Mamou police arrest five in burglary ring

Mamou police arrested several people suspected of taking part in five recent burglaries or possessing items stolen during those burglaries.
The burglaries were reported to police in early to mid October in different areas of the town.
Police got a break in the case when a Mamou resident reported seeing one of the people at one of the houses that was burglarized.
Detective Marie Potter worked on the case for two weeks. She said that she has learned to interview suspects during the 11 years she has been with the Mamou Police Department.
Potter says she listens closely to what the suspects say and when she catches the suspect lying, it starts to unravel the suspect’s story. Often the first suspect leads to another, and then investigators can find stories that do not match, indicating more lies. Potter described the process as “kind of a domino effect.”
“We tell them if they tell the truth, it’ll be easier for them” because they won’t have to keep track of everything they said, Police Chief Greg Dupuis said. Potter said people brought in for questioning often forget what they have said, but she has learned to remember details of what the suspects say.
Chief Dupuis said the purpose of the robberies was to get items that could be traded for cocaine. At least one of the suspects arrested was charged with possession of stolen property and with distribution of crack cocaine.
The chief said the problem of burglaries associated with crack cocaine is “getting out of hand,” in Mamou, and that is why police need more citizens to make confidential reports. Police “are just as good as the cooperation of the community” in reporting suspicious activity, he said.
A tight budget also affects police success, Potter said, because of the need to purchase drugs by undercover informants that could run $200 to $300 per case.
Five people were arrested in the case involving the five burglaries, two of which involved the same residence. Amelia Arnise Duplechain, 41, 208 East St., Apt. 170, Mamou, was charged with possession of stolen goods and was being held on a $10,000 bond. Nicole Fontenot, 38, 1006 Hackberry St., Mamou, was charged with theft and burglary and was being held on a $12,500 bond. Jimmy Ray Coker Jr., 43, 212 Eighth St., Mamou, was charged with burglary (two counts) and theft (two counts) and was being held on a $15,000 bond. Nickolas Guillory, 40, 212 Eighth St., Mamou, was charged with burglary and theft, and was being held on a $12,500 bond. Anthony Scott Courville, 42, 908 Birch St., Mamou, was charged with possession of stolen goods and was being held on a $12,500 bond.  Alex Ardoin, 25, 109 Fourth St., Mamou, was charged with distribution of crack cocaine and receiving stolen goods, and was being held on a $25,000 bond. Potter said more arrests are expected.