By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – A LaPlace man allegedly attempting to break into a home on Cottage Grove in LaPlace was arrested on simple burglary charges after the owner of the home spotted the man in his back yard.

Devonte Tuco, 19, of Cartier Drive was booked with attempted simple burglary and carrying a concealed weapon, said Capt. Dane Clement, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office. Tuco is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on a $15,000 bond.

Clement said a resident in the 100 block of Cottage Grove called authorities just after 8:20 a.m. to report seeing a suspicious male in his back yard. The resident told deputies when he drove up to his home the suspicious man first attempted to hide but then ran from the backyard.

With the help of other neighbors, deputies pursued Tuco and found him behind a nearby residence. No one was injured during the incident or pursuit. Clement said Tuco was apprehended in possession of a handgun.

Upon further investigation at the home where the call originated, deputies discovered signs of attempted forced entry at the residence.