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Four arrested in connection with four-wheeler theft |
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Written by Daniel Davidson
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Wednesday, 01 August 2007 |
After a month-long of investigation by Webster and Claiborne Parish detectives, four people have been arrested in connection to the July 7 theft of a pricey ATV on Old Arcadia Road.
On July 7, Claiborne Parish authorities were called to the 2700 block of Old Arcadia Road in reference to the theft of a 2007 Yamaha Ducks Unlimited four-wheeler, with a value of approximately $9,500.
Following the theft, Ron Flurry, the rightful owner of the all terrain vehicle (ATV), placed award posters around the Minden area for information leading to the return of the four-wheeler. An award poster that he placed at Wal-Mart caught the eye of a shopper that had seen a four-wheeler on Mullens Street in Cotton Valley that was similar to the one stolen and contacted Flurry.
Claiborne Parish detectives contacted Webster Parish detectives and told them that the ATV was believed to be located in the 200 block of Mullens Street
“Myself, two detectives from Claiborne Parish and Captain Steve Cropper made contact with Wallace Johnson III at the suspected address,” Webster Parish Detective Barry James said.
Johnson told detectives that around 2 a.m. on the morning of July 10, two white males driving a Toyota truck came to his residence and asked to trade the ATV for a Camaro car body.
“At that time we explained to him (Johnson) that it was stolen,” James said. “He did not give us any further information at that time except that he had gotten rid of it.”
Johnson also told deputies he did not know the two subjects who traded the ATV for the Camaro body.
During the trade, Johnson’s wife, Jessica Johnson, had written a receipt to the other party.
Although the Camaro trader used a fake name, he showed Jessica Johnson his real driver’s license, from which she was able to obtain the driver’s license number, James said.
 The driver’s license number came back to Dustin Farrar of Haughton, the victim’s grandson.
“That gave us our first suspect,” James said.
After making contact with Farrar, he admitted to stealing the ATV and trading it to Johnson for the Camaro body. Following the interview with Farrar, detectives went to Haughton and seized the Camaro as evidence.
“He (Farrar) was in the process of trading the Camaro body for a set of rims,” James said. “This transaction never happened.”
After taking the vehicle in as evidence, detectives then went back to Cotton Valley to talk to Johnson, but he was still reticent.
“His attitude was ‘Give me the car back, and I will see what I can do to get the four-wheeler back,’” James said.
After further discussions with Johnson, he went to his vehicle to get the ATV key and led detectives to a wooded area behind an unoccupied house in the 300 block of Mullens Street where the ATV was located.
Although in good shape, the four-wheeler was missing accessories and extras that were on it when it was stolen.
Authorities have since located one of the racks that belongs to the ATV in Haughton and Claiborne Parish deputies believe they have a good lead to where the rest of the items are.
Monday, deputies executed a search warrant on Johnson’s residence where they confiscated more items, such as four-wheelers, lawn mowers and a motorcycle that was stripped down to the frame as if it was being rebuilt.
Johnson claimed that he had purchased the motorcycle from a salvage yard in the Shreveport area.
The tags from the motorcycle came back to a stolen motorcycle from New Jersey that had gone missing in 2003.
“The New Jersey Police Department was unable to find the original owner,” James said. “At this time it looks as if no charges will be filed on the motorcycle.”
The four-wheelers were not registered and were also seized. Johnson claimed to have purchased those from individual owners in Webster Parish.
Wallace Johnson III was arrested for illegal possession of stolen things valued over $500; obstruction of justice; and accessory after the fact to felony theft over $500.
Jessica Johnson was arrested for accessory after the fact to felony theft over $500 and obstruction of justice.
“If he (Johnson) would have surrendered the four-wheeler the first time we spoke to him, there would probably not be any charges filed against the Johnsons,” James said.
Farrar is in custody in Claiborne parish for the theft.
“When he bonds out from there he will be sent to Webster Parish to face charges here,” James said.
A white male juvenile who assisted Farrar in the theft was also arrested and later released to his parents.
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