A traffic stop by Louisiana State Police for a seat belt violation on Tuesday resulted in the arrest of Slidell man for a shooting incident that occurred Aug. 14, 2007.

Capt. Kevin Foltz, Slidell police spokesman, reported Wednesday that police had arrested Nakie Strickland, 33, 60206 Bryan Road, Slidell, on three outstanding warrants, one for attempted first-degree murder and two for attempted simple robbery.

A state trooper stopped Strickland at the intersection of U.S. Highway 11 and Brownsvillage Road around 4 p.m. Tuesday after the trooper saw that Strickland was not wearing a seat belt. The trooper did a background check and learned about the three outstanding warrants. The Slidell police were called in, and they arrested Strickland without incident.

STRICKLAND

Foltz said around 9 p.m. Aug. 14, 2007, the shooting victim was cruising on McArthur Drive in Slidell looking to purchase illegal drugs. According to witnesses, the victim stopped in front of a group of people, then proceeded to drive off. The victim then stopped his 1997 Ford Mustang and reversed it back to the men on the side of the street. Witnesses heard two gunshots. One of the bullets hit the rear quarter panel of the car, went through the front seat, hitting the driver in the back. Another shot made a small hole in the rear bumper of the car.

The victim accelerated down McArthur Drive, crossed Carroll Road, flew over a ditch and smashed into a pine tree on the west side of Carroll Road. The crash pinned the driver in the car, and he had to be extricated by firefighters. The passenger in the car, Slidell resident Misty Swinford, 22, was seriously injured in the wreck. The police never identified the victim, but Foltz said the man is out of the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery. Foltz believes Swinford made a full recovery from her injuries.

After an investigation, Slidell Detective Nicky Mistretta got an arrest warrant for Strickland on March 24. Mistretta said the incident is still under investigation, and it may lead to another arrest. The weapon used in the shooting has not been recovered, Foltz said.

This is not Swinford’s first experience with someone trying to shoot her, according to Foltz. Back on Dec. 11, 2006, Swinford was driving with her boyfriend on Pontchartrain Drive when her former boyfriend, William J. Panter, 26, of Slidell, shot at Swinson as he passed them on the road. Neither Swinson nor her boyfriend was injured in the incident, but Panter was arrested and charged with attempted second-degree murder.

Foltz said that Strickland was booked in Slidell and taken to the St. Tammany Parish Jail. The judge set a $15,000 bond on the attempted robbery charges, but Strickland is not going anywhere soon. According to Foltz, there is an automatic no-bond for an attempted first-degree murder charge.