A Minden man who battered and injured a police officer and fled during a traffic stop and arrest in Greenwood pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court Tuesday, March 11, 2025.
Preston Burns, 36, waited until 12 jurors had been sworn in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court and the officer he injured during the speeding traffic stop in June 2023, testified. That was when he pleaded guilty as charged.
Judge Emanuel sentenced Burns to five years at hard labor with 30 days to be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for the conviction of battery of a police officer with an injury requiring medical attention, three years at hard labor for resisting a police officer with force or violence and four years at hard labor for simple escape. The resisting and battery charges are to run concurrently but will be consecutive to the term for simple escape, required under Louisiana law.
On June 4, 2023, Greenwood police department Sgt. G. Shaul stopped Burns for speeding on U.S. Highway 79. Burns did not have a valid driver’s license, his driving privileges had been suspended and he had active warrants for his arrest. Sgt. Shaul handcuffed Burns and escorted him to his police vehicle. Sgt. Shaul allowed Burns to talk to the passenger in his vehicle and when Sgt. Shaul asked Burns to get back in the police car, Burns bumped Shaul, causing a brief struggle to begin. Burns chest-bumped Shaul, shoved him out of the way and fled. Shaul tried chasing Burns but fell, and Burns got in his vehicle and drove off. During this interaction, Shaul suffered a serious shoulder injury that required extensive medical treatment.
Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Christopher Caleb Traylor prosecuted Burns, who was defended by Dave Knadler and Royal Alexander.
The case was docket No. 396166.
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