A multi-parish chase that kicked off at a motel and wound through central Louisiana ended on a remote forest service road inside a national forest, leaving one suspect seriously injured, another behind bars, and several deputies nursing minor injuries, according to law enforcement officials.
Investigators say the trail leads back to a motel in Avoyelles Parish, where officers later recovered drugs and more than 20 cell phones. During the pursuit, the suspects' rental vehicle crashed into two other cars, including a head-on collision, before it finally left the roadway. One suspect with minor injuries was ultimately booked into the Grant Parish detention center, while the driver, who suffered serious injuries, was hospitalized.
In a Facebook post shared Tuesday, Louisiana State Police said troopers joined Grant Parish deputies after the two men fled when contacted at the motel, then led officers into the forest. The post states the chase ended on a forest service road when the rental vehicle went off the road and that the driver was hurt during the crash. According to state police, the inquiry began after deputies reported a drone being used near the federal prison.
Investigation and evidence
The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office, credited as the author of the material shared by state police, identified one suspect as 25-year-old Gustavo Mendoza Alvarez of Nayarit, Mexico. According to the sheriff's office, he faces charges that include taking contraband to a penal institution, resisting an officer, simple escape, criminal conspiracy, and multiple counts tied to reckless driving and aggravated damage to property.
The sheriff's office also alleged that one of the suspects is a member of MS-13 and said both men are in the country illegally. Officials said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has placed detainers on both, and the agency added that the second suspect will be booked into the parish jail once he is released from the hospital.
According to the Louisiana State Police post, investigators searching the Avoyelles Parish motel room recovered a large quantity of methamphetamine and marijuana along with more than 20 cell phones. The post states that during the pursuit the suspects' rental vehicle struck two other vehicles and hit one of them head-on before the chase ended on the forest service road. One passenger was treated at a hospital for minor injuries and was later booked into the Grant Parish detention center, according to the post.
Legal and immigration implications
The charges outlined by the Grant Parish Sheriff's Office are state counts that could be supplemented as prosecutors review evidence and prepare formal filings, the sheriff's statement notes. Because officials say both suspects are undocumented and ICE has placed detainers on them, the men may face immigration custody after criminal proceedings. Authorities did not immediately release bond amounts or court dates for either suspect.
Officials highlighted the role of interagency cooperation in bringing the case to this point, using the post's headline, "Strong partnerships are essential to keeping our communities safe," to credit the combined effort. Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the Grant Parish Sheriff's Office.
