Arson Arrest
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Pitkin woman on September 22, charging her with starting the fire on Louisiana Highway 113 in Rapides Parish that spread into Vernon Parish. 49-year-old Laura McLaughlin was arrested and charged with four counts of Simple Arson and one count of Obstruction of Justice. She was booked into the Rapides Parish Jail. Bond was set at $25,000.
The total loss of timber from the blaze is estimated at 2 million dollars. The costs associated with fighting the fire totaled 2.7 million dollars.
Vernon Parish Sheriff ‘s Office Arrests
The VPSO announces these recent arrests:
Timothy Ryan Jeter, age 41, of Pitkin was arrested and charged with one count of Cyberstalking and one count Improper Telephone Communication. His bond was set at $25,000.
Jessica Marie Endres, age 46, of Leesville was arrested on an Outstanding Bench Warrant. Bond had not been set at the time of publication.
Jerard Christopher Dennis, age 25, of Lewisville, Texas, was arrested on an Out of Jurisdiction Bench Warrant. His bond had not been set at the time of publication.
David Michael Garren, age 51, of Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested on an Outstanding Bench Warrant. Bond had not been set at the time of publication.
Jason Runge, age 45, of DeRidder was arrested and charged with one count of Flight from an Officer, one Count Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic (methamphetamine) and one count Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bond had not been set at the time of publication.
All persons accused of crimes are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
