Two Madison Parish Hospital officials were arrested on March 27 for trying to interfere with an arrest that took place at the hospital on March 14.
Dr. Kerry Sterling, who was working as an emergency room doctor at the hospital, was arrested on March 14. According to reports, the Sheriff's Office was contacted by the US Marshal Service who requested assistance with the arrest. Sterling was wanted out of Jefferson Parish and charged with Accessory after the fact to Manslaughter and Tampering with an Electronic Surveillance Monitor.
Madison Parish Hospital Interim CEO Dr. Satira Perry and Director of Nursing Susie Gaines were arrested by the Madison Parish Sheriff's Office on March 27 for trying to interfere with the arrest. They were charged with "resisting an officer," which is a misdemeanor and bonded out shortly after they were arrested on March 27.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty.
The arrest came less than three weeks before the scheduled hearing to determine whether the hospital will have a fiscal administrator. However, the arrest is unrelated to the matter involving a fiscal administrator.
The State Fiscal Review Committee unanimously made the decision at a hearing at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2024, to appoint attorney Landon Tooke as the hospital's fiscal administrator. Tooke is the chief operating officer and chief compliance officer at Impact Healthcare Solutions, based in Ruston. As fiscal administrator, Tooke will replace the board and will set direction for the hospital CEO. Perry is the Interim CEO.
The hospital challenged the ruling, so a hearing will be held in front of retired Judge Alonzo Harris in the Madison Parish Courthouse on April 14 and 15. Harris will make the decision on whether the hospital will have a fiscal administrator.
The arrests of Perry and Gaines are not related to the matter involving a potential fiscal administrator at the hospital.
