A two-year-old vehicle theft-related case in Minden led detectives to Tennessee, where a man accused of taking and damaging a vehicle without permission was located and arrested with the assistance of local authorities.
Lucas James Sterling, 31, of Kingsport, Tennessee, was returned to Minden on October 27 to face a charge of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
According to the Minden Police Department, the incident occurred September 13, 2024, in the 1400 block of Lewisville Road. The victim reported the incident to police on September 17, 2024, stating that Sterling had taken her vehicle without permission and damaged it while driving.
The victim told investigators she had never authorized Sterling to use the vehicle and requested that charges be filed.
On October 2, detectives received anonymous tips regarding Sterling’s possible whereabouts in Kingsport. Minden police contacted the Kingsport Police Department on October 16, and officers there located Sterling and arrested him on the outstanding warrant.
Minden detectives traveled to the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office in Blountville, Tennessee, on October 27 to take custody of Sterling and transport him back to Louisiana.
Sterling was booked into Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center on the outstanding warrant.
The Minden Police Department thanked the Kingsport Police Department and Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the investigation and arrest.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.