BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) – It’s been almost one year since several vehicles were reported stolen and capital area authorities identified the three individuals linked to the crime. As of Friday, May 26, the third and final suspect has been arrested.
According to records completed by the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, Michael Carney, 21, was jailed in connection with the April 2022 vehicle theft. Authorities indicate Carney will join at least two other suspects who were apprehended last year.
Detectives state that it was April 18, 2022, when a citizen reported that their Toyota Tundra had been burglarized and its key taken sometime between April 15 and April 16. The citizen went on to say that days later, on April 18, the vehicle itself was stolen. According to detectives, the citizen also showed them video footage of the theft.
In their report, detectives say the footage showed three men leaving two vehicles, which were also reported stolen, and getting into the Tundra.
Authorities report following up on the three suspects later that day when three men were spotted at a North Sherwood Forest area gas station armed with weapons and using the stolen vehicles.
Detectives say they used video footage from the gas station and eyewitness accounts to identify two of the suspects. By May 17, authorities report apprehending two of the suspects and obtaining a confession from one.
An official report says one of the suspects claimed Carney was present during the thefts of at least two vehicles.
After securing a warrant for Carney’s arrest, officials were able to find the 21-year-old nearly a year later. He was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on one count of theft of a motor vehicle.
