Louisiana Tech Police arrested a man for breaking into cars on campus early Wednesday morning. The arrest is the second in the past month as a rash of car break-ins have hit the campus and adjoining residential areas.
An alert officer operating Tech PD’s dispatch center saw two people on one of the university’s numerous surveillance cameras entering multiple cars in a residential housing area. Patrol officers responded as the dispatcher directed them to the two men. The suspects ran and the officers were able to apprehend one.
During a search after the arrest, officers found suspected marijuana and a small set of scale on the suspect.
The man, Jamarlon Armstrong, 19, of Ruston, was arrested for two counts of simple burglary of a vehicle, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer.
Several reports of vehicle break-ins near the campus were being discussed on social media over the weekend. Last week a pickup truck was stolen from the Jenkins residence hall parking lot. The black Dodge Ram truck has not been recovered.
Wednesday after Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes sent an email to all students alerting them to the issue:
“Within the past few weeks Tech Police have apprehended several vehicle burglary suspects. In each case, the vehicles entered by the suspects were not locked. Always after parking, before leaving the vehicle, lock the doors. This includes if you live off campus. These type of burglaries are everywhere. Also, be attentive for suspicious persons. If you see someone walking through a parking lot checking vehicle door handles, immediately call Tech Police from a safe location at 257-4018. If off campus, Ruston PD at 911.”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video 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.
