§1568. Special investigations of fires of suspicious origin

A. The fire marshal shall make or cause to be made a special examination of the circumstances surrounding each fire of suspicious origin and of any fire reported to have been caused by design.

B. In the performance of this duty, the fire marshal or his authorized representative may take or cause to be taken testimony from persons supposed to be cognizant of any fact which may relate to the cause of any fire. To this end, he may secure testimony under oath and have it reduced to writing. In the furtherance of this investigation, the fire marshal or his authorized representative has the power to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum to compel the testimony of witnesses and the production of documents, papers, books, records, and other evidence, and to administer oaths and affirmations to those persons subpoenaed. Any fire marshal employee shall serve any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum directed to him by the fire marshal or his authorized representative.

C. If, after this investigation, the fire marshal or his authorized representative is of the opinion that there is evidence sufficient to charge any person with the crime of arson, he shall have the person arrested and so charged and shall furnish to the district attorney of the judicial district in which the fire occurred all the evidence, together with the names of the witnesses and all the information obtained by him, including a copy of all pertinent and material testimony taken in the case.

D.(1) If any person refuses to obey any such subpoena, to give testimony, or to produce evidence as required thereby, any judge of the district court for the parish of East Baton Rouge may, upon ex parte application and proof of such refusal, make an order awarding process of subpoena or subpoena duces tecum out of the district court for the witness to appear before the fire marshal or his authorized representative and to give testimony and to produce evidence. Upon filing such order in the office of the clerk of the district court, the clerk shall issue process of subpoena, as directed under the seal of the court requiring the person to whom it is directed, to appear at the time and place therein designated.

(2) If any person served with any such subpoena refuses to obey the order and to give testimony and to produce evidence as required by the order, the fire marshal or his authorized representative may apply to any judge of the district court for an attachment against such person for contempt. The judge, upon satisfactory proof of such refusal, may issue an attachment, directed to any sheriff, constable, or law enforcement officer, for the arrest of such person and, upon his being brought before such judge, proceed to a hearing on the matter. The judge shall have the power to enforce obedience to such subpoena, the answering of any question, and the production of any evidence that may be proper, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, by imprisonment, or by both fine and imprisonment, and to compel such witness to pay the costs of such proceeding.

(3) Proceedings held pursuant to the provisions of this Subsection shall be summary in nature.

(4) Any violation of a subpoena issued by the clerk or of any order issued by the judge may be punishable by the judge as contempt.

Amended by Acts 1952, No. 340, §2; Acts 1974, No. 235, §1; Acts 1999, No. 173, §1, eff. June 9, 1999; Acts 2010, No. 822, §1.