Juveniles cause $100,000 in damage joyriding in 18-wheelers

Four juveniles, ages 14 and 15, have been arrested for taking 18-wheelers on a joyride, fleeing from police and causing more than $100,000 worth of damage over the weekend.

Richland Parish Sheriff Lee Harrell said May 9, deputies Randy Vallot and James Herrington were dispatched to the business located at 11 Pilgrim Road in reference to vehicle thefts and property damage. Upon their arrival, they discovered one semi-truck and trailer crashed into a shed and two small tractors heavily damaged at the west end of the property, along with damage to the shed. Upon further investigation, they discovered one semi-truck and trailer abandoned on Deborah Street  and one semi-truck abandoned on Martin Luther King. 

Surveillance showed two semi-truck and trailers leave the property and travel east on Hwy 80 toward Rayville at 1:20 a.m. At approximately 6 a.m., video showed three black males driving numerous semi-trucks (with and without trailers attached) around the property, a semi-truck and trailer crash into a shed, and the males enter three enclosed cabs of tractors in an attempt to drive them. 

“Video showed the three males drive the small farm tractors as if they were bumper cars at an amusement park,” Harrell said.

Property damage included two John Deere tractors with implements attached, equipment stored under a shed and the frame of a shed belonging to Rayville Producers Inc.

A truck and trailer belonging to Branch Brothers crashed on the property and another crashed into residence at 102 Mansfield St. It was unknown if vehicles driven on and off the property were damaged, but David Branch estimated this damage over $50,000.

Another truck belonging to Edward Greer was moved on the property and it was unknown if that vehicle had been damaged.

At approximately 8:20 p.m., two semi-trucks are seen on video leaving the property. Reserve deputy Blake Denard said he saw two trucks leaving the Rayville Producers property. Upon their arrival at the property, they contacted Ken and David Branch. Dy. Latoya Byrd arrived and secured a pair of yellow and purple Nike shoes found on the steps of a truck where two other trucks were missing. Inside the shoes was a pair of ear buds, a Samsung phone and and a plastic container of lip gloss.

Ken Branch told deputies he observed the vehicles traveling south on Hwy 425 from Morehouse Parish. Deputies attempted to initiate traffic stops on both vehicles as they passed Delta Ridge Implement. The trucks split up and one came to an abrupt stop on Eugene Street with the driver fleeing on foot. Another juvenile was seen existing from the passenger side of the vehicle and apprehended.

The other truck continued to flee, violating numerous traffic laws, striking the corner of a residence at 119 Legacy Drive, then crashing into a residence at 102 Mansfield Street as the two occupants exited the vehicle and fled on foot.

During the pursuit, another semi-truck belonging to the Branch Brothers was damaged as well has homes at 119 Legacy Drive and 102 Mansfield St.

“At this time, the total estimated value to repair all property damaged during both incidents may be over $100,000,” Harrell said.

Police said the first juvenile apprehended gave them the names of the other three involved, but claimed he wasn’t involved in the Saturday morning incident at the gin.

The second suspect fled from deputies when the attempted to apprehend him by climbing out a window and hiding in shrubs.

He admitted to being at the Rayville Producers property Saturday morning, driving the trucks and tractors, and jumping from one of the tractors before it flipped over. He also admitted to driving one of the semi-trucks to the Bastrop area Saturday night, then fleeing when the police attempted to stop them. He stated everyone but the first juvenile arrested were involved in the Saturday morning incident. The first juvenile, he said, was involved in the Saturday night incident.

On May 11, the third suspect’s father brought him to the sheriff’s office. During interview, the boy denied being part of the Saturday night incident stating he did not know how to drive a truck. He did admit to being present Saturday morning videoing two other suspects driving the tractors. He also stated one of the boys took a truck to Monroe around 4 p.m. Saturday to pick up a friend who was the driver of the truck. Deputies found video on his phone which showed the suspects driving the tractors prior to their crash.

The final suspect’s mother brought him to the Sheriff’s office on Monday afternoon. He admitted to taking the two trucks to Bastrop and being part of the Saturday morning incident. 

Harrell said Investigator Frank Smith was in charge of the investigation and that other officers involved included Captain John Fragala, Lt. Terry Parrish, Lt. Markus Turner, Investigator Wanda Vallery and deputies Latoya Byrd, James Herrington, Stacy Sanders and Randy Vallot as well as Assistant Chief Ken Sanders and Officer Czyz Williams of the Rayville Police Department and Corporal Regina Jackson of the Mornoe Police Department.

All four juveniles were arrested.

One 15-year-old was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of movable (two counts), unauthorized use of movable (12 counts), criminal damage to property (eight counts, more than $50,000), criminal trespass (two counts), aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer (two counts) and no driver’s license.

The second 15-year old was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of movable (two counts), unauthorized use of movable (12 counts), criminal damage to property (eight counts, more than $50,000), criminal trespass (two counts) and resisting an officer (two counts).

the third 15-year-old was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of movable (two counts), unauthorized use of movable (12 counts), criminal damage to property (four counts, more than $50,000), criminal trespass (two counts), resisting an officer (three counts) and no driver’s license.

The 14-year-old was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit unauthorized use of movable (one count), unauthorized use of movable (two counts) and criminal trespass (one count).