Around 4 a.m. Saturday, St. Mary Parish Deputies arrested a Franklin man after they say he was punching a woman in his car.  The woman, fearing for her life, jumped out of the car.

St. Mary deputies say the victim found a Chitimacha Police officer patrolling in the area, and she reported the crime.  They enlisted the help of St. Mary Parish to find 29-year-old Kevin James.

A deputy was pursing James on Highway 87, and the deputy tried to get James to stop, but he kept driving.

Deputies say James was speeding, and he crashed his car at the intersection of Iberia Street and Chatsworth Road in Baldwin.

James was taken to a hospital, treated, released and then booked into the parish jail on the following charges:

  • Simple battery
  • Aggravated flight from an officer
  • Reckless operation of a vehicle
  • No drivers license

The investigation into the traffic crash has been turned over to Louisiana State Police.

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