A Ruston man was arrested Tuesday after he was connected to numerous vehicle break-ins near the Ruston High and Louisiana Tech campuses.
Tuesday morning Ruston police received reports of several vehicle burglaries near the Ruston High football field. One victim told officers one item taken from his vehicle was trackable by GPS. The victim said he followed the signal to a Calcote Avenue residence where he discovered a Louisiana Tech football backpack in a trashcan outside. One of the other victims had reported a Tech football bag stolen in his vehicle burglary.
Quanterrious Fields, 23, of Calcote Avenue was questioned. Officers saw several items in his room that had been reported stolen. Three firearms were recovered that Fields said he knew were stolen but the thefts were not immediately confirmed.
Fields is a convicted felon and said he was aware he is prohibited from possessing a firearm. He admitted to committing at least four vehicle burglaries the previous night.
A bicycle valued at $1,800 reported stolen in July from nearby James Street was recovered behind the residence. A record check indicated Fields was wanted on two warrants by the Farmerville Police Department.
Fields was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for four counts of simple burglary of a vehicle, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, theft over $1,000, and the two Farmerville PD warrants. Bail was set at $205,000.
Louisiana Tech Police Chief Randal Hermes sent an email alert to students about the car burglaries. “Last night/early this morning, the LA Tech Police and Ruston Police collaborated on investigations involving a number of vehicle burglaries. Most of the burglaries occurred off campus in the vicinity of Everett Street and James Street. However…at least one vehicle burglary which occurred within the [campus] at Alabama/Everett.
Hermes noted several recovered items had yet to be connected to a victim. “Please check your vehicle and make certain you are not missing anything. Among other items, police have in possession several laptop computers and several guns.”
Chief Hermes also encouraged car owners to lock their vehicles.
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.
