On Saturday, November 3rd, the West Monroe Police Department began investigating what was later determined to be a string of vandalisms to both businesses and persons as an unknown group of suspects began systematically shooting-out store front windows and parked vehicles glass with a BB-gun.
Our initial investigation seemed to produce no viable leads for investigators. As additional victims continued to report damage added personnel were assigned to the suspects targeted areas.
On November 13th at approximately 4:00pm, the West Monroe Police Department was conducting surveillance on a suspected vehicle after receiving a tip that it was involved in these crimes. The suspected vehicle, a silver 2003 Toyota Tacoma, was stopped in the 100 block of Westland Place and the 3 suspects were located and identified shortly thereafter.
The suspects were identified as 17 year old Chase M. Magown of West Monroe, 18 year old John M. Gates, also of West Monroe and a 16 year old Juvenile, who was not present in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop was also later identified.
The two adults were taken to the West Monroe Police Department and interviewed. Upon interviewing Magown & Gates they admitted to over thirty eight (38) individual counts of damage to victims properties involving a BB-gun. The Juvenile was later determined to have been involved in five (5) of the thirty eight separate incidents.
Magown and Gates were each booked into the West Monroe Correctional Center and charged with (38) counts of Damage to Property and (5) counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. Magown & Gates were later transferred to the Ouachita Parrish Correctional Center. The Juvenile was taken into custody and booked into the Green Oaks Detention Center where he is charged with (5) counts of Damage to Property.
West Monroe Police applaud the efforts of all individuals and teams who were involved in this investigation and appreciate all of the hard work during this case. The preliminary estimates of reported damage are estimated at over $60,000.00 however that number is expected to rise as the cost of having all of the damage repaired continues to rise.
