(The Center Square) – Suspects facing charges of being in violation of a Shreveport squatting ordinance are also facing charges such as bank fraud, arson and child endangerment, according to records reviewed by The Center Square.
Recent police reports showed 75 total people have been arrested and charged with squatting in Shreveport since April. The Center Square found, through reports, that many individuals arrested on squatting charges also faced additional charges and outstanding warrants.
The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication of getting comment from Shreveport Police Department Public Information Officer Cpl. Chris Bordelon.
The department publicly shared back in August, “The enforcement of this ordinance has already begun to make an impact by discouraging the unlawful occupation of abandoned buildings, which are often linked to drug use, theft and other crimes.”
Lamarcus Brown, arrested Sept. 20 and charged with squatting, had outstanding warrants for bank fraud, fugitive for Mansfield Police Department, domestic abuse aggravated assault, domestic abuse battery with a weapon and two counts of domestic abuse child endangerment.
Eri Pitts, another facing squatting charges, also faces charges for simple arson. Misty Talbert, charged Sept. 19 with squatting, also faces two burglary charges.
In early September, Cedric Wilson was charged with squatting. He had nine warrants for other offenses not listed by the department.
Squatting arrests in the city have also led to multiple charges after the initial arrest. Khalid Rollins was charged with narcotic-related offenses after drugs were found upon squatting arrest on Aug. 23. Tammy Murphy was originally arrested for violating the squatting ordinance and later faced animal-related offenses.
Lawmen say Thomas Nelson, arrested for squatting on Aug. 1, was also in possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
The most recent data from the Shreveport Police Department reported 75 arrests on charges of squatting, with 67 convictions.
