Hunter Wayne Blanchard and Raven Leigh Cole (Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office)
A 25-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman in Louisiana were arrested over the weekend after allegedly using dangerous weapons in a fight against several teenagers, beating them with a bat and a whip during a fight on the side of the highway.
Hunter Wayne Blanchard and Raven Leigh Cole were both arrested on Sunday and charged with a series of crimes during the violent encounter, according to prison records reviewed by Law&Crime show.
Blanchard is charged with one count each of cruelty to minors, aggravated assault, second-degree grievous bodily harm, and disturbing the peace during a fisting encounter. Cole faces three counts of aggravated assault, one count of cruelty to minors and one count of second-degree aggravated bodily harm.
According to a press release from the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office (JDPSO), deputies first learned of the fracas between the two sides on the evening of Sunday, May 14 while patrolling the Louisiana Highway. 101 in Lacassine, which is located about 100 miles west of Baton Rouge. Authorities say they were flagged down by a concerned passerby around 6:30 p.m. who informed them of the scuffle.
Deputies responded to the location of the ongoing fight, which the statement said was “in the ditch on the south side of the highway near the service road.” When deputies arrived at the scene, Blanchard, Cole and the miners allegedly attempted to flee the scene but were ordered to stop, the statement said.
On questioning those involved in the brawl, deputies learned that the inciting incident took place on the river at Oberlin, about 30 miles northeast of Lacassine. The argument then continued while the two groups were in their vehicles until “one vehicle forced the other off the roadway where the deputies found them”.
After the vehicles stopped, Blanchard and Cole allegedly got out of their car holding “a whip and a wooden bat” and then “wrestled with the miners” using the weapons, the statement said.
Based on the sheriff’s release, it was not immediately clear which group forced the other off the road. JDPSO did not immediately respond to a message from Law&Crime requesting additional details regarding the incident.
After the deputies took control of the scene, Blanchard and Cole were arrested and taken to the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail. Records show they both remained in custody Monday afternoon. A judge set their bail at $20,000 each, according to prison records.
Do you have a tip we should know? [email protected]