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Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Makes 1 Arrest, Still Searching for 2 Suspects for Catalytic Converters Thefts

Published July 22, 2021

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s detectives have made 1 arrest and are searching for 2 other suspects in connection with the theft of catalytic converters in Lake Charles.

Lake Charles, LA – On July 20, 2021, a theft at a local business was reported to the Calcasieu Parish Vehicle Crimes Investigation Unit (VCIU). Detectives were told that 15 to 20 catalytic converters, worth approximately $8,000, were stolen from a business on Prien Lake Road in Lake Charles during the early hours of June 20, 2021. During the investigation, surveillance footage showed an unknown man being dropped off at the scene of the crime. The man entered the property and moved security cameras out of view of the area the theft occurred. After following up on numerous tips and viewing surveillance footage at a local scrap yard, detectives learned three men, Rusty A. Conner, 38, of Lake Charles, Brent A. Touchet, 43, of Westlake, and Robert R. Kilgore II, 39, of Lake Charles, had recently scrapped several catalytic converters in the immediate days following the burglary. The part numbers on the catalytic converters that were scrapped by Conner, Touchet, and Kilgore matched the ones that were stolen from the business. After further investigation, detectives found that Conner and Touchet were responsible for the burglary and theft of the catalytic converters.

On July 22, 2021, detectives located Conner at which time he was transported to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for questioning. Conner later confirmed that he was responsible for the burglary and thefts of the catalytic converters while speaking with detectives. Conner was then arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with simple burglary; and theft. Judge Tony Fazzio set his bond at $45,000. Warrants were then issued by detectives and signed by Judge Tony Fazzio for the arrest of Touchet and Kilgore.

Touchet is charged with simple burglary; and theft. His bond is set at $45,000. Kilgore is charged with illegal possession of stolen things. His bond is set at $25,000.

Detectives are currently searching for Touchet and Kilgore and ask if anyone has any information regarding their whereabouts, please call CPSO at 337-491-3605.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office VCIU Detective Matthew Bean is the lead investigator on this case.

At the time this information was released, Conner was in the process of being booked, and no current mugshot was available. The attached mugshot is from a previous arrest in 2017.

Information from a press release from the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Featured image source: CPSO