CPSO, SPD arrest suspect in courthouse, City Court vandalism cases
SHREVEPORT, La. -- A man already in custody in connection with recent damage at the Caddo Parish District Courthouse now faces additional charges after investigators linked him to separate vandalism incidents at the parish courthouse and Shreveport City Court.
SHREVEPORT, La. -- A man already in custody in connection with recent damage at the Caddo Parish District Courthouse now faces additional charges after investigators linked him to separate vandalism incidents at the parish courthouse and Shreveport City Court.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office said Tuesday Samuel Parks, 35, is charged in connection with two incidents of property damage at the Caddo Parish Courthouse.
According to the sheriff's office, a large piece of concrete was thrown through one of the courthouse doors in March, shattering the glass and causing an estimated $1,000 in damage. Detectives reviewed surveillance footage but were unable to immediately identify the suspect.
A second incident occurred Saturday when a suspect threw a brick at another courthouse door, causing additional damage. Parks was arrested in connection with that incident.
After his arrest, detectives reviewed surveillance footage from the March incident and identified Parks as the person responsible for the earlier damage. He was already being held at the Caddo Correctional Center on charges related to the weekend incident when detectives obtained an additional warrant charging him with simple criminal damage to property for the March vandalism.
Meanwhile, Shreveport police said Parks has also been charged in connection with vandalism at Shreveport City Court.
According to the Shreveport Police Department, detectives began investigating after three windows at Shreveport City Court were broken overnight on March 11. Security video showed a man throwing large rocks at the building's windows at about 10:23 p.m., causing an estimated $1,500 in damage.
During that investigation, detectives determined the same suspect was believed to have vandalized the Caddo Parish Courthouse earlier that night before walking to Shreveport City Court. Surveillance footage from multiple downtown businesses captured the suspect, whose distinctive gait and clothing were noted by investigators.
On Monday, Shreveport detectives learned that the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office had arrested a suspect in connection with a separate recent vandalism at the courthouse after he was recognized inside the clerk's office.
Shreveport detectives then reviewed body-worn camera footage from a March 27 arrest involving Parks and said he was wearing clothing consistent with the suspect seen in the March 11 surveillance video. Detectives also said Parks had the same distinctive gait observed in the surveillance footage.
As a result, Shreveport police submitted an additional charge accusing Parks of simple criminal property damage in connection with the damage to Shreveport City Court.
The Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office said the investigation into the courthouse vandalism was conducted by Detective Matthew Purgerson.