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Two arrested following vehicle burglary investigation in Port Barre

Posted at 1:27 PM, Jan 01, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-01 14:30:33-05

 A Port Barre man has been arrested in connection with multiple burglaries in the area and another man arrested following an investigation into those burglaries.

Port Barre Police say they arrested 21-year-old Christian Sonnier in connection with the burglaries on Rayne Road and Edward Drive. He is accused of burglarizing multiple vehicles on December 8, 2018. Several guns were allegedly stolen during those break-ins.

Police says they were able to locate two of the stolen guns stashed in a nearby wooded area. They also retrieved home surveillance video from one of the victims, which allegedly shows Sonnier and two other unidentified suspects burglarizing vehicles.

On December 28, 2018, police executed a search warrant on Sonnier’s home and allegedly recovered stolen items linking him to at least two of the vehicles burglaries. One of those burglaries is in the jurisdiction of Port Barre and they other is in the jurisdiction of St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

While searching Sonnier’s property, police say they located a small amount of Marijuana from a vehicle belonging to 20-year-old McKenzie Roberts of Opelousas. Roberts, officials say, was visiting Sonnier at the time of the search warrant.

An alleged stolen firearm was found in Roberts’ vehicle, according to police. Roberts was arrested and booked on possession of a stolen firearm and possession of Marijuana.

Sonnier was arrested and booked on two counts of vehicle burglary, two counts of attempted vehicle burglary and  two counts of criminal damage to property along with two counts of criminal trespassing.

Both are currently held in the St. Landry Parish Jail.

Christian Sonnier and McKenzie Roberts / Port Barre Police Dept.

Police collected DNA from one of the vehicle burglaries and the evidence has been sent to the State Police crime lab for DNA matching.

A cash reward will be provided for anyone with information leading to the identity and arrest of Sonnier’s two accomplices. Please contact the Port Barre police department at (337) 585-6212, with information.