Police say governor’s mansion burglar found asleep on couch; no details on how man breached security

Published 8:22 am Tuesday, April 23, 2019

The Louisiana State Police on Monday revealed an extraordinary security breach at the Governor’s Mansion, saying they had arrested a man last week who trespassed into the building and damaged property before falling asleep on a couch.

Reynard Green, 34, of Baton Rouge was booked Wednesday on counts including simple burglary, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property. It was not immediately clear whether he had an attorney.

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux said booking records showed Green was found asleep on a couch and had broken an antique wooden table. Gautreaux said booking records referred to the location of the incident only as a “governmental building.”

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State Police spokesman J.B. Slaton said Green also had assaulted two law enforcement officers after being taken to a police headquarters.

“He actually tried to disarm one of the officers,” Gautreaux said, adding officials also found suspected narcotics on Green after patting him down.

Booking records show Green was found asleep before 6 a.m. The records say he was placed in leg shackles as he was “becoming extremely violent.”

Few details of what happened were immediately available. Slaton said that while the breach remains under investigation, authorities are reviewing security protocols at the mansion “for potential areas of improvement.”

The Governor’s Mansion is enclosed by a tall iron fence, with only one entrance gate, and is supposed to be guarded by state troopers whenever the governor is there.

Authorities wouldn’t immediately comment on whether Gov. John Bel Edwards or his family were in the mansion at the time. A spokesman for the governor referred comment to the State Police.