Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Gerald Sticker has fired a deputy following a use-of-force incident in Ponchatoula.
Randall Kelley joined the agency in February 2024. He previously worked for the agency from March 2020 to May 2022.
On Monday, August 5, Kelley was dispatched to a home on Happywoods Road in support of the Ponchatoula Police Department to investigate a threat. During the response, Kelley entered the home and subdued an individual. Kelley arrested the man on four counts of resisting arrest. The incident was captured on surveillance video and then shared on social media.
As soon as TPSO learned of the incident, Sheriff Gerald Sticker removed Kelley from the scene, stripped him of his assignment, equipment, and unit, and placed him on administrative leave as a full investigation was immediately launched.
The investigation ended Tuesday afternoon with Kelley’s dismissal. Further action is currently being considered.
The man arrested during the incident has been released from jail and efforts are underway to have the charges dropped.
“As I said, this agency deserves better and this community deserves better. The actions of this one deputy do not reflect the standards I have set nor the genuine positive experiences our men and women provide with our residents every day.”
Sheriff Sticker also encourages the public to report unsatisfactory encounters directly to our agency so they can be properly investigated.
