Deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office have arrested Ronnie Barfield (20209 Narrow Rd, Covington – DOB: 7/24/1956) after a standoff early Sunday resulted in Barfield discharged a handgun in the direction of a deputy.
The Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call just before 2:00 AM Sunday from Barfield’s wife who reported her husband was possibly suicidal and that his whereabouts were unknown. Deputies responded to the residents and met with the woman, who was in telephone contact with Barfield. Eventually, deputies were able to determine his location in downtown Covington near the Bogue Falaya River.
Other deputies responded to that location and made contact with Barfield, who was sitting in his vehicle parked near the river. Because Barfield was thought to have a weapon in his possession, deputies took positions of cover around his vehicle. Attempts to negotiate Barfield out of the truck failed, and eventually Barfield pointed a loaded handgun out of the driver’s window and fired a shot at one of the deputies. Barfield then rammed that deputy’s vehicle with his own. The deputy had been standing behind his patrol unit and was able to move safely away just before the impact occurred.
After the crash, deputies and CPD officers surrounded Barfield’s vehicle and were able to remove him and place him in handcuffs. Barfield was evaluated by Acadian Ambulance, but refused further medical attention. He also refused to submit to breath analysis.
Barfield was transported to the St. Tammany Parish Jail and booked with one count of L.R.S. 14:30(A)(2) [Attempt] – First Degree Murder, one count of L.R.S. 14:94 – Illegal Use of Weapons, and one count of L.R.S. 14:37.2 – Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer with a Firearm.
Deputies obtained a search warrant for blood samples from Barfield. Medics from Acadian Ambulance retrieved those samples at the jail and they were sent to the State Police Crime Lab for analysis. Pending the results of those tests, Barfield might be additionally booked with L.R.S. 14:98 – Operating a Vehicle while Intoxicated.
Barfield is still being held in the St. Tammany Parish Jail. His bond has not yet been set.
