The Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office (CPSO) recently received complaints of thefts that had occurred in North Claiborne Parish. Those thefts, reported from August 3 through August 15, 2023, were of lawn mowers, a side-by-side ATV, and a utility trailer.
Claiborne Parish Sheriff Sam Dowies, his patrol deputies, and his detectives initiated an investigation of those thefts. CPSO personnel conducted numerous interviews, saturated the affected areas with increased patrols, collected any evidence associated with those crimes, and collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in attempts to recover the stolen items and to hold those responsible accountable.
On Monday, August 21, 2023, Sheriff Dowies, and his deputies recovered the following stolen items in Claiborne Parish:
An Exmark Quest zero turn lawn mower that had been stolen outside of Haynesville was found in the Town of Homer; a Bobcat zero turn lawn mower that had been stolen in the Pinehill Community was found in the Hurricane Community; a utility trailer that had been stolen in the Pinehill Community was found in the Athens Community; a CF Moto side-by-side ATV that had been stolen in the Junction City area was found in the White Oak Community.
Sheriff Dowies would like to thank all the citizens who provided information regarding the recent thefts, Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance and his deputies who assisted in the recovery of the stolen Bobcat found in the Hurricane Community, and to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries agents who assisted with the investigation.
Sheriff Dowies and his deputies are continuing their searches for other reported stolen items. One arrest has been made regarding the thefts and others are anticipated.
Anyone with information concerning stolen items, or any other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the CPSO at (318) 927-2011 or via its website at http://www.claibornesheriff.org.
Sheriff Dowies would like to let the citizens of Claiborne Parish know that he represents each one of them and, in doing so, his primary focus must be ensuring that laws are being followed and that everyone in Claiborne Parish is safe from any criminal element. Sheriff Dowies hopes that the citizens recognize his duties as their sheriff sometimes prevents him from visiting with as many of his constituents as he would like.
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.