HOUMA POLICE 6/18

Sgt Dana Coleman of the Houma Police Department says his

officers had to use a taser in order to subdue a suspect

during a stabbing yesterday afternoon, which left two

victims in their 70s with moderate injuries, and the suspect

facing two counts of attempted 1st degree murder.

Around 2pm, Coleman said officers received a call about

a stabbing on Engeron Street.

As officers responded to the residence, officers found

a 78 year old male victim and a 72 year old female victim

suffering from multiple stab wounds to their upper torso area.

Officers also located a male subject, who they later identified

as 49 year old Harlan Becnel, who was standing outside

the residence in the back yard

with a knife.

As the investigation continued, officers learned that Harlan got

into a fight inside the residence, and stabbed the man

and woman before going outside in the bak yard.

While outside the residence, Houma Police officers

were involved in a brief standoff with Harlan Becnel,

who refused to comply with their demands to drop

the knife and surrender to authorities.

With Becnel's continuous refusal to comply with

officers’ demands, the Houma Police Department’s

Critical Incident Response Team (C.I.R.T.) were contacted.

They deployed a flash sound diversionary device,

which ultimately distracted Becnel. The taser was deployed.

Harlan Becnel was arrested for 2-cts Attempted 1st Degree Murder.

The two victims were transported to a local medical facility to be treated for their injuries.