Police say Westmoreland left the scene, but he was detained shortly after. The man, 48-year-old Donnie Cayer, died despite CPR performed on him almost immediately by an off-duty Rapides Parish Sheriff s deputy and a nurse practitioner.
Westmoreland, 60, was arrested on charges of vehicular homicide, hit and run, DWI and limitations on passing bicyclists. He has not been formally charged or indicted, and no court hearings have been scheduled yet.
In a letter dated May 12, the 9th JDC s Chief Judge Mary Lauve Doggett asked the Louisiana Supreme Court to appoint an ad hoc judge in the case.
Westmoreland s attorney, Mike Small, called both the recusals and request for an ad hoc judge completely appropriate under the circumstances.