Police chief’s son sought in theft
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NAPOLEONVILLE — Assumption Parish sheriff’s deputies are looking for the son of the village police chief.
Lionel Bell Jr., 28, 5375 La. 308, Plattenville, is suspected of stealing about $50,000 in farming equipment, Sheriff Mike Waguespack said Thursday.
On Friday, a sugar cane farmer reported several pieces of heavy farming equipment were stolen from a farm off La. 308 in the Plattenville community, Waguespack said.
Investigators spoke to a farmhand who had witnessed a white vehicle parked multiple times on the farm property in the preceding week, and then they confirmed that Bell had been driving the vehicle, Waguespack said.
The sheriff said Bell was arrested on a trespassing charge and released on bond but there was no suitable evidence at the time linking Bell to the thefts.
Investigators learned Saturday that Bell had sold a piece of stolen farm equipment to a scrap company in Morgan City and obtained an arrest warrant Monday on a felony theft charge after verifying the information, Waguespack said.
Bell’s father, Lionel Bell Sr. is in his second term as Napoleonville police chief.
A worker at Napoleonville’s City Hall said the elder Bell was out of the office for the week, and could not be reached at his home.
Waguespack asked anyone with information that would lead to Lionel Bell Jr.’s arrest to call (985) 369-2912. He added that a reward may be available for the information, although a definite amount is not set.
Lionel Bell Jr., 28, 5375 La. 308, Plattenville, is suspected of stealing about $50,000 in farming equipment, Sheriff Mike Waguespack said Thursday.
On Friday, a sugar cane farmer reported several pieces of heavy farming equipment were stolen from a farm off La. 308 in the Plattenville community, Waguespack said.
Investigators spoke to a farmhand who had witnessed a white vehicle parked multiple times on the farm property in the preceding week, and then they confirmed that Bell had been driving the vehicle, Waguespack said.
The sheriff said Bell was arrested on a trespassing charge and released on bond but there was no suitable evidence at the time linking Bell to the thefts.
Investigators learned Saturday that Bell had sold a piece of stolen farm equipment to a scrap company in Morgan City and obtained an arrest warrant Monday on a felony theft charge after verifying the information, Waguespack said.
Bell’s father, Lionel Bell Sr. is in his second term as Napoleonville police chief.
A worker at Napoleonville’s City Hall said the elder Bell was out of the office for the week, and could not be reached at his home.
Waguespack asked anyone with information that would lead to Lionel Bell Jr.’s arrest to call (985) 369-2912. He added that a reward may be available for the information, although a definite amount is not set.
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