An armed man was arrested on campus Thursday by United States marshals after a car chase that started at the Paul Hebert Law Center and ended in a parking lot near the French House.
US Attorney David Dugas identified the man as Wayne Palmer who had previously been arrested for threatening a court officer in October 2003. Dugas said no official charges have been filed pending an investigation by the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.
A conference was held Thursday for the Federal Bar Association at the Law Center and US Marshals were present to provide security since federal judges were speaking.
Dugas said a marshal recognized Palmer outside of the Law Center and approached him to ask him why he was there.
“The situation escalated, [Palmer] drove off,” and the marshals followed him, Dugas said.
Will Hennegan, a computer science senior, said he saw the end of the chase from a window in Grace King Hall where he works for Residential Life.
Hennegan said he heard sirens, looked out the window and saw a Toyota Four Runner turn east from Highland Road onto South Campus Drive followed by several unmarked cars with police sirens.
Hennegan said the SUV pulled into the driveway next to the French House and the police cars surrounded the vehicle.
After the car was surrounded, Hennegan said the officers drew their guns and banged on the window until the door was open and pulled Palmer out of the car.
Hennegan said Palmer seemed to be resisting arrest and attempting to flee, and the officers pulled him to the ground and arrested him.
Hennegan described Palmer as a well-dressed black male about six feet tall.
Dugas said a gun was found in Palmer’s possession but he was not sure if he was carrying it or if it was in his vehicle.
LSUPD Maj. Ricky Adams said LSUPD responded to the scene and took Palmer into their custody because the US Marshals do not have facilities to detain someone.
Adams also said Palmer had hit a US Marshal vehicle and that LSUPD responded to the wreck.
According to a 2003 Advocate report, Palmer had sued the Louisiana Department of Insurance over a dispute about a claim from a wreck in which he was involved.
US District Judge Frank Polozola dismissed the lawsuit, where Palmer had represented himself, citing difficulty in understanding the complaint.
A week later, while a court clerk was explaining to Palmer his options, he became irate.
When asked to leave the courtroom,  Palmer threatened court security officer William Thomas, and was later arrested.
Another judge dismissed the arrest, deciding Palmer was not competent to stand trial.
Dugas confirmed that Polozola was present at the conference yesterday morning, but said he did not speak.
US District Judge Kurt Engelhardty and US District Judge Lee Rosenthal spoke at the conference Thursday afternoon. He also said their names were listed on a Web site.
“I don’t have any information that he had threatened anyone or posed an imminent threat,” Dugas said.