Rayne officer charged

Arrest warrants have been issued for a part-time Rayne police officer accused of inappropriate behavior with a minor.
Sheriff Wayne Melancon said Friday that Troy Bryant “Robo” Menard, 46, of the 400 block of Richard Drive in Rayne, is being charged with two counts of sexual battery on a minor, one count of lewd or lascivious acts on a minor and one count of aggravated crime against nature.
The warrants of arrest were issued on Aug. 7. When investigators with the sheriff’s office attempted to execute the warrants earlier this week, they learned that Menard was in ICU in a Lafayette hospital.
Menard is expected to be arrested by law enforcement upon his release from the hospital.
Melancon said the incident originally was reported to his office on Aug. 4 by Rayne Police Chief Carroll Stelly, who requested that the sheriff’s office investigate an incident that had been reported to him but involved one of his officers.
The Louisiana State Police Special Victim’s Unit and St. Landry Office of Child and Family Services assisted with the investigation.
Stelly has told area media that Menard was fired from the police force on Aug. 3.