Westlake, Louisiana - On Friday, February 14, 2025, at approximately 8:16 AM, the Westlake Police Department responded to a distress call regarding a subject who had reportedly pulled a gun and stolen a dog from a residence on Garden Drive. Upon arriving at the scene, officers spotted a blueish-gray Volkswagen Jetta departing the area, heading west on Garden Drive.
Officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop; however, the driver refused to comply, leading to a high-speed pursuit through several neighborhood streets. The suspect eventually stopped the vehicle on Garden Drive near Guillory Street but attempted to flee again, colliding with one of the police units. The suspect continued to drive recklessly, reaching speeds of 104 miles per hour on Houston River Road, after entering from Ann Street.
Police reported that during the pursuit, the suspect discarded an item from the vehicle while traveling on Houston River Road near John Stine Road. Officers managed to apprehend the suspect on Guillory Road without further incident. The small dog involved in the initial theft was unharmed and was returned to its owner.
Once in custody, the suspect allegedly initially provided the name Eddie Hardman, which was later confirmed to be false. The individual was identified as 36-year-old Joseph Allen Braxton from New Orleans, Louisiana. Following the arrest, officers from the Westlake Police Department, along with deputies from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, conducted a search of the area and reportledy located a black and brown Glock 17 firearm.
Braxton was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on multiple charges, including three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, one count of possession of an unidentified firearm, one count of handling a machine gun, one count of illegal carry of a firearm, one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, one count of obstruction of justice, one count of aggravated flight from an officer, and one count of resisting arrest by false identification.
The arresting officers, Dustin Dennis and Christopher Piper, noted that Braxton's bond was set at $131,000.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.