Ruston Police took a man into custody Monday morning, charging him with burglary of the Ruston Sports Complex.
Officers and detectives responded to the complex Monday morning to find three buildings had been burglarized. Video surveillance captured the suspect on the premises and photos were disseminated to police personnel. An officer spotted a man on South Farmerville Street wearing the same type of Nike shoes and baggy pants observed in the video. When the officer stopped, the suspect ran away. After a short foot chase, Leroy R. Wimberley, 55, of Ruston was taken into custody. Wimberley had several packages of candy in his pockets and he was observed throwing candy and juice drinks to the ground.
At the time of the arrest, Wimberly gave his name as James Williams. Further investigation revealed his correct name.
Wimberley was taken to the Ruston Police Department for interrogation. Two suspected crack cocaine smoking pipes were found in his pockets. Wimberley stated he could not remember where he was earlier in the morning because he had smoked crack. He could not explain why he was on camera at the Sports Complex and could not remember anything because of the crack.
Wimberley was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for three counts of simple burglary, resisting an officer, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wimberly’s Nike shoes matching those in the video were collected as evidence.
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.
