Two Opelousas men have been arrested and each charged with seven felony theft counts involving the theft of four-wheelers many in the Eunice area.
Several complaints of four-wheeler thefts along La. 758 in the Eunice area were received on June 3, according to a news release from Sheriff Bobby Guidroz.
Guidroz identified those arrested as Trudareyian Andrus, 22, 400 block of East Jefferson Street, Opelousas; and Phillip Washington Jr., 22, 1500 block of Pujo Street, Opelousas.
Bail was set at $5,000 for each man.
Detectives from Opelousas and Eunice officers began speaking to witnesses and obtaining video surveillance from businesses and residents.
“During the investigation, detectives were able to identify several persons of interest from the Opelousas area. While detectives in the Eunice continued gathering evidence, the Opelousas investigators began conducting surveillance on a location of interest,” he stated.
On June 5, investigators spotted a stolen four-wheeler, he stated.
“Investigators with the assistance of the patrol division were able to secure the location and take two suspects into custody. During the investigation, detectives were able to recover a total of seven stolen ATVs, three of which had been taken from the Eunice area. Investigators also linked the suspects to at least two ATV thefts in the Opelousas area,” Guidroz stated.
The investigation is continuing and more arrests are likely, he stated.
“The sheriff would like all citizens of St. Landry Parish to know that he is committed to the safety of the parish as a whole and will provide additional manpower and recourses too quickly resolve crimes of this magnitude in any area of the parish. Sheriff Guidroz also praised the community for their assistance and cooperation in this and all investigations and thanked the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry for their assistance,” the news release stated.