Livingston Sheriff Jason Ard urges persons in an abusive relationship to have a restraining protection order in place. Authorities say 43-year-old Ricardo Diaz shot and killed 31-year-old Lydia Johnson in Walker, then led police on a chase to the Mississippi River Bridge and jumped. Both left behind seven children. Ard says sadly this case ended in tragedy even with a protective order in place, but it normally gives police an extra layer of defense.
Although human behavior is unpredictable, Ard says that a restraining order would give police "probable cause" to make an arrest.
Ard says there are times even when a restraining order is in place, the victim becomes too scared to notify police if the person they are trying to avoid continues to harass them.
Ard encourages anyone in an abusive relationship to work closely with them in putting measures in place to help prevent tragedies such as what occurred this week.
Ard explains that a victim filing a restraining order lets law enforcement know that the vixcim is "taking a strong stance against" domestic violence.