A Louisiana resident, Gad Black, 41, was apprehended by Baton Rouge police on Monday following accusations of intentionally ramming his pickup truck into a marked motorcycle operated by Sgt. Caleb Eisworth. The incident occurred as Eisworth was returning home from work. Black allegedly hit Eisworth with his vehicle and dragged the officer for approximately 500 feet before escaping the scene. Eisworth sustained critical injuries, including broken legs and arm, among other injuries.
Local CBS affiliate WAFB reported that Black was located by the police shortly after the incident. However, Black reportedly resisted arrest, prompting the police to use a taser to subdue him. Once in custody, Black, who has a history of arrests related to offenses against law enforcement, allegedly confessed to tailing Eisworth in his vehicle.
Prior to his arrest, Black reportedly boasted about the incident on Facebook. Two posts on an account bearing his name seemed to reference the crash. One post, timestamped at 12:23 p.m. on Monday, read, “Just Stretched One On Joor Rd,” which included the location of the crash. Minutes earlier, at 12:16 p.m., another post read, “Check Him Out On Joor Rd. Stretched One.” A subsequent post at 12:19 p.m. appeared to reference the case of Rodney Hinton, who allegedly intentionally ran over a sheriff’s deputy in Ohio after his teenage son was shot and killed by a police officer.
Black was charged with attempted first-degree murder of a police officer, hate crimes, and resisting an officer. His 40-year-old girlfriend, Asia Raby, was also arrested and charged with accessory after the fact in connection to Black’s attempted murder charge and obstruction of justice. According to WAFB, Raby was implicated in a 911 call where she provided a description of Black’s pickup truck and his location. However, she allegedly ended the call abruptly after being asked for her location and Black’s location. Raby was arrested at her residence, where Black’s vehicle was found.
A spokesperson from the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office ABC affiliate WBRZ on Tuesday that Eisworth was still in critical condition but showing signs of improvement.