Louisiana state senator released from jail

NEW ORLEANS, July 27 (UPI) -- Louisiana state Sen. Derrick Shepherd has been released from the Jefferson Parish Jail after being arrested, officials said.

The Marrero Democrat said the charges resulted because members of his family were threatened and he tried to take action on his own, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported Sunday.

Shepherd was arrested on charges of simple battery, theft and unauthorized entry of a dwelling, WAFB-TV of Baton Rouge, La., reported.

Thaise Ashford, 29, Shepherd's former girlfriend, reported the alleged aggravated burglary early Saturday morning.

She accused Shepherd of breaking into her home, punching her in the stomach and stealing her cellular phone and $100 cash, the station reported.

When Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies secured a search warrant for Shepherd's home and arrived at his home in Gretna, deputies said they found Shepherd on the sofa with a "young female on top of him performing what appeared to be a lap dance."