Suspects in 2010 shooting of deputy to be tried separately

There will be four separate trials in regards to an Aug. 16, 2010 incident in which a Washington Parish deputy sheriff was shot and a week-long manhunt for one of the suspects ensued.

Timothy Alford

Timothy Alford, Wade Esteve, Timothy Esteve and Josef Hughes all had pre-trial hearings this past week. Rick Wood of the 22^nd Judicial District Attorney’s office, said the four defendants were severed and that none pled guilty.

Wood said as a result, it is not known which of the four defendants will go on trial on Monday, Aug. 29.

       (Alford has extensive criminal history, see second story)

Alford, who has an extensive criminal history, was charged with attempted first degree murder of a police officer, aggravated obstruction of commerce/roadway, burglary of a business, two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and two counts of simple burglary.

Wade Esteve

Wade Esteve, believed by authorities to have fired at least one round at Pajak, was charged with one count of attempted murder of a police officer. Timothy Esteve and Hughes received lesser charges.

The four are suspected of robbing two Bogalusa used car dealerships — Small Town Motors on Highway 21 and Mill Town Motors on Avenue F — and a residence before they came in contact with Deputy Paul Pajak. About 4 a.m. that morning, Pajak came up on a pickup stopped on Louisiana 60 with its hood up.

Pajak stopped, thinking it was a motorist needing help, stopped. As Pajak approached the vehicle, it drove off with Alford and both of the Esteves in it — leaving Hughes behind.

As Pajak pursued the vehicle, he was fired upon and struck by shot from a shotgun blast. Despite having been hit in the face and a hand, Pajak was able to shoot out one of the tires on the suspect’s vehicle, causing it to crash into a tree.

Assisting officers had taken Hughes into custody and would soon capture the Esteve brothers, but Alford escaped.

Sightings were reported from around the Plainview community throughout the week, yet law enforcement could not locate him despite enlisting the help of tracking dogs and a helicopter.

While the search continued in Washington Parish, law enforcement officers in Hattiesburg, Miss. nabbed Alford during a traffic stop at about 1 a.m. on Aug. 23 and he was subsequently returned to Washington Parish.