New details about the arrest of a woman accused of running into and killing a Jefferson Parish motorcycle deputy last month.
Erica Smythe Katsanis is facing a vehicular homicide charge in the death of Christopher Ohlmeyer, and New Orleans police say the drugs in her system contributed to that deadly crash.
"There was no braking on the part of the driver," NOPD Captain Anthony Micheu said. "The speed was where (it) ejected all of the airbags in the car. The officer landed on the hood and then on the ground."
Micheu did not say what drugs the toxicology report said were in Katsansis's system, but he said she ignored the warning labels for those drugs. He also noted that further toxicology reports are pending. Those tests, he said, could show other drugs were in Katsansis's system.
"It could be a host of prescription (drugs), or it may not be prescription medication based on what she was prescribed," Micheu said. "Amphetamines and stuff like that do hamper you."
According to Micheu, the crash could have been prevented if the driver had heeded the warning labels on some of those drugs.
"In that toxicology report, it definitely played a key factor," Micheu said. "Some of these drugs that we know of that were in her system, they increase your blood pressure. They increase your anxiety. They basically make you tired, dizzy, (and) disordered."
Micheu says this case serves as a cautionary tale to anyone who thinks they can drive without issue while on medications.
"The legal risks are also associated on those particular labels," Micheu said. "There's legal risk. You can still be charged (by) operating a vehicle on those medications if not properly taken."
Micheu defended the investigators who worked the case against claims they took too long to make an arrest. Micheu said those officers did their due diligence to get the facts of the case.
"Vehicle imaging was done," Micheu said. "Our reconstructionists go through all the details and measurements. Timelines, drones, everything is done to corroborate with the video evidence and the eyewitness support. We can't just trust one element of an investigation. These detectives know they (have to) go through everything. They consult. They look. They review, and that's what takes time. We don't rush to judgment."