A concerning call taken by the Central Police chief last month would later lead to the caller's arrest for threatening the chief's life.
And while East Baton Rouge investigators say the caller indeed threatened the public official, he was released from custody without posting a bond.
According to arrest documents, on June 17, Richard Lemoine Jr., 59, of Central, called the Central Police Department to speak with Chief Roger Corcoran.
"He threatened to kill me," Corcoran said.
Through the duration of the call recorded on the department's phone system, Lemoine — who investigators described as irate — told the chief 10 to 15 times that he was going to kill him, records show.
He revealed his identity to Corcoran when the chief asked, then disconnected, and called back once more to again tell the chief he was going to kill him.
"He said that I was trying to take his property," Corcoran said. "I have no clue what he was talking about."
The chief reported the incident to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office so it could be investigated impartially, he said.
The following day, EBRSO received a report of Lemoine walking down Planchet Road in Central carrying a rifle, investigators said. Familiar with Lemoine, deputies quickly located him in his driveway, learned of his call to the Central Police Chief and arrested him soon after.
Records show Lemoine was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on June 19 on a count of threatening a public official, a misdemeanor in Louisiana that carries a maximum fine of $500.
And while a bond was set for $500, according to court documents, fees were waived and Lemoine was released after he was signed out by his father.
While not enthused by the statute allowing for Lemoine's relatively simple release, Corcoran understands it is the law and added he was pleased EBRSO "jumped on it" and arrested the man after they received his report.
"These offenses should be taken seriously and should be investigated," Corcoran said.