Donaldsonville Home Invasion Results in Death

Ascension Parish Sheriff Jeff Wiley reports the death of a Donaldsonville man following a burglary investigation.

At about 4:00 a.m. on February 16, 2012, the Sheriff's uniform patrol division responded to a 911 call from a home in D'ville Village where it was reported that a man dove head first through a closed glass window lacerating his head and landed on an occupant of the home who was in bed.   The preliminary investigation revealed that there were four occupants in the home when a man jumped through the window.

The man of the home armed himself with a stick to defend him and his family while his fiancé' phoned 911.   At the same time, the homeowner's son armed himself with a hatchet holding the suspect at bay until the deputies arrived.

When deputies arrived on scene they attempted to take the suspect into custody but due to continued resistance, the deputies deployed a taser in order to attain compliance.  After being tased the man removed the taser probes from his abdomen and continued to actively resist arrest.  The man of the home witnessed the confrontation and reported that the suspect used a floor fan to jab at the deputies as they tried to take him into custody.

As the suspect continued to resist, a second deputy deployed a taser, again striking the suspect in the abdomen.  However, the suspect continued to resist and had to be physically restrained and handcuffed.

After being handcuffed, the suspect became passively non-compliant and had to be physically carried from the residence.

Per Sheriff's Office policy Acadian Ambulance responds to every case where a suspect is subdued by a taser deployment.  Acadian Ambulance responded to assess the suspect's medical condition, but due to his behavior and statements that he was making indicating that he was under the influence of cocaine, a Sheriff's Office supervisor instructed Acadian Ambulance personnel that the suspect needed to be transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

While the suspect, identified as 30 year old Charmin Bennett, of 208 Bourg Street Donaldsonville, Louisiana was being transported in the ambulance to Prevost Hospital, he went unconscious and went into cardiac arrest.

Acadian Ambulance personnel attempted to resuscitate Bennette and those efforts were continued at the hospital.  However, those efforts were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead at Prevost.

The investigation also revealed that prior to Bennett breaking into the home, he had attempted to break into an adjacent home but was unsuccessful.

Bennett's criminal history revealed he has been arrested in the past for attempted rape, multiple burglaries, a number of disturbing the peace, resisting arrest and theft.

The deceased's body has been taken to the coroner's facility for an autopsy where toxicology testing will be conducted and medical cause of death determined.