| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 5549 | 2012-04-12 | Troop F | Hwy 4 Bar Owners and Caldwell Resident Arrested Following Joint Investigation |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent News Release April 12, 2012
Joint Investigation As part of the joint investigation resulting from the July 18, 2010 murder of Carl Crain, the April 8, 2011 murder of Jody Ezell and the March 3, 2012 murder of Colby Fortenberry - all at the Hwy 4 Bar in Tensas Parish, three additional people were arrested on drug distribution charges. During the continuing joint investigation by the Louisiana State Police Criminal Investigations Division (Monroe Field Office), Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office and Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Office into the most recent murder of bartender Colby Fortenberry, investigators discovered additional criminal activity at the Hwy 4 Bar. Investigators determined the owners of the Hwy 4 Bar, Winnsboro residents Robert and Eunice Welch, were involved in the distribution of methamphetamine via their Tensas Parish bar and their Franklin Parish residence. Their investigation also led to a suspected major multi-parish methamphetamine supplier in Caldwell Parish, Todd Crockett. Based upon this joint investigation, on April 11, 2012 agents secured search warrants on the Hwy 4 Bar, the Welch’s Winnsboro residence and Crockett’s residence in Columbia. During the execution of these three search warrants, agents uncovered a large amount of suspected methamphetamine, various scheduled pills, ecstasy, assorted drug paraphernalia, a variety of weapons, and a significant amount of U.S. currency. As a result, Robert Welch, 63 years of age, was arrested and booked into the Franklin Parish Detention Center on the charges of Distribution of Schedule II – Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Transactions involving Drug Proceeds, Illegal Possession of Firearms (2 counts), and Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II – Methamphetamine for a bond total of $133,000. Robert Welch will also face the following charges in Tensas Parish: Distribution of Schedule II – Methamphetamine, Transactions involving Drug Proceeds, and Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II – Methamphetamine for a bond total of $90,000. Eunice Welch, 63 years of age, was arrested and booked into the Franklin Parish Detention Center on the charges of Distribution of Schedule II – Methamphetamine and Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II – Methamphetamine for a bond total of $75,000. Eunice Welch will also face the following charges in Tensas Parish: Transactions involving Drug Proceeds and Conspiracy to Distribute Schedule II – Methamphetamine for a bond total of $32,500. Todd Crockett, 41 years of age, was booked into the Caldwell Parish Jail on the following charges: Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II – Methamphetamine, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I – Ecstasy, Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule III – Lortab, Transactions involving Drug Proceeds, Illegal Possession of Firearms, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia for a total bond of $500,000. This investigation is on-going and additional arrests are expected. Contact Information: Lt. Julie Lewis Louisiana State Police Public Affairs – Executive Officer Julie.Lewis@dps.la.gov Office: (318) 345-2810 www.LSP.org | |||
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