Marlone Brumfield
COVINGTON—A St. Tammany Parish jury found Marlone Brumfield, 28, of Covington, guilty Thursday (Feb. 18) of aggravated obstruction of a highway and possession of cocaine. As a multiple offender, he faces up to life in prison when he is sentenced April 21 by District Judge William J. Burris.
Brumfield was arrested Aug. 26 last year, after leading police on a high-speed chase throughout Covington. The incident began about 9 p.m. when narcotics officers from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office received a tip from a confidential informant. The officers set up a drug buy with Brumfield, who was known on the streets as “Wacko.” But once Brumfield arrived at the meeting place on Highway 21 in Covington, he grew suspicious of the cars in the parking lot and didn’t stop. He headed north on Highway 21, and when an officer used his police lights to try to stop him, Brumfield refused to pull over.
With officers in pursuit, Brumfield fled, turning southbound onto Highway 21 and onto I-12 eastbound, where he turned off his headlights and reached speeds in excess of 115 miles per hour. The pursuit continued onto Highway 190, where Brumfield sideswiped a church van, and then onto Boston Street in Covington, where Brumfield’s truck struck a handicap ramp. Brumfield tried to run but was caught by deputies. Detectives found a cigarette box containing cocaine in Brumfield’s underwear. The officers also discovered a plastic bag of marijuana, a crumpled receipt containing marijuana, a smoking device containing a liquid, as well as a baby bottle and a water bottle containing fake narcotics in Brumfield’s vehicle.
Brumfield’s trial began Tuesday, and the jury took just under an hour to return the guilty verdicts. Assistant District Attorney William Macke prosecuted the case, and he was assisted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Kilian.
Brumfield has other open cases, as well as prior felony convictions, including for aggravated battery in 2008, simple robbery in 2005 and various narcotics.