On Friday, March 7, 2014, at 4:13 pm, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives received information that prompted detectives to initiate an investigation on the unauthorized use of St. John the Baptist Parish Public Works’ tools. Over the course of the investigation, detectives determined that Andre Swafford, a Public Works employee, used Public Works’ power tools for three transactions on December 23, 2013 and January 10, 2014 at a LaPlace pawnshop to secure cash loans. Swafford’s actions were taken without the authorization from St. John the Baptist Parish Public Works.
Detectives obtained a judicial court ordered arrest warrant for Andre Swafford, 44, of Yorktowne Drive in LaPlace. Swafford was arrested on Monday, March 10, and was booked with three counts of unauthorized use of a movable. He bonded out of jail on a $7,500 bond.
Swafford was arrested thirteen times in St. John the Baptist Parish since August 1992 which included a drug arrest and second-degree murder arrest.