Deputies back on job

The day after Ryan Charles Walker was shot and killed by Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, the four deputies involved in the shooting returned to work.

Lt. Greg Pete, a shift supervisor, Sgt. Robert Burns, Deputy Steve Gardner and Sgt. Jeremy Hatley returned to their duties Thursday, Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal said.

The four deputies responded to a struggle Wednesday between Walker, 32, and Janet Prince Tauzin inside a vehicle on Louisiana 344, near the entrance to the Sugar Oaks Country Club.

Walker had a knife and was threatening Tauzin, the sheriff said.

“The deputies were trying to talk him out of the vehicle,” Ackal said. “The deputies’ conversations of the struggle with Walker were recorded. He was screaming, cursing and threatening to kill her. Hatley was the officer who fired the shots, and she (Tauzin) had blood on her clothing and face.”

Ackal said Walker was under the influence of crystal meth and had a crack pipe in his mouth during the time leading up to the shooting. Ackal said Tauzin told deputies Walker and Tauzin were first cousins and boyfriend and girlfriend.

Walker’s brother, Keith Hebert, said this morning his brother was not in a relationship with Tauzin.

“I know for a fact they were not boyfriend and girlfriend,” Walker said.

Louisiana State Police Crisis Intervention troopers interviewed the four deputies Wednesday evening, and Ackal gave all four men permission to return to their duties Thursday.

“These are seasoned guys,” Ackal said. “They were given the opportunity to take some time off but they chose not to, as it was obvious to me that there were no infractions of proper procedure and everything was done in proper manner.”

Members of Walker’s family visited the site where he was killed. They are upset at the way he is being portrayed in the media.

“He was an amazing person. He will be missed,” Walker’s sister Karen Menard said. “What is being said on the news is a defamation of my brother’s character and is making (this) tragic time even more difficult.”

Troy Menard, Walker’s brother-in-law, said he found an earring with blood on it at the scene and that they were planning to bring it to the Sheriff’s Office and ask them to include it in the investigation.

Sheriff’s Office Chief Earl Robicheaux said an officer-involved shooting is unusual for the IPSO.

“I don’t recall anything like that happening in the 28 years I’ve been here,” Robicheaux said.

State Police Public Information Officer David Anderson said he did not know when his agency’s investigation would be completed.

Benny and Yvonne Menard live yards away from where the shooting happened. Yvonne was delayed in getting home due to the Sheriff’s Office cordoning off of the Louisiana 344 leading to their home.

“You don’t think this would happen in Iberia Parish,” Benny said.