Lake Charles, Louisiana - Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Gary “Stitch” Guillory issued a public statement responding to what he called “factless rumors” circulating on social media about his alleged connection to a suspect in a recent horse-drawn carriage crash in downtown Lake Charles.

The December 22 incident, which involved a horse-drawn carriage in the city’s downtown area, has drawn widespread attention online. In the days since, social media users have claimed that the sheriff is related to the woman involved, and that this supposed relationship influenced the timing or outcome of her arrest.

Sheriff Guillory said those claims are false.

“There have been claims made that I am related to the suspect in this case and that this relationship somehow impacted the timing and/or outcome of her arrest,” Guillory said in the written statement. “I want to be very clear: I am not related to the woman involved, nor do I know her.”

Guillory also stressed that his agency was not the lead investigative body in the case.

“Additionally, this investigation was conducted by the Lake Charles Police Department, not the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Sheriff Emphasizes No One Is Above The Law

In his statement, Guillory described his role as sheriff as a serious responsibility to the public and said neither personal relationships nor rumors influence how the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) operates.

“No individual is above the law, and personal relationships do not influence the way CPSO conducts our investigations or the outcomes,” Guillory said.

He added that, like many residents in the parish, he has personally seen family members investigated, arrested, and booked into the parish jail.

“I personally, like a lot of other people in this parish, have had family members investigated, arrested, and booked in our jail,” he said, using his own experience to underline the point that law enforcement action applies equally, regardless of personal ties.

“I would never want the public to believe that who someone knows, or in this case, is rumored to know, would change how justice is pursued in our parish,” he added.

Lake Charles Police Led The Crash Investigation

While Guillory did not provide new details about the December 22 crash itself, he made clear that the Lake Charles Police Department handled the investigation, not CPSO. His statement focused strictly on clarifying his role and the role of his office.

Focus On Transparency And Accountability

The sheriff pointed to prior actions by his office as evidence of a longstanding commitment to transparency and equal treatment under the law.

“That transparency is evident in the fact that we have held our own employees accountable when they have broken the law, just as we would any member of the public,” Guillory said.

Guillory framed integrity and character as central to his responsibilities as an elected official.

“As an elected official, integrity and character are two of the most important responsibilities I hold, and our office has worked to uphold those values,” he said.

He noted that the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office has “worked hard every day to maintain trust, accountability, and transparency within our community,” adding that CPSO has been “consistently transparent and open with the community about what occurs within CPSO and will continue to do so.”

Responding To Rumors And Social Media Misinformation

Guillory said he generally does not respond to online speculation. In this case, however, he decided to speak publicly due to what he described as a high volume of calls to his office asking about the downtown Lake Charles crash and the related rumors.

“I do not normally respond to rumors circulating on social media,” he said. “However, due to the volume of calls my office and I have received regarding the December 22 crash involving a horse-drawn carriage in downtown Lake Charles, I feel it is important to address misinformation that is being shared.”

He said it was disheartening to see unverified claims spread online and lead to criticism of law enforcement based on false information.

“Given the work our office has done to build and maintain public trust, it saddens me to see, time and time again, factless rumors spread and our profession criticized based on misinformation,” Guillory said.

CPSO Core Values And Relationship With The Community

In the statement, the sheriff highlighted the core values that CPSO says guide its work: integrity, accountability, respect, professionalism, and excellence.

“The core values of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office are integrity, accountability, respect, professionalism, and excellence,” Guillory said. “Together, these principles are the foundation of public trust and what our office and our relationship with our community are built upon.”

He closed his statement by reiterating his commitment to the residents of Calcasieu Parish.

“As always, it is a great honor to serve the people of Calcasieu Parish,” he said.

The Lake Charles Police Department has jurisdiction within the city limits of Lake Charles, while the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office serves the broader parish, including unincorporated areas and several surrounding communities.