Following the arrest of the CEO of Cleco Corporate Holdings, LLC last week, News Channel 5 has spoken with Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton to clear up details about the booking process and lack of a mug shot for Darren Olagues.

On Tuesday, KALB’s Brooke Buford submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to Lt. Tommy Carnline, the public information officer for RPSO. The FOIA asked for the mug shots of the 23 people arrested and booked into the parish jail on Dec. 8, the day Olagues was arrested for domestic abuse strangulation, a felony charge.

On Friday, Carnline had told News Channel 5 that the system used for the booking process was not functioning Thursday night, and thus, there was no mug shot for Olagues. However, following the FOIA request, KALB was given a disc containing mug shots of those processed by the jail on Dec. 8. There was no mug shot for Olagues, who was booked that day.

On Wednesday, Sheriff Hilton requested a meeting with Buford and KALB news director Al Quartemont to explain why the mug shot did not exist. The meeting was not recorded on video, though Hilton later said that his comments were on record.

Hilton explained that he received a phone call from Olagues Thursday evening as he was being arrested by Alexandria Police at his home in Alexandria. Hilton said that due to the importance of Cleco’s position in the community, he acted to spare Olagues from having to go through the full booking process that would normally include being held in a jail cell.

“I told (the shift lieutenant), get him in and get him out,” Hilton said.

According to the Rapides Parish Jail booking sheet, Olagues was booked at 11:13 p.m. and released six minutes later on his own recognizance.

Hilton stressed to KALB that he has taken similar actions in the past to help people in similar positions, regardless of their status in the community. He said that he realized his actions may subject him to public criticism, but that he had “big shoulders.”

KALB requested a follow-up, on camera interview with Hilton Thursday, but Hilton declined, saying that he felt his conversation with Buford and Quartemont on Wednesday was sufficient.