Police in Bootheel town arrest man wanted in Louisiana

STEELE, Mo. -- Steele police officers Brian James and Jerry Gentry recently arrested a man who was an escapee from Cameron Parish, La., and wanted in Oregon and in Mexico.

James was patrolling the North First Street Apartments on Friday when he discovered the man sleeping inside a 2003 Chevrolet truck with Louisiana registration, according to a police report. The report said James ran the license plate number and found the vehicle was reported stolen from Louisiana. James then requested backup from

Gentry.

The two officers asked the driver for identification, according to the report. The identification provided to the officers was not the man's, and James and Gentry handcuffed the suspect without

incident.

The suspect was identified as Richard Laracuente, 47, of Oklahoma City. The officers were advised by Pemiscot County that Laracuente was an escapee from Cameron Parish,

La.

Upon further investigation, officers discovered Laracuente was also wanted in Oregon for first-degree burglary, 22 counts of first-degree theft and one count of second-degree theft with a bond of $240,000. Laracuente was also wanted in Mexico for receiving a stolen firearm with a larceny bond of $50,000. In Louisiana, Laracuente was wanted for burglary and theft of a motor vehicle with a bond of $50,000.

According to the report, officers discovered a stolen shotgun and two stolen rifles, along with numerous rounds of ammunition, when searching the vehicle. The suspect was also in possession of stolen identification cards and a stolen digital camera.

Laracuente was transported to the Pemiscot County Jail awaiting extradition back to Louisiana.

The Steele Police Department contacted the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives for the filing of possible federal charges against Laracuente.