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The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office quickly solved a residential burglary on Highway 21 south of Bogalusa, according to WPSO Chief Deputy Mike Haley.

Haley said that Patrol Sgt. Charles Easterling responded to the burglary late Monday evening. The case was turned over to the detective division and was solved within a few hours. On Tuesday, WPSO Det. Raymond Myers and Deputy Kyle Stogner arrested the burglar and recovered the stolen property.

Charles Hallinan Jr., 41, a resident of South Columbia Road in Bogalusa was jailed on charges of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen firearm, two counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of illegal drugs with a weapon present, possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, and contempt of court. In addition, Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole placed a hold on him, preventing his release on bond. Hallinan must appear before a 22nd Judicial District Court judge before being eligible for release on bond.

When the victim described the vehicle the burglar was driving, detectives immediately identified Hallinan as a prime suspect, Haley said. Myers and Stogner went to Hallinan’s residence and reportedly observed some of the stolen items in plain sight. Myers and Det. Chad Cassard then obtained a search warrant for Hallinan’s property and the remainder of the stolen property was recovered, including jewelry, coins, tools and numerous other items, Haley said.

Also arrested at Hallinan’s residence was Wendy Machaele Dossett, 38, described as Hallinan’s girlfriend. At the time officers arrived, she was attempting to destroy some of the stolen items in a burn pile located on the property, Haley said.

She was jailed on charges of burglary of an inhabited dwelling, burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of illegal drugs with a weapon present, possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice and contempt of court. Her bond was set at $15,000.

Haley said that Hallinan has a history of criminal behavior in Washington Parish and elsewhere. In August of 2008, he was arrested by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office on a warrant from St. Tammany Parish. In March of 2018, he was arrested again on a warrant from the Johnson, Ark., Police Department as well as a local charge of contempt of court. A March arrest was for a warrant from the Bogalusa Police Department and another warrant from Johnson County, Ark. In addition, he was charged locally with failure to appear in court.

Dossett has one previous stay in the Washington Parish Jail. In March, she was charged with three counts of possession of stolen property.

“What a fantastic job by our officers,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Solving a burglary within 12 hours after it occurred is a remarkable feat. I am so appreciative of the efforts of our detectives, Raymond Myers and Chad Cassard, as well as our patrol officers, Sgt. Easterling and Kyle Stogner.”