The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating a family disturbance which occurred near Madisonville over the weekend.

At approximately 11:00 AM Sunday, deputies were called to a residence on Cialona road after family members reported a fight between a couple and their 37 year old son, identified as Fernando Estopinal, V (1035 Cialona Rd, Madisonville – DOB: 5/9/74).  During the incident, Estopinal punched his mother and sister in the head.  In response, Estopinal’s father shot him once in the leg with a pistol.  The Sheriff’s Office was called by the father, who reported what he had done.

Estopinal was contacted at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, where he was brought by family members.  He was issued a summons for two counts of LRS 14:35 – Simple Battery.  He was released back to St. Tammany Hospital staff to undergo surgery.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is on-going.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a Lacombe area man who was recently reported missing.

Ulysses Batiste, Jr. (27681 St. Louis St, Lacombe – DOB: 12/2/1980) was last seen by his mother, Ms. Adeline Perkins, at her residence Tuesday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. That is when Ms. Perkins reported she and her son, who lives at her home, both retired for the evening. At 8:00 Wednesday morning, Ms. Perkins checked on her son in his bedroom and found he was gone.

When Mr. Batiste had not returned by Thursday night, Ms. Perkins called the Sheriff’s Office and deputies began searching the area for him. Mr. Batiste does not drive and has no cellular telephone.

Anyone with information about Mr. Batiste’s whereabouts is urged to call 9-1-1.

Eighteen men and women graduated from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office P.O.S.T. (Police Officer Standards and Training) academy in Pearl River yesterday.

The graduates receive P.O.S.T. Level I certification by the State of Louisiana.

Two different academy classes were honored at the ceremony. A full-time class of nine cadets graduated along with a reserve class consisting of the other nine. Full time classes attend the academy during the day; reserve classes attend at night.

Some of the cadets had been newly hired by the Sheriff’s office, while some were already employed by the agency.

Four awards were given to the members of each class who performed the best in four categories of instruction: academics, driving, physical fitness, and firearms. The names of the graduates follow:

STPSO POST Academy – Class #14:

Deputy Jason Alexander
Deputy John Bowers – (Driving award)
Corporal Arlene Donahue
Deputy Clint Kiley – (Fitness award)
Deputy Richard Morton
Deputy Frank Schambach, III
Deputy Jordan Smith – (Academic and Firearms awards)
Deputy Ivy Thompkins, III
Deputy Ashley Yoli

STPSO Reserve Academy – Class N-6:

Deputy Geoffrey Crowe
Deputy Anthony Dupre– (Fitness award)
Deputy Justin Frechette
Deputy Paul Gilberti
Deputy Steven Hoffman
Deputy Rickey Liberto – (Firearms award)
Deputy William McInnis, III – (Driving award)
Deputy Keith Meshell, Jr. – (Academic award)
Deputy Dennis Neyland