Two alleged thieves who escaped jail in Jonesboro took a joy ride in stolen vehicles racking up charges in Minden on their way to Arizona and New Mexico.
Michael Comeaux, 26, of the 4200 block of Pete Road in Jennings, was arrested Dec. 12 on a warrant for theft of a motor vehicle. No bond has been set.
Michael Elliot Jr., 23, of the 500 block of N. Farr Avenue in Andrews, South Carolina, was arrested Dec. 12, on a warrant for theft of a motor vehicle. No bond has been set.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says the theft occurred in July when they escaped prison in Jackson Parish and reportedly stole a vehicle there, driving it to Minden. The two then took a vehicle from the Ridgewood Subdivision where it was found in Amarillo, Texas.
“They stole the vehicle after they escaped from Jonesboro and drove it here,” Cropper said.
“They tried to steal some stuff from Walmart, got out and tried to take the stolen Jeep from Jonesboro, abandoned it where the old movie theater used to be, walked into the Ridgewood Subdivision and stole a vehicle here.”
The two were reported to have stolen a debit card from the jeep stolen in Jonesboro and used it at Whataburger in Shreveport and at Walmart in Hudson Oak, Texas.
Detective Chris Cheatham says warrants were issued the same day and Comeaux was arrested July 18 in New Mexico and extradited back to Louisiana by Jackson Parish authorities.
“He was arrested in New Mexico on multiple charges stemming from theft,” he said. “When we got him, they may have done away with those charges. However, on that particular day when he was arrested, he was arrested for no driver’s license, no registration, no insurance and improper lane usage.”
Elliot was arrested in Arizona in October and transported to Avoyelles Parish.
Comeaux and Elliot were arrested by Minden Police once they faced charges by the other law enforcement agencies involved. Both were incarcerated when they were booked at BDCC for motor vehicle theft.
The vehicle stolen in Minden was found on U.S. 287, east of Amarillo.