Multi-parish investigation recovers 11 firearms, leads to charges against teenagers

WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH — Four suspects, including three juveniles, face burglary charges after a string of vehicle break-ins Thursday morning yielded at least 15 stolen firearms and prompted a round-the-clock investigation spanning multiple parishes.

Sheriff Jeff Bergeron announced the arrests Friday following coordinated operations with Lafayette and St. Martin parish authorities that recovered 11 firearms, including weapons stolen from three different parishes.

The Crime Spree

Deputies responded to 12 burglary complaints early Thursday morning in the area between Rosedale Road and U.S. 190. Thieves took at least 15 firearms along with money, a laptop, a passport, and other personal belongings from unlocked vehicles.

The pattern of crimes prompted an immediate investigation by West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office burglary detectives, who worked around the clock to identify suspects.

Swift Investigation Leads to Arrests

Detectives identified a suspect vehicle later located in Lafayette Parish. Working with Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, four WBRSO detectives arrested 17-year-old Samaya Charles of Lafayette Thursday evening.

A search of Charles' residence and vehicle recovered one firearm stolen from West Baton Rouge, along with clothing and masks consistent with video surveillance from the burglaries.

Charles was transported to the West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center and booked on:

• 10 counts of Principal to Aggravated Burglary
• 2 counts of Principal to Simple Burglary
• 1 count of Obstruction of Justice

Multi-Parish Operation Recovers More Firearms

Early Friday morning, four WBRSO detectives executed a search warrant with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office at a residence in Breaux Bridge. The operation netted three additional arrests and recovered 10 firearms.

Of the 10 recovered weapons, three had been reported stolen from different parishes: one from Vermilion Parish, one from St. Martin Parish, and one from West Baton Rouge Parish taken during Thursday's burglary spree.

Additional Arrests Include:

Quaylon Mouton (17): Charged with 10 counts of Aggravated Burglary and 2 counts of Simple Burglary. Booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish Detention Center.

Two Juveniles (ages 16 and 15): Each charged with 10 counts of Aggravated Burglary and 2 counts of Simple Burglary. Both booked into juvenile detention facilities.

Law Enforcement Cooperation

The investigation showcased coordination between multiple agencies:

• West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office
• Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office Criminal Intelligence and SWAT
• St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office SWAT

Sheriff Bergeron praised the collaborative effort. "This investigation shows the dedication of our deputies and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to bring these suspects into custody and recover stolen firearms," he said.

Prevention Message

Despite the successful arrests, Sheriff Bergeron emphasized that all Thursday's burglaries involved unlocked vehicles—making them crimes of opportunity that could have been prevented.

"We cannot stress this enough—all of these burglaries involved unlocked vehicles," Bergeron said. "Please, lock your vehicles and secure your homes. One small action can stop a crime of opportunity."

Ongoing Investigation

The investigation remains active, with authorities expecting additional arrests as they continue following leads.

The rapid resolution of this case—from initial reports Thursday morning to multiple arrests by Friday—demonstrates the effectiveness of inter-parish cooperation in addressing criminal activity that crosses jurisdictional lines.

What residents can do:

• Lock vehicle doors, even in driveways
• Remove valuables and firearms from vehicles
• Report suspicious activity immediately
• Consider security lighting and cameras for residential areas

The West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office encourages residents to contact them immediately if they observe suspicious activity or believe they may have been victims of similar crimes.

This investigation continues as a developing story. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available through official law enforcement channels.