Sgt. Grant Candies dies in fatal Slidell car chase incident
Fatal Slidell car chase death of Sgt. Grant Candies – Obituary
Sgt. Grant Candies, 37, a deputy with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, tragically lost his life early Sunday morning during a high-speed pursuit. The pursuit, which took place near the Oak Harbor exit of Interstate 10 in Slidell, led to Candies being struck by a vehicle driven by 17-year-old Adrian Waughtal.
Candies, a nine-year veteran of the sheriff’s office and former U.S. Marine, had been attempting to deploy spike strips to stop the fleeing vehicle. He was a devoted public servant, having been named Deputy of the Year in 2023, and leaves behind a wife and two young children. The sheriff’s office announced additional arrests of two 17-year-olds, Mason Paul Eugene Fischer and Michael Emanual Lanier, who are facing first-degree murder charges in connection with the incident.
The pursuit started when deputies attempted to stop a vehicle on Brownswitch Road, but the suspect vehicle fled at high speeds. Witnesses reported the vehicle was speeding, swerving, and traveling at speeds exceeding 85 mph. Sheriff Randy Smith described Candies as “an asset to the department” and urged the community to keep his family and fellow law enforcement officers in their prayers. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests and charges are expected.
