Louisiana Man Arrested After Reporting an Attempted VehicleTheft That Authorities Say Was a Hallucination Due to Drug Use

Jeff Davis Parish, Louisiana – A Louisiana man was arrested after reporting an attempted vehicle theft, which authorities indicate was a hallucination due to drug use.

On May 16, 2023, the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that on May 15, deputies were summoned to an address in Jefferson Davis Parish’s 14300 Block of Highway 101 in regard to a suspicious incident. According to investigators, the complainant contacted and said that there were two guys in the bed of his truck attempting to take it.

The vehicle had been cleared, and no one was in the vicinity as deputies searched the area. According to reports from deputies, the complainant appeared to be under the influence of narcotics and hallucinating about the two persons stealing his truck.

A records inquiry revealed Michael Ross Hardy, 47, of Welsh, Louisiana was wanted on several fugitive warrants. Hardy was arrested on a warrant for disturbing the peace, criminal trespassing, simple assault, and aggravated assault.

Additional charges of possession of CDS II and taking contraband into a penal facility when Hardy was allegedly found to have narcotics in his pants pocket during the booking process.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.