Louisiana State Police arrested two suspects in connection with the theft of about $200,000 worth of tires.
The Criminal Investigations Division began investigating April 21 after employees arrived at work that morning and found tires stacked outside of the Consolidated Tire and Oil warehouse in St. Gabriel.
Detectives determined the warehouse had been burglarized about 40 times over the past six months with numerous tires taken during each burglary, police said.
Most of the stolen tires were being sold to tire shops in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, according to police.
Detectives arrested 57-year-old Shelton Dauzart June 8 for his suspected involvement in the burglaries after receiving tips from a Crimestoppers news segment broadcast on WAFB two week prior.
During his arrest, detectives discovered that Dauzart had been cultivating marijuana at his residence located on Brightside Drive in Baton Rouge, police said.
Dauzart was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for cultivation of marijuana. He will be transferred to Iberville Parish, where he will be booked on 40 counts of unauthorized entry of a place of business, according to police.
A second airing of Crimestoppers June 10 led to the arrest of 39-year-old James Menville.
Police said he voluntarily surrendered to detectives June 12.
A former employee of CTO, Menville was arrested and charged with 30 counts of burglary, 30 counts of unauthorized entry of a place of business and theft.
Menville was booked into the Iberville Parish Prison.
Police said the investigation is ongoing and additional arrests are expected.
