Recently, a construction company reported the theft of a dump truck and Bobcat skid steer from a construction site in New Orleans. The owner of the stolen equipment was able to trace it to a rural area of Washington Parish due to a GPS tracking device installed on the equipment, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The WPSO was alerted to the crime and detectives responded to the reported location of the stolen dump truck, Haley said. Washington Parish detectives assigned to the WPSO Drug Task Force encountered the stolen dump truck in the Mt. Hermon community and gave chase when the driver refused to stop.

Haley said that the dump truck turned onto Union Chapel Road, and then suddenly stopped. When detectives began to exit their vehicle, the dump truck driver reportedly put the truck in reverse and rammed the detectives’ vehicle, pushing it 21 feet off of the roadway and damaging the vehicle. The dump truck driver then exited the stolen truck and fled on foot into nearby woods, Haley said.

All available officers responded to the scene, along with a canine tracking team from Rayburn Correctional Center. The canines were able to quickly locate the fleeing subject, who has been identified as Zarius Jawone Brown, 31, a resident of Williams Street in Franklinton.

Brown was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on Monday and charged with attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a vehicle on an officer, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, criminal damage and two counts of failure to honor a written promise. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained in the Washington Parish Jail with his bond set at $234,000.

Detectives then went to the GPS identified location of the stolen Bobcat skid steer and recovered it, along with a second skid steer that also had been stolen out of New Orleans. At that time, Lindsey Daniels, 45, a resident of Jenkins Road north of Franklinton, was arrested and charged with two counts of stolen property. As of Tuesday afternoon, he remained in the Washington Parish Jail with his bond set at $5,000.

Haley said that both men have previously been in the Washington Parish Jail. On two previous occasions, Brown was jailed for being a fugitive from another jurisdiction and contempt of court. Daniels was in the Washington Parish Jail for a previous charge of simple battery.

“The owner of the stolen equipment was wise to install the GPS tracking device,” Washignton Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “The thieves obviously were unaware of the implanted device and likely felt the stolen items could be concealed in rural Washington Parish and not be discovered. They were wrong.

“Our detectives did an excellent job apprehending Brown and Daniels and recovering the stolen items. I am so grateful that none of our officers were injured when Brown rammed their vehicle and I am grateful to Warden Tanner and his staff from Rayburn Correctional Center for their valuable assistance.”