Nigreville v. State, Department of Public Safety

CULPEPPER, Judge.

The defendant appeals a judgment awarding plaintiff $1500 damages for false arrest. We reverse.

The issue is whether the arresting officer had probable cause to arrest plaintiff for committing in the officer’s presence the misdemeanor of interfering with the officer’s investigation of a traffic accident.

On the night in question, there were two automobile accidents at the intersection of Louisiana State Highway 1, a four-lane thoroughfare running north and south, and Powell Lane, a two-lane highway running east and west. After the first accident, which was major and involved…