ASCENSION PARISH - Deputies said an Ascension councilman was issued summonses after an investigation showed he allegedly submitted public records requests under the name of the parish president. 

The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that deputies began investigating reports of a person impersonating a high-ranking public official in early September. The investigation showed this person filed multiple public records requests under the name of Ascension President Clint Cointment. 

Further investigation led the sheriff's office to identify the individual as Parish Councilman Aaron Lawler. Lawler reportedly used personal devices to submit the requests under Cointment's name. 

Lawler met with sheriff's office detectives Wednesday and was issued misdemeanor summonses for one count of online impersonation and one count of identity theft. 

Deputies did not specify what the public records requests entailed. 

The APSO issued the following press release Wednesday morning:

According to Sheriff Bobby Webre, on Friday, September, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office began investigating reports of a subject impersonating a high-ranking public official by filing online public records requests with the Ascension Parish Government. During their investigation, deputies identified the subject as Parish Councilman Aaron Lawler, who used his personal electronic device to submit public records requests under the name of Parish President Clint Cointment. On Wednesday, November 15, Lawler met with APSO detectives and was issued a misdemeanor summons for the following charges: one count of online impersonation and one count of identity theft. This is an ongoing investigation; further details may be limited at this time.