Police nab suspects in Friday morning vehicle burglaries

Ruston city police have arrested two juveniles and an 18-year-old in connection with five vehicle burglaries that happened in the early hours of Friday morning.

All three are charged with five counts of vehicle burglary and possession of a stolen firearm.

In addition, Jakiem Trashum Jackson, the 18-year-old, is charged with two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and the juveniles, ages 16 and 17, are each charged with possession of a firearm by a juvenile.

Police Chief Steve Rogers said investigators are looking into whether the three suspects are connected to other vehicle burglaries that have occurred in Ruston.

RPD is also working with the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office to determine if any of the trio are involved in the rash of vehicle burglaries that is also occurring in the parish.

What led to the arrest of Jackson and the two younger males began just before 6 a.m. Friday, when police received a call that a young man had been shot at Mayfield Park, located on Martin Luther King Drive.

Officers discovered one of the juveniles had apparently accidently shot himself in the lower leg.

The subsequent investigation tied the three to the five vehicle burglaries that happened hours before on Ruston’s east side.

Vehicle burglaries have increased citywide and are usually the result of people leaving their vehicles unlocked with weapons and valuables inside, Rogers said.

“Please, please, please don’t leave valuables in your car,” he said.

Most of the incidents occur at night.