Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On Sunday, a Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy responded to Morris Cemetery just outside the Franklinton town limits to investigate a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on the property, according to WPSO Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Haley.

Once he arrived at the scene, the deputy reportedly observed a vehicle parked off the north side of the cemetery near the wood line. A large pile of clothes was adjacent to the vehicle, Haley said.

“As the deputy exited his vehicle to investigate, he noticed the fence of the abandoned milk plant had been cut and tied back with black rope,” Haley said. “He called for backup and another deputy arrived to assist. The deputies then followed a path made where tall grass had been beat down. As they followed the path, they observed several items, which appeared to have been dropped along the way.

“Approaching the milk plant, the deputies entered an open door and observed a quantity of milk plant items near the door. As the deputies cleared the facility one room at a time, they noticed a partially open door, which led to an adjacent alley. They exited the building and encountered a male identified as Carey Samuel Gendron, 44, a resident of West Seventh Street in Bogalusa.”

Haley said that a search of Gendron’s clothing and a bag he was carrying revealed wrenches, pliers and black rope similar to the rope used to tie back the cut fence. In addition, Gendron was reportedly in possession of a small amount of illegal drugs.

He was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail, where he was booked on charges of theft, criminal damage to property, criminal trespass, possession of illegal drugs, littering and contempt of court.

Haley said that Gendron has been in the Washington Parish Jail on several prior occasions. In March of 2010, he was charged with possession of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, several traffic offenses and failure to appear in court. He was arrested again in November of 2010 on charges of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of illegal drugs and two counts of failure to appear in court.

In September of 2016, he faced two counts of failure to appear in court and two counts of theft.

During a June of 2017 arrest, he faced charges of possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of failure to appear in court. In February of 2018, he was back in jail on two counts of failure to honor a written promise.

“Mr. Gendron needs to find another vocation,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Pursuing a career of criminal behavior has not been lucrative for him. If indeed he enjoys being arrested and placed in jail, we are always willing to accommodate him. We would prefer, though, that he abandon criminal activity and join the ranks of responsible citizens.”