A LaPlace man is behind bars after deputies say they caught him with a loaded handgun that matched one reported stolen from a suite of business offices. An employee arriving for work found an open window and desk drawers rifled through, according to authorities. The suspect was booked on burglary and weapons charges and is being held in the parish jail on $85,000 bond.
What Deputies Say Happened
According to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies were called Monday to the 1700 block of Chantilly Drive after an employee showed up for work and spotted an open window at a suite of LaPlace business offices. The office reported that several items were missing from desks and drawers, prompting a canvass of the area.
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage that showed a suspect near the building, the sheriff's post states. A short time later, investigators spotted a person matching that description near the intersection of Tiffany Drive and Airline Highway.
Arrest, Weapon Recovered and Charges
"Deputies observed multiple office desk drawers open and rummaged through," the sheriff's post notes, per the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office. During the investigation, a deputy located a loaded handgun and loose rounds in Joseph Smith's pants pocket.
The recovered firearm was identified as the same gun reported stolen from the office suite, authorities said. Smith was booked on two counts of simple burglary (immovable structure) and on firearm-related charges that include possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. His bond was set at $85,000.
Local Context and Policing
The arrest comes amid a series of recent weapons-related arrests and gun recoveries in the LaPlace area. A recent case in which a drone nabs LaPlace teen and local TV coverage have highlighted increased police focus on armed crime in the parish. WAFB has also reported follow-up arrests connected to a March LaPlace homicide and related investigations.
What Happens Next
Smith's case will proceed through the St. John Parish court system as prosecutors review the evidence collected by detectives. The sheriff's office says investigators have recovered video footage and are continuing to follow leads. Anyone with information or surveillance related to the burglary is asked to contact the SJSO tips line.
