A Texas man is in custody following multiple 911 reports of a reckless driver nearly causing head-on collisions on Louisiana Highway 1 north of Cypress according to Sheriff Stuart Wright. The arrest was made thanks to swift action by deputies, assistance from a citizen, and the cooperation of concerned witnesses.
The NATCOM 911 Center began receiving numerous calls on May 12 around 7:15 pm regarding a dark-colored pickup truck driving erratically northbound on LA Hwy 1 near Cypress. Callers reported the vehicle nearly caused several head-on crashes. The 911 Center also received reports of a person and vehicle matching the same description seen trespassing on private property along LA Hwy 120.
When confronted by the property owner, the driver fled the scene.
Deputies were dispatched to the area and shortly after received an additional report of a single-vehicle crash involving a matching vehicle south of Natchez. Responding deputies located a 2023 dark gray Toyota Tundra with front-end damage in a ditch. The driver attempted to flee the scene, accelerating toward a marked patrol unit before becoming stuck in the mud.
For the safety of the public and officers, a deputy drew his weapon and issued verbal commands to exit the vehicle.. A nearby citizen courageously assisted the deputy in safely handcuffing Haggard without incident.
When deputies made contact with the driver, he appeared disoriented and showed signs of severe intoxication.
The suspect was identified as Duston L. Haggard, 30, of Spring, Texas.
Haggard displayed signs of extreme impairment, including the smell of alcohol, poor coordination, and confusion about his location—mistakenly believing he was in Harris County, Texas at least 3 hours away.
After failing a field sobriety test, Haggard was transported to the Natchitoches Detention Center, where he provided a breath sample registering over three times the legal limit of 0.08g% on the Intoxilyzer 9000.
Haggard has been charged with:
• Driving While Intoxicated (1st Offense)
• Criminal Obstruction of Justice
• Reckless Operation of a Vehicle
• Flight from an Officer
• Failure to Report an Accident
Additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. His vehicle was impounded by a local wrecker service. Sheriff Stuart Wright commended the citizen who stepped in to help and expressed gratitude to those who reported the incident.
“This arrest was a direct result of the community’s vigilance,” said Sheriff Wright. “We sincerely thank the citizen who assisted our deputy in making a safe arrest, as well as the witnesses who took the time to report dangerous behavior. Your actions helped prevent what could have been a tragic outcome.”
The investigation remains active.
Deputy Sgt. D. Halliburton was assisted by the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau. Don’t Drink and Drive!!!
