By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office filed a number of charges in several cases investigated by their detective’s division this month. Four-wheeler recovered

Four people were arrested in regards to a stolen four-wheeler in the parish, according to Keith Dupre, chief of detectives for the sheriff’s office. He said the sheriff’s office was notified Thursday, November 6, that a Honda Foreman four-wheeler 450S had been taken from Forestry Road, which is located outside Pine Prairie. He said the information included a description of two subjects on the back of the bike riding toward the Turkey Creek area. Later, Dupre and Detective Kevin Tate received additional information which led them to Matthew Deville, 17 (dob 6-12-91), of Pine Prairie and a 16-year-old male juvenile.

“On November 8, we picked up Matthew Deville and brought him to the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office,” Dupre said. “Prior to that, he brought us to the location where he had last put the four wheeler off the Crooked Creek Parkway.”

Both Deville and the juvenile were charged with theft of a four-wheeler. Dupre said the juvenile was released to his parents.

“The next day, we received a phone call a bike had been located off Redlich Road, down a gravel road,” Dupre said. “The bike was set on fire.” He said it was obvious the tires and rims on the bike had been removed before the fire was started. He said investigators knew their two suspects were not responsible for setting the bike on fire because they had been in jail.

The detectives’ investigation led them to Sebastian “Lil Subby” Santoro, 18 (dob 9-7-90), whose last known address was 1201 Tom Drive, Ville Platte, and Milton “Tennessee” Wendt, 29 (dob 12-13-78), 645 E. Pinhook, Sparta, Tennessee. They believe the two men were responsible for taking the rims and tires and setting the bike on fire. On November 9, they recovered the rims and tires.

Dupre said Wendt moved here a few months ago. He left the area and authorities discovered Wendt had been arrested in White County, Tennessee, where he was wanted in an investigation for several burglaries and for a probation violation. When Wendt completes his obligations to Tennessee, Dupre said he will be returned here to face charges in this case. Both Santoro and Wendt ware being charged with theft of the four-wheelers’ tires and rims and arson for intentionally setting the fire.

Missing guns discovered

Dupre said as he questioned Matthew Deville in the four wheeler case, he learned Deville allegedly tried to sell a pistol, which was stolen. He recovered a pistol and shotgun in this investigation and learned the pistol was taken from a vehicle belonging to a person camping at Crooked Creek

Dupre said he contacted Chester Granger, who is in charge of the campgrounds for the police jury. He said Granger learned there was a person who reported a gun missing from his truck.

In the case of the shotgun, Dupre said he learned it was taken from a mechanic shop in Pine Prairie. He contacted the Pine Prairie Police Department who went to the shop and learned one of his customers had a shotgun missing. The owner of the shotgun had not made a report because he did not think it would be located.

Sheriff Eddie Soileau reminds residents to report missing items. He said if authorities do not know they are missing, they can’t find them. “It’s not all the time we find stolen items, but at least report it,” he said.

Through this investigation, Dupre said authorities learned Deville also was responsible for setting a fire at Crooked Creek and throwing a five-gallon butane bottle into the fire. Deville allegedly cracked open the bottle to allow butane to escape before throwing it into the fire. He also allegedly threw a bike, belonging to one of the campers, into the fire. As a result of this investigation, Dupre said additional charges of theft and criminal damage to property are being filed against Deville.

Cleco’s supplies go missing

The sheriff’s office was notified Thursday, November 20, by a Cleco worker that items laying on the side of the road, belonging to the company had been taken. Dupre said there was a 40-foot telephone pole and a 35-foot pole along with other supplies laying on the side of the road. The worker went to the area and noticed the items were missing. Approximately one mile down the road, the worker discovered the items. A man was putting up a fence and had already cut-up the material, which was clearly marked with Cleco’s name and large numbers.

As a result of this complaint and investigation, Dupre said Brandon Louis Thompson, 28, 277 Louis Laird Road, Oakdale, was booked into the parish jail on charges of illegal possession of stolen items.

Marijuana recovered

Dupre and Detective Stanley Washington received information Wednesday, November 19, indicating a vehicle with two occupants had several bags of marijuana to sell. They located the vehicle on East Wilson and attempted to make a traffic stop. Washington was approaching the vehicle on foot when it sped away. He jumped back into Dupre’s unit and they chased the vehicle to the end of the block where a black male, carrying an orange Nike® shoe box, jumped from the passenger’s door at the corner of Chataignier and Wilson streets and began running.

Washington began a foot chase while Dupre went around the block to stop the suspect from leaving the area. The Ville Platte Police Department and sheriff’s deputies, along with Sheriff Eddie Soileau, also joined in the chase.

The suspect lost his shoes during the chase, and officers found a set of footprints going under a house. They looked under the house, but the suspect was not there. However, they discovered the orange box and it was filled with marijuana. He said inside the box, there were 19 bags of marijuana and a box of sandwich bags.

“We stayed in the area until Stanley noticed the suspect jumping fences,” Dupre said. “He (Stanley) and Officer Chip Pitre began a foot pursuit.”

Dupre headed around the block and they were able to apprehend the suspect, who was identified as Fabian C. Albert, 23 (dob 2-25-85), Ville Platte. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana.

He was booked into the parish jail, where a probation hold was issued for him.

One charged for breaking window

David Shane Glazner, 26 (dob 8-7-82) of Pine Prairie was charged with simple battery and criminal damage to property for allegedly punching a vehicle’s window out Tuesday, October 21.

Dupre said there was a child in a car seat in the back, and the child sustained cuts to the face. “Nothing was life threatening, but Acadian Ambulance was called to check on the child. It could have been worse if the glass had flown into the baby’s face.”

Glazner was charged with simple battery and criminal damage to property.