ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / July 21, 1999

LAPLACE -A ring of vandals has been causing a lot of misery and damage in the Riverlands section of LaPlace.

Three juveniles have been arrested, St. John the Baptist Sheriff WayneJones announced Monday.

Beginning on Sunday, July 11, the sheriff’s office began receiving numerous calls about tire slashings along Fairview, Golfview and Ellerslie streets. There were many reports of vehicles with all four tires slashed.Jones stated, “This is foolishness we are not going to tolerate.”He launched an undercover operation in the neighborhood under the auspices of Detectives C.J. Dester and Carl Baker. Using four-wheel ATV’s,the overtime of 20 extra officers, and with the use of informants the detectives were able to make the arrests on Monday morning.

Two of the males arrested are 12 years old and the third is 14. The threeteen-agers are charged with 46 counts of criminal damage; 14 counts and 15 counts for the two 12-year-olds, respectively, and 16 counts for the 14-year-old. When the boys were arrested at their homes, they alladmitted to the crimes, Jones said.

They were arraigned in Judge J. Sterling Snowdy’s court, and bond was setat $5,000 each. The juveniles were released into their parents’ custody.Each count of criminal damage is punishable by $500 fine, or six months in jail, or both. The sheriff is hoping for financial restitution to the victims.He said the only motive for these acts of vandalism seems to be fun.

Baker stated, “There was no real motive, other than being mischievous.

They seemed to pick the cars at random.”Despite that, Jones is not amused.

“Stuff like this make the hair rise on the back of my neck, having these kids running around,” he said. “I take this stuff very seriously. Thesekids wreaked havoc in that neighborhood. There were too many vehiclesinvolved not to be taken seriously.”The sheriff said he will take a personal interest what happens to the three alleged vandals.

“I’m personally following this case through the courts, and I will be talking to Judge Snowdy about this,” Jones said.

If anybody has any further information on this case, they are urged to call either Detective Dester or Detective Baker at 652-2773.

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