By Pat Culverhouse
A stolen vehicle has been recovered and a Monroe couple is in custody charged with its theft after Minden police detectives successfully followed a trail that led through three parishes.
Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver said 28-year-old Kimberly Weeks and 25-year-old Isaiah Rucks are both charged with
conspiracy to theft of a motor vehicle in connection with the Monday, April 6 theft of a vehicle from a local dealership.
Weeks is being held in the parish jail under a bond of $25,000 while Rucks is in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center facing a $50,000 bond.
McIver said detectives developed critical leads in the investigation thanks to the department’s newly-implemented License Plate Reader (LPR) system which has been installed at key roadways leading into and out of Minden.
“Our detectives were able to use the LPR to help determine the whereabouts of the stolen vehicle as well as a secondary vehicle believed to be involved in the offense,” McIver said.
Through coordinated efforts and strong interagency cooperation with police departments in Ruston, Monroe and Richwood, plus the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, the stolen vehicle reportedly was located in Monroe on Thursday, April 16. Both suspects were arrested on warrants two days later.
McIver said the MPD’s Criminal Investigations Division worked diligently and continuously on the case from the time it was reported, demonstrating the department’s commitment to protecting the community and recovering stolen property.
“I am proud of our offices for their continued efforts in solving this case. Our officers worked for a week traveling to Ruston and Monroe while trying to locate suspects and the stolen vehicle,” the chief said. “I hope this sends a message that when you come to Minden for the purpose of committing crimes, it will not be tolerated.”
McIver said he and the department extend sincere appreciation to all assisting agencies for their professionalism, cooperation, and dedication, which were instrumental in bringing the case to a successful resolution.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.