Recent arrests have put the brakes on a siege of shootings, car thefts and burglaries, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said Monday in a news release.
Four people were arrested Monday by Eunice Police in connection with a recent rash of motor vehicle thefts and one of those arrested is the mother of a juvenile who was being sought, he said.
The four people arrested were identified by Eunice Police as:
— Antoine McKoy, East Wilson Street, Ville Platte, who was charged with three counts of motor vehicle theft, theft of a firearm and illegal possession of stolen things.
— A juvenile of Eunice who was arrested on warrants and charged with resisting an officer, two counts illegal possession of stolen things and theft of a motor vehicle.
— Victoria Thomas, South Bulah Street, Eunice, who was arrested on a warrant charging her with accessory after the fact of a motor vehicle theft.
Christopher Lewis, Harold Street, Eunice, who was arrested for obstruction of justice.
Fontenot said as of Monday 15 arrests — two juveniles and 13 adults — have been made. Arrest warrants were outstanding for three more juveniles, he said.
Charges range from attempted first-degree murder, illegal possession of weapons, burglary, attempted second-degree murder, trespassing, second-degree robbery, aggravated battery, possession of narcotics and contributing to the delinquency, he said.
“Victoria Thomas is the mother of one of the juveniles and her arrest was the result of her failing to provide police with the information of the whereabouts of her child for which police had an outstanding felony arrest warrant,” Fontenot said.
“This should be a warning to parents. Police are warning parents that aiding and assisting your children with their delinquent acts and crimes or failing to properly supervise or knowing the whereabouts of your children can result in the parent’s arrest,” he said.
Fontenot added, “If your child becomes an offender and you, as the parent, do not take the responsibility of doing the right thing, we will not hesitate to hold you responsible.”
Since the arrests, Fontenot said, “... the shooting incidents, car thefts and burglaries have come to a near screeching halt.”
The crime spree, occurring primarily in June, prompted Eunice Police to create two street crime response teams, he said.
St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s patrols were also increased in June following two shootings on June 6 that injured three people including a 7-year-old boy on East Maple Avenue near Golden Seafood.
The arrests resulted in one inmate being beaten by three other inmates in the Eunice City Jail the night of July 5, Fontenot said.
The incident involved people arrested in the recent roundup of street crime suspects, he said.
An inmate who was sleeping was attacked and required emergency surgery, he said.
Police believe two of the attackers used pieces of concrete from the jail to strike victim. The concrete chunks were wrapped in socks, Fontenot said and resulted in two of attackers being charged with aggravated assualt.
Arrested on July 5 in the jailhouse attack were:
— Gemario Joseph, 19, 500 South Mallet Street, Eunice. Two counts of simple battery and aggravated battery.
— Braylon Johnson, 17, 2700 block of Charming River Drive, Spring, Texas. Three counts of simple battery.
— Sidney Hills, 19, 200 block of Goldman, Eunice. Simple battery and aggravated battery.
Police; Arrests put a brake on shootings, car thefts and burglaries
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