The Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Ponchatoula man in connection with false reports about an escape at the Tangipahoa Parish Jail.
Arden Wells, 70, was taken into custody on Friday, July 25, on one count of Terrorizing.
Wells is accused of publishing false information on social media that an inmate had escaped the Tangipahoa Parish Jail. TPSO said the inaccurate publication created undue concern among the public and resulted in several inquiries about the validity of the information. Following a thorough investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest.
“A person cannot falsely publicize a concerning event like an inmate escape to scare people and we will not tolerate when they do,” said Sheriff Gerald Sticker.
Terrorizing is defined by Louisiana R.S. Code 14:40.1 as “the intentional communication of information that the commission of a crime of violence is imminent or in progress or that a circumstance dangerous to human life exists or is about to exist, with the intent of causing members of the general public to be in sustained fear for their safety; or causing evacuation of a building, a public structure, or a facility of transportation; or causing other serious disruption to the general public.”
Wells was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Jail and then transferred to another facility out of an abundance of caution for safety and security.
READ MORE:Tangipahoa Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in jail-related terrorizing case
