Grambling juveniles arrested, connected to string of vehicle burglaries
GRAMBLING – A joint effort between the Grambling City Police Department and Grambling State University Police Department has led to the arrest of six juveniles and the recovery of two stolen vehicles, as well as multiple stolen firearms.
The juveniles, ranging in age from 15 to 17, also appear to be connected to countless recent vehicle burglaries, GPD Chief Tommy Clark, Jr., said Monday.
“This collaboration and coordination between the Grambling city police and the Grambling university police yielded a number of successful arrests and the removal of several firearms from the area and away from prohibited possessors,” Clark said in a press release issued Monday evening.
The six juveniles, arrested late Sunday night, are charged with a long list of crimes including two counts of theft of a motor vehicle. One of the suspects was wearing an ankle monitor resulting from vehicle burglaries in another parish, Clark said
The incident that led to the arrests began at approximately 9:45 p.m. Sunday when six juveniles were attempting to gain access to GSU’s dormitory housing area. They were denied entry and told to leave the property, Clark said.
A short time later, an alert officer saw what appeared to be the same six teenagers trying to get onto the university campus in a different location.
When officers attempted to make contact with the suspects, they fled to an employee parking lot at the Grambling post office, Clark said.
That’s when several officers from GPD and GSUPD joined in a coordinated effort and detained all of the suspects without incident.
Clark said several of the juveniles then attempted to disarm themselves.
During initial contact with the teens, officers discovered a 2019 Nissan Versa and 2014 Nissan Altima were stolen.
The six juveniles are charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, illegal possession of stolen firearms, possession of a firearm with obliterated serial number, three counts of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, three counts of possession of a firearm in a school zone, and illegal possession of stolen things.
In addition, the suspect wearing the ankle monitor was also booked on an outstanding warrant for obstruction of justice from another jurisdiction.
The teenagers are being held in the Jackson Parish Juvenile Center in Jonesboro.
Clark said the investigation is continuing and more charges and arrests are pending.
