Investigators with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department are looking for several suspects in relation to the commercial burglary of a small engine shop.
Those suspects are identified as 35-year-old Carl Hodge Jr., of 156 Joe Flemming Rd., wanted for felony receiving stolen property; 25-year-old Samuel Clark who has no known address but is suspected to be in the Nicholson area, wanted for accessory after the fact of commercial burglary; and 40-year-old Chad McQueen of 39053 St. Jude Dr., Pearl River, La., wanted for felony receiving stolen property.
Several other suspects have already been arrested in relation to this case, said Chief Investigator Marc Ogden. They have been identified as 36-year-old Bradley Willis of 15067 Hwy. 16 East, Amite, La., charged on May 16 with conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and commercial burglary; 30-year-old Ronald “Roach” Willis of 1809 U.S. 11, Picayune arrested May 10, for conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and commercial burglary; 49-year-old Tabetha Ruby of 15067 Hwy. 6 East, Amite, La., arrested May 16, for conspiracy to commit commercial burglary and commercial burglary; and 24-year-old Anne Marie Saul arrested May 10, for conspiracy to commit commercial burglary, Ogden said.
The case began on April 1, when the owner of B&C Small Engine called the department to report his business had been burgled, and more than $27,000 worth of merchandise had been stolen, including chainsaws, weedeaters, and various accessories for lawn care equipment.
A witness to the crime provided investigators with a description of the suspect vehicle, described as a gold Cadillac Deville.
The investigation identified the owner and driver of the vehicle at the time of the burglary as Bradley Willis. The other suspects were also determined to have allegedly been involved in the theft of the merchandise. Ogden said it appears that it took the suspects about four to five trips to remove the merchandise from the business using the suspect vehicle. The investigation shows that allegedly Ronald “Roach” Willis and Bradley Willis were involved in taking the merchandise from the business back to Ronald Willis’ home in the Nicholson area.
The investigation led the detectives to Amite, where they spoke with officials with the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Department, who assisted with the investigation, Ogden said.
Bradley Willis was arrested in St. Bernard Parish during a routine traffic stop, where it was determined that the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department had a warrant out for his arrest, Ogden said. Bradley Willis’ girlfriend, Ruby, was with him during that traffic stop, and was also arrested at that time once it was determined she was involved in the burglary.
Through the investigation, some of the stolen property was found in Tangipahoa Parish, where a large portion of it was recovered, Ogden said.
Ronald Willis’ girlfriend, Saul, was also determined to have allegedly been involved in the crime, Ogden said.
The investigation shows that a vast majority of the stolen property went to Hodge, who is currently wanted. McQueen is also wanted for his involvement with transporting the equipment.
A search warrant was executed at Hodge’s property Friday morning where some of the stolen property was found along with property stolen from Ascension Parish and other areas of Louisiana, Ogden said.