Washington Parish sheriff’s deputies recently arrested a second suspect in connection with a December 2015 burglary at the Warnerton Quick Stop on Highway 25 near Franklinton.

Derek Martin, 20, a resident of Wilson Road in Kentwood, was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on Monday, charged with burglary of a commercial business and criminal damage to property.

He remains in jail with no bond and also has charges in Tangipahoa Parish related to a drive-by shooting.

Chief Deputy Mike Haley, of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, said that Martin is a cousin of Desmond Martin, 20, of East Ford Road in Mt. Hermon, who was arrested in connection with the same burglary in late December.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 6, 2015, the burglars reportedly broke out the front window of the Quick Stop and stole more than $5,000 in merchandise. They were recorded by the video surveillance system at the store but were unable to be identified.

Haley said that the two suspects were wearing gloves and their faces were concealed. The video recording also depicted the burglars’ car —  a light colored small vehicle that was missing a wheel cover.

Sheriff’s Office detectives continued their investigation of the burglary, releasing video and other information to the public and other law enforcement agencies.

In late December, detectives were able to identify Desmond Martin as one of the burglars. He was placed in the Washington Parish Jail, charged with burglary of a commercial business and with his bond set at $5,000. He met the conditions of bond and was released.

Haley said that a break in the case came when the Kentwood Police Department recently arrested a man in connection with a drive-by shooting. They relayed information to Washington Parish detectives that the vehicle used in the shooting was missing a wheel cover.

Washington Parish detectives obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and discovered items that were taken from the store in Warnerton. Further investigation led to the arrest of Derek Martin.

The investigation into the Warnerton burglary is ongoing and detectives believe at least two more individuals were involved in the aftermath of the burglary wherein they bought and resold the stolen merchandise, knowing that it was stolen.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said responded to the news of the arrests.

“I appreciate the full cooperation of the Kentwood officers who provided valuable information which led to the arrest of Derek Martin,” Seal said. “As I’ve said before, we work closely with other law enforcement agencies throughout the area and combine our resources to get criminals off of our streets. The Martin cousins were put behind bars where they belong, and sooner or later we will get the others involved in the crime.”