Martrell LaShawn Tuco, 38, of LaPlace was arrested April 18, 2024 after he started a fire in a bathroom of a LaPlace business.
On Tuesday, April 16th, 2024, about 8 p.m., officers responded to a business in the 100 block of Belle Terre Boulevard in LaPlace in reference to a fire. Upon arrival, officers and St. John Parish St. John Firefighters Association Local 4784 observed a fire in a bathroom. St. John firefighters immediately extinguished the fire. No one was injured.
Following an assessment of the scene, firefighters and officers determined the fire was set in a bathroom stall where they discovered burnt toilet paper rolls and was intentionally set.
Through review of surveillance video and further investigation by the Louisiana Louisiana Office of State Fire Marshal officials developed Tuco as the suspect. Based on investigation, the State Fire Marshal deputies obtained a warrant for Tuco’s arrest. He was charged with aggravated arson – inhabited dwelling. He also was on a contempt of court warrant and violation of probation/parole.
Tuco is being held in custody in lieu of a $20,169.50
In 2022, Tuco also was charged with simple criminal damage to property and aggravated arson – inhabited dwelling after setting fire to a trash dumpster near the St. John 911 Communications Building, setting fire to a LaPlace business, and throwing rocks, shattering the window of a police unit.
Sheriff Mike Tregre and State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams are proud of the partnership between their teams to work all of these cases quickly and collaboratively in order to stop this suspect from these dangerous behav