On Sunday, January 5, 2013, 1:42 pm, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Derek Lane in LaPlace for the report of a possible burglary of a residence in progress. The caller reported that several subjects entered the back door of the residence, which is vacant and for sale, but left the residence before deputies arrived. When deputies arrived, they found the back door damaged and open and smelled the odor of marijuana coming from the residence.
Investigators in the area saw one subject who matched a description provided by the caller of one of the perpetrators. He was identified as Joshua Davis, 17, of Padrino Street, LaPlace LA. Davis was arrested and booked with simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing. When the homeowner arrived at the house, he told investigators that pictures were posted on a social media website of several subjects in his house. Investigators immediately identified a juvenile in a picture and apprehended him at his mother’s house on Gail Street.
The 16 year-old juvenile, also of LaPlace LA, was arrested and booked with simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing.
Joshua Davis bonded out of jail on a $5,500 cash bond, and the juvenile was released to the custody of a relative. This investigation is ongoing, and detectives anticipate more arrests.