Photograph: Firearms confiscated during arrest of minors in Opelousas. (Courtesy of Opelousas Police Department.
21 JANUARY 2023 (Opelousas, LOUISIANA) – Officers with the Opelousas Police Department
made several arrests after investigating a stolen vehicle complaint.
Shortly after 12:00 P.M. on January 21, 2023, officers responded to the Indian Hills subdivision
area after receiving a call from On Star Service reporting that a vehicle stolen from Beaumont,
TX, was indicated to be in the area.
Officers quickly converged on the area, locating the vehicle on Attakapas Dr. Officers
attempted to make contact with the occupants in the vehicle, leading to a brief pursuit. Once
the vehicle had been disabled by On Star Service, the suspects fled on foot as officers deployed
the services of K-9 Officer Kobra.
Officers ultimately detained four (4) minors that were in the vehicle. During the investigation
officers located two (2) firearms along with a small amount of marijuana inside the stolen
vehicle. One of the firearms located in the vehicle had an obliterated serial number. This is
commonly found when weapons or either stolen or have been used in previous crimes.
After contacting the parents of the detained minors, the investigation resulted in three (3) of
the four (4) minors being charged with the following:
- Possession of a stolen vehicle
- Aggravated Flight from an Officer
- Juvenile in Possession of a Firearm,
- Possession of a Firearm with an obliterated serial number,
- Possession of Schedule I Drugs
- Criminal Damage to Property
The minors will face charges in the Juvenile Courts within the next week. The ages of those
involved range from 11 to 16 years of age. It is very concerning that minors of this age are
involved in such serious offenses. The Opelousas Police Department will work with the courts
to see what can be done to intervene before young people find themselves facing such serious
charges.
