Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies have arrested two men in connection with a business burglary in Fairview Alpha according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

On Saturday morning, December 16, 2023, at approximately 3:00am, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau and Red River Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to NATCOM 911 Center reports of a business burglary alarm in progress at Mike’s Water Wells and Gun Shop located in the 400 block of US-71 in Fairview Alpha.

NATCOM 911 Center made contact with the business owner informing him of the alarm. A short while later, the owner viewing his business surveillance system returned a call to the sheriff’s office reporting that an unidentified person was inside the business armed with a firearm.

Deputies arrived on scene, discovering a door forced open on the backside of the business.
Deputies made entry into the business and cleared it for suspects. The suspects fled prior to law enforcement arrival.

Deputies say while speaking with the business owner, they allowed him to inventory the business for any stolen items.

Items taken in the burglary were several firearms, accessories and parts valued at approximately $5000.00 dollars.

Deputies began to photograph, process and collect evidence at the crime scene.

A detective assigned to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau responded to assist in the investigation.
While processing the crime scene, deputies obtained valuable information from a concerned citizen reporting observing a suspicious gray Ford F-150 parked near the business during the time of the burglary. Shortly after observing the vehicle, the concerned citizen informed deputies it left the area. The concerned citizen followed the vehicle for a short distance.

Deputies continued the investigation throughout the night with assistance from the business owner by reviewing video surveillance and combing the area for the suspect vehicle.

As the investigation progressed shortly after 6am, that morning, based on investigative sources and assistance from the business owner, deputies observed a gray Ford F-150 pickup truck traveling on St. Luke Church Road near Natchitoches.

Deputies then observed the vehicle parked near a RV trailer in the 100 block of St. Luke Church Road.
Deputies say as they were approaching the vehicle, they observed a male, exiting woods behind the RV.
Deputies identified the male as being 33-year-old Christian R. Bush of Campti, La. with a prior history involving burglaries and thefts.

Deputies also observed items in plain view in the rear bed of truck believed to have been stolen in the burglary.

Deputies asked Bush where he was coming from? He responded Campti.

Detectives say Bush admitted to his alleged involvement in the burglary and led them to an abandoned house in the 3700 block of La. Hwy 480. There they recovered several long guns and firearm accessories.
Detectives then began to focus on an additional suspect identified in the investigation as 20-year-old George Pierce of the 3600 block of La. Hwy 480, Campti with a prior history of burglaries and thefts.
Deputies went to Pierce’s residence where he was arrested without incident.

Both Bush and Pierce were transported to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau for interview purposes.

During the interview, detectives learned that another stolen firearm was located in the RV trailer on St. Luke Church Road.

Deputies obtained two search warrants signed by a 10th Judicial District Court Judge to search the RV trailer and Ford F-150 pickup truck.

During the search of the RV trailer and vehicle, deputies recovered a stolen firearm, 2-grams of suspected marijuana and 11-suspected ecstasy tablets at approximately 12:00pm.

All stolen property was recovered.

As a result:
*Christian R. Bush, 33, of Campti was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 1-Count of Aggravated Burglary, 1-Count of Possession of MDMA (Ecstasy) and 1-Count of Possession of CDS I Marijuana.

*George Pierce, 20, of Campti was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 1-Count of Aggravated Burglary, 1-Count of Failure to Appear in Caddo Parish.
Both Bush and Pierce remain in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center.

Sheriff Stuart Wright commends the business owner for his assistance throughout the investigation, the concerned citizen who saw something suspicious and reported it and to all the deputies that took part in this investigation which consisted of several factors that led to the apprehension of two suspects and the recovery of stolen firearms.”

**All Persons are Presumed Innocent until Proven Guilty in the Court of Law or Administrative Process**

Involved in the investigation were: Lt. J. Byles, and NPSO Patrol Shifts “A” & “C”.