A 10TH Judicial District Court jury convicted Darrell Derone Small of Clarence on Oct. 23 of one count of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce.

District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington stated that a unanimous guilty verdict was returned at the conclusion of the three-day trial which was the result of an August 2014 crime that involved Small intentionally crashing his vehicle into a police vehicle in an attempt to evade capture. The crash injured three law enforcement officer occupants of the vehicle.

Members of the United States Marshal Fugitive Task Force were previously notified by the Fort Worth (Texas) Police Department that Small was a fugitive from Texas and wanted for the crime of aggravated assault with a firearm. Through investigation and GPS tracking, the Fugitive Task Force learned that Small was at a residence in Natchitoches. The Fugitive Marshal Task Force contacted the Natchitoches City Police Department and Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdiction Drug Task Force for assistance. Thereafter, agents approached the residence Small was located, whereupon Small fled from the residence to his vehicle in an attempt to escape and thereafter intentionally crashed his vehicle into the vehicle occupied by the law enforcement agents.

After the guilty verdict was pronounced, presiding Judge Lala Sylvester ordered a pre- sentence investigation. A sentencing date will set a sentencing date upon completion of the pre-sentence investigation.

Harrington stated that aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce is a felony punishable by a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Loren Lampert prosecuted the case.