Officers accused of taking $2,000

• By KIMBERLY VETTER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Nov 6, 2009 - Page: 1A

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ST. GABRIEL, La. — Two St. Gabriel police officers who investigated a fatal car crash in August took $2,000 from the body of the man killed in the wreck, authorities said.

A tip from a disgruntled girlfriend of one of the police officers led State Police to the Thursday arrest of Keith Snowten, 23, of St. Gabriel, and Rodrick Wesley, 32, of Bayou Goula, St. Gabriel Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said.

The men were booked into Iberville Parish Prison on one count each of theft and malfeasance in office.

“These two officers committed the worst crime that they could have committed,” Ambeau said. “They violated public trust, and in doing so, they disgraced the badge.”

The theft occurred Aug. 8 when Snowten and Wesley responded to the accident in St. Gabriel, said Trooper Russell Graham II, a State Police spokesman.

Snowten allegedly took $2,000 from the wallet of the victim, then gave half of the money to Wesley, Graham said.

Both officers admitted during interviews with investigators to taking the money.

State Police began looking into the incident three weeks ago when Ambeau notified them about the allegations, Graham said.

Ambeau said the allegations first came from Charles Dwayne Rachal, the brother of the victim, James Darrin Rachal, 40, who died in the crash on La. 74.

Rachal commented in the Iberville Parish Coroner’s Office about the lack of money in his brother’s wallet when he went to pick it up shortly after the wreck, Ambeau said.

The comment got back to Ambeau, who said he questioned Snowten about the missing money.

Snowten denied seeing any cash in the wallet, Ambeau said.

The second allegation came almost two months later from Snowten’s girlfriend after the couple had an argument, Ambeau said.