State Sen. Derrick Shepherd has been released from the Jefferson Parish jail after being arrested on charges related to simple battery, theft and unauthorized entry of a dwelling.
Jefferson Parish authorities say Shepherd was arrested for allegedly forcing his way into the home of his ex-girlfriend, punching her in the stomach, and then stealing her cell phone and $100 in cash from her home.
Speaking to WWL-TV after bonding out of jail late Saturday night, Shepherd said the arrest was the result of actions he took after "threats" to his family.
Listen to the audio of Shepherd talking about the incident on Saturday:
WWL First News contacted Shepherd Sunday morning. He again reiterated that he was arrested because of actions he undertook because of "threats" against his family, but declined to be more specific about the alleged threats or who made them.
Sheriff Newell Normand says the 911 center received a call of from 29-year-old Thaise Ashford Saturday morning around 2:30 A.M., reporting an aggravated burglary in the 100 block of Cameron Drive in unincorporated Jefferson Parish near Gretna.
Ashford told a responding detective that she and Shepherd had been seeing each other from 2001 to 2005, and had remained friends when she began seeing another man. Ashford said that she began receiving calls on her cell phone at 2:30 Saturday morning, and did not answer the calls, believing them to be from Shepherd.
Normand said that about 15 minutes later, Shepherd allegedly showed up at her door and began throwing rocks at her windows. Ashford says that when she confronted Shepherd, he came into the home uninvited; when an argument ensued, Shepherd allegedly punched her in the stomach.
Ashford then said that she barricaded herself into a room, but that Shepherd forced the door open. She then fled outside her home, where she said that Shepherd locked her out of house.
According to Normand, Ashford said that Shepherd appeared intoxicated.
After pleading with Shepherd, Ashford says he let her back in, and she then forced him out of the house. Shepherd then allegedly tried to force his way back into the house, at which time Ashford dialed 911.
"He overheard her calling 911, and left the residence," said Sheriff Normand.
Listen to Sheriff Newell Normand talk about the incident:
Normand says his office secured an arrest warrant for Shepherd Saturday afternoon.
"Upon arrival at his residence, attempts were made to contact Shepherd but were unsuccessful," Normand said.
"Our detectives peered into the window of the home, and saw Senator Shepherd on a sofa with a young woman on top of him performing what appeared to be a lap dance."
Sheriff Normand says Shepherd was arrested without incident.
"The two females that were located in the home were identified and released," Normand said. "One was a community liaison for a local company, and the other was an unemployed female from Texas, and the investigation continues relative to their participation."
Sheriff Normand said, "there is ample evidence at her home to support her claims."
Normand also said that Ashford's cell phone was found at Sheperd's home.
This is not Shepherd's first brush with the law.
In April, Shepherd was indicted by a federal grand jury. He is now facing five criminal charges, including mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.
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