Boutte man arrested after gun incident at gas station

Lack of patience Monday morning led to the arrest of a Boutte man for aggravated assault and simple battery after he allegedly pointed a handgun at a man parked in front of a gasoline pump who did not move on.

Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said the incident started around 10:40 a.m. when Oliver H. Burns, 54, 207 Sam St., Boutte, drove his Ford F-250 pickup truck and car trailer into a gas station at 1833 Old Spanish Trail and pulled in behind a white car parked at a gas pump. Foltz said Burns got out of his truck and approached the white car driven by a 26-year-old male. According to witnesses, Burns said to the victim, “You going to eat lunch or pump gas?”

The victim was talking on his cell phone and motioned to Burns to hold on for a minute. This seemed to enrage Burns, and he allegedly grabbed the victim by the throat and tore the man’s shirt.

Foltz said Burns told police officers, who arrived after the incident, that while he was holding the victim’s throat, he heard the victim yell to his passenger, “get my gun.” Burns retreated to his truck and retrieved his loaded .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun, pointed it at the victim, who drove away and called police.

When police arrived at the gas station, they searched Burns but did not find a gun on his person. Burns told him the weapon was in his truck, and police retrieved the gun. At that point, the victim came back to the gas station. Police searched the victim’s car but could not find a gun. Burns was arrested and charged with aggravated assault and simple battery.

Slidell Police Chief Freddie Drennan was not amused by what had happened and stressed patience.

“I have been preaching this since Hurricane Katrina that everyone needs to have patience, patience, patience,” Drennan said.

Burns was booked and released Monday afternoon on a $1,500 surety bond.