Man killed in police-involved shooting was arrested twice while on probation

(KLFY)– A KLFY News 10 investigation into the man killed in a police-involved shooting in Lafayette Parish this week is raising more questions than answers. News 10 combed through court and probation records and tracked down the 51-year-old Tony Pollard‘s movements since his parole and release from state prison after 20 years.

News 10 found several issues. Pollard was killed by Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office officers on Wednesday as officers attempted to arrest him for several violent crimes he allegedly committed last week.

However, News 10 found that Pollard had violated his probation twice before the attempted arrest. Why wasn’t he sent back to state prison after two arrests while on probation?

Pollard’s criminal record began in 1988, when he was 17 years old. Between then and 2002, Pollard was arrested eight times in Lafayette Parish on charges including theft and simple burglary.

In 2003, Pollard was convicted in another community of numerous charges, including armed robbery, and received a 48-year prison sentence, most of which he served at Angola and then at the Raymond Laborde Correctional Center until he became eligible for parole in February 2022.

News 10 followed the parole hearing.

“Were drugs a reason for all these break-ins and everything?” a parole board member asked Pollard.

“No, sir, not for this last charge,” Pollard replied. “The last charge, I was in a tight financial bind. I had to provide for my family. I had no choice but to make the wrong decision, and that’s what I did.”

Another board member later asks him which drug he chose, and Pollard says: cocaine.

The parole board decided to release Pollard on parole after serving only 20 years of his 48-year sentence, on the condition that he complete a drug rehabilitation program.

“I will vote to allow him to attend Living in Balance courses one and two before his release, on the condition that he complete them. He is considered low risk. He is receiving some good programs and has good support from his family,” the parole board member said.

Just months after being released from state prison on parole, Pollard is arrested in Lafayette Parish in 2022 for theft of less than $1,000. A year later, in 2023, he is arrested again for second-degree assault, but pleads guilty to an amended charge of disturbing the peace.

Both times he served less than a month in the Lafayette Parish prison.

Pollard does not appear on law enforcement’s radar again until July 4, 2024. A Carencro man said Pollard broke into his home and robbed him at gunpoint.

According to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, Pollard also committed several other violent crimes in the days that followed, leading to the warrant being issued for his arrest on Wednesday.

LPSO officers found him on Wagon Trail Road. According to LPSO, officers responded with deadly force after Pollard allegedly threatened them.

Why wasn’t Pollard sent back to state prison after being arrested twice while on parole? Why wasn’t his parole revoked? Were additional precautions taken to protect the public?

News 10 is still waiting for answers.

During this investigation, News 10 also received information that Pollard may have been under house arrest and wearing an ankle bracelet that he broke. News 10 was unable to verify this information in public documents, but we have contacted Pollard’s probation officer.

She did not answer our questions and referred us to a spokesperson for the Louisiana Department of Public Safety. He said they would have answers by next week.

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