing Jeep Wrangler and sustained injuries to his arm, hands, and right leg.  He was able to get up and returned to the POV to follow the fleeing driver. 

 

Other subjects who witnessed the events unfold immediately called the DeSoto Sheriff's Office and began to give information regarding the incident.  With the help of the citizens, responding units were directed to assist. 

 

The driver of the vehicle ultimately fled to the 600 block of Long Road in Gloster, LA and stopped at a private residence.  Sheriff Arbuckle exited the POV and attempted to get the driver to surrender. 

 

The driver placed the Jeep Wrangler in reverse as if he was going to flee again, at which time Sheriff Arbuckle fired two rounds from a handgun into the passenger rear tire to attempt to disable the vehicle. 

 

With the assistance of a local bail bond recovery agent and Clerk of Court Jeremy Evans, the driver and passenger of the vehicle were placed in handcuffs without further incident.  Upon the arrival of other deputies, Sheriff Arbuckle continued on to the D.A.R.E. graduation.  He was later taken to a local hospital and his wounds were tended to by staff members. 

 

The driver was identified as Joshua Alan Sepulvado (W/M - DOB: 06/19/1987) of Gloster, LA.  The passenger was identified, questioned, and released. 

 

It was found that Mr. Sepalvado was under the influence of narcotics at the time of his arrest and had an extensive criminal history.  He was ultimately arrested and booked into
DeSoto Parish Detention Center on the following charges: LA R.S. 32:79
Driving on Roadway Laned for Traffic, LA R.S. 32:58 Careless Operation, LA
R.S. 14:99 Reckless Operation, LA R.S. 14:98.2 Operating a Vehicle While
Intoxicated (2nd Offense), and LA R.S. 14:34.7 Aggravated Second Degree
Battery.