Devin Boutte Obituary, Death News – A St. Gabriel police officer who was found dead in his home over the weekend had allegedly been involved in a personal relationship with his accused killer and had supplied him with drugs to sell in the community, according to Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi.
The officer, Devin Boutte, was discovered dead early Sunday. Police Chief Kevin Ambeau said that Warren Mitchell III, the man now accused of killing Boutte, contacted him after a confrontation between the two men. Mitchell had been arrested on June 12 for simple robbery. Sheriff Stassi explained that Mitchell felt trapped in the relationship with Boutte and was looking for a way out.
Following Mitchell’s robbery arrest, Boutte reportedly went to the store that had been robbed, reimbursed the owner, and asked them to drop the charges against Mitchell. Authorities believe that not long after this, Mitchell fatally attacked Boutte while he was asleep, stabbing him multiple times in both the front and back. Stassi said Mitchell left the knife in Boutte’s body before leaving the scene.
After the killing, Mitchell went to a nearby gas station and informed someone there about what had happened, effectively turning himself in.
According to a statement from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation had recently launched an inquiry into possible police corruption in St. Gabriel at the request of Sheriff Stassi. However, with Boutte’s death, that investigation has now been turned over to the Iberville Sheriff’s Office as a homicide case.
Court records reveal details about Mitchell’s prior arrest. During the June 12 incident, he reportedly entered a truck stop and asked a clerk for \$40, stating he wasn’t robbing the place but still requesting money. He was arrested and held on a \$7,000 bond. He was also booked as a fugitive due to an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court on a second-degree battery charge dating back to April. Bond for that separate charge was set at \$20,000.
Sheriff Stassi noted that he had requested outside agencies to investigate Boutte’s conduct approximately a week before the officer’s death, indicating possible concerns about Boutte’s involvement in illegal activity.
Boutte’s case adds to a string of issues involving St. Gabriel officers in recent months. One officer was dismissed following accusations of domestic abuse, while another former officer was accused of pawning department-issued firearms while working for the New Roads Police Department.
As the investigation into Boutte’s death and his alleged drug activities continues, law enforcement officials say they are working to uncover the full scope of misconduct within the department and bring accountability to those involved.
