NOLA.com8%
Woman arraigned in death of JPSO motorcycle deputy during funeral procession 6%
By Matt Bruce37%
7/23/2026, 2:00:00 AM
Keywords: Hardwall
BS Summary: This article contains 6 faulty reasoning types, including Unattributed Quote, Negativity Bias, and Self-Serving Bias, with Biased Writer Voice as the most egregious example at 20.7% saturation with 57 hits. Analysis detected 153 faulty-reasoning hits from 275 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 22.3% and a BS Rank of 6% (20,588 of 21,887 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 94.10% of the article peer group.
A New Orleans woman pleaded not guilty Wednesday to an indictment charging her with vehicular homicide over the death of Jefferson Parish motorcycle deputy Christopher Paul Ohlmeyer in January.
An Orleans Parish grand jury returned the indictment July 2 against Erica Smith-Katsanis, 53.
She faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the felony charge.
NOPD officials said Ohlmeyer, a 14-year JPSO veteran, was working an off-duty detail leading a funeral procession through the Hollygrove corridor on Jan. 30 when Smith-Katsanis slammed her 2022 Lexus sedan into the rear of his motorcycle shortly before noon in the 9200 block of Airline Highway.
Investigators said she never hit the brakes before impact that launched the deputy from his motorcycle.
He died at an area hospital.
NOPD booked Smith-Katsanis Feb. 25 on suspicion of vehicular homicide.
A magistrate commissioner set her bond at $200,000 and barred her from driving.
Smith-Katsanis remained free for her arraignment Wednesday, when her defense attorney, Brian Capitell, filed several pre-trial motions, including petitions to suppress evidence.
Criminal District Judge Kimya Holmes set an Aug. 19 hearing date.
According to the police affidavit, Smith-Katsanis said she didn't see anything in front of her prior to the impact and was "unsure of what she had hit."
Detectives said she showed signs of impairment during an interview at the hospital, where she was treated after being struck in the face with airbags.
Toxicology results show she tested positive for 11 prescription medications, including amphetamine and clonazepam.
Capitelli said in court in February that all of the medications in her system were prescribed.
Analysis
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