At approximately 5:30 a.m. on the morning of January 17, 2017 a Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office (RRPSO) deputy was dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of Hwy 507 in reference to a reported burglary. The complainant discoveredthat three motorcycle dirt bikes had been stolen from his workshop at his residence. After performing the initial investigation, the responding deputy referred the case to the Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division.
During the course of the investigation, on February 6, 2017, a Louisiana State Trooper initiated a traffic stop on a dirt bike traveling on I-49 in Desoto Parish. The motorcycle was subsequently confirmed as one of the three stolen from Red River Parish. The operator, identified as Alvin Thomas of Mansfield, LA, was placed under arrest and booked into the DeSoto Parish Detention Center. Additional suspects were identified following this arrest.
On March 9, 2017, the motorcycle ownercontacted Red River Sheriff’s investigators with possible information concerning the bikes. While searching various swap shops online, he observed what appeared to be his missing two bikes posted for sale near Livingston, TX. Red River investigators immediately contacted the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for assistance. Later the same day, Polk County detectives positively identified and recovered the remaining two motorcycles at a private residence in Livingston, TX. RRPSO investigators, along with the owner of the motorcycles traveled to Texas the same evening and transported them back to Red River Parish. The recovery led to additional information regarding the original suspects.
On March 22, 2017, Anthony B. Caldwell, B/M, age 26 of the 700 block of Cumming St., Coushatta, LA was placed under arrest and charged with two counts of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. Caldwell was also linked to a separate burglary at a residence on LA 514 near Womack in which a blue Raptor 750 4-wheeler was stolen. This ATV has not yet been recovered. Caldwell posted a $10,000 bond on March 23, 2017 and was released pending a trial date.
Following the arrest of Caldwell, arrest warrants were secured for three additional suspects involved in the theft of the dirt bikes. The following were taken into custody without incident.
On March 27, 2017, Kenny W. Smith Jr., B/M, age 22 of the 200 block of Springville Rd., Coushatta, LA was charged with Simple Burglary and Theft over $750 but less than $5,000. His bond was set at $20,000 and he remains incarcerated.
On March 28, 2017, Kendale D. Ardison, B/M, age 22 of the 500 block of Jim Moore Rd., Coushatta, LA was charged with Simple Burglary and Theft over $750 but less than $5,000. He posted a $10,000 bond on March 23, 2017 and was released pending a trial date.
On March 28, 2017, Jarius Miller, B/M, age 18 of the 600 block of Almond Rd., Coushatta, LA was charged with Simple Burglary and Theft over $750 but less than $5,000. On March 29, 2017 he posted a $3,000 bond and was released pending a trial date.
Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of the stolen 4-wheeler, or any other ATV/UTV in which the origin is questionable, is asked to contact the RRPSO Criminal Investigations Division at 318-932-6701.
