Firm chosen to conduct external investigation

Mandeville Mayor Pro Tem Trilby Lenfant wants answers concerning the infamous night when Mayor Eddie Price allegedly drove his city-owned vehicle while intoxicated and two Mandeville Police officers, after stopping him for careless driving, neglected to remove him from the streets or even issue a citation.

She announced her desire to investigate the event at the July 10 council meeting and was supported by three of her four fellow council members.

Now she’s selected the Hymel Davis & Petersen LLC law firm to conduct an external investigation.

The council will vote on Lenfant’s recommendation at tomorrow night’s meeting.

Lenfant could not be reached for comment before press time yesterday.

Her decision to hire an outside group came after Price drove a city-issued Ford Expedition through a tollbooth barricade on the Causeway and then down a stretch of the bridge with his headlights off. Causeway police stopped him and he admitted to having a few drinks earlier that night, but no citation was issued and Price was picked up and driven home by a relative. Four Causeway officers ultimately lost their jobs because of the incident.

Soon after, Mandeville police officers revealed to Police Chief Tom Buell information on another night when Price was drinking and driving several years ago. Buell said officers stopped Price one night after they witnessed him driving erratically. Instead of issuing a citation, the officers drove Price to City Hall after he requested to be returned there.

Later that night the officers received a call from a concerned gas station attendant, who spotted Price allegedly intoxicated, but they arrived at the station after Price had left.

Price later admitted to the incident, and Buell announced the police department would conduct an internal investigation.

In lieu of these events, Priced relinquished the keys to his city vehicle two weeks ago and enrolled in a 13-week counseling session.