| id | cleanReleaseDate | troopName | title |
| 6820 | 2009-05-06 | Statewide | State Police Arrest Fugitive Explosives Applicant |
| LOUISIANA STATE POLICE COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent HEADQUARTERS- NEWS RELEASE
State Police Arrest Fugitive Explosives Applicant BATON ROUGE- The Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit arrested a Texas man who applied for a state explosives license after a thorough background check revealed the man was wanted in Virginia on felony drug charges. Steven R. Van Wagnen (35 yrs old, W/M of Arp, TX) an employee of W.S. Specialty Services, a Texas-based explosive company, was arrested after Troopers learned Van Wagnen was wanted by the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office in the State of Virigina for three active felony warrants for possession of Cocaine, possession of Oxycodone and possession of Marijuana. Louisiana State Police ESU Troopers then contacted the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office in order to verify these warrants were still active. Upon confirmation, Van Wagnen was contacted and told that his explosive license application process was complete and his photographic explosive license was ready for issue. On Wednesday, May 06, 2009, Van Wagnen reported to State Police Headquarters in Baton Rouge from Whitehouse, Texas, under the pretense that he would be issued his photographic explosive license. After ESU Troopers positively identified Van Wagnen, he was placed under arrest for the felony narcotics warrants and booked at the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. He is currently awaiting extradition to Stafford County, Virginia. The Louisiana State Police Emergency Services Unit is the regulatory agency for licensing and enforcement of all explosives in the State of Louisiana. Individuals or businesses wishing to utilize explosives in Louisiana must submit an explosive license application prior to engaging in any explosive work. The application process prompts the Emergency Services Unit to conduct a thorough criminal background check, which includes a state and federal criminal records check (NCIC) and warrant check. Applicants also must submit fingerprint cards to ensure that a positive identification is obtained on each applicant. If the applicant successfully completes the background investigation, the applicant is issued a photographic explosive license similar to a driver’s license. The applicant is required to have the photographic explosive license on his/her person while engaged in any explosive related work within the State of Louisiana. Annually, the LSP-ESU conducts numerous background investigations and successfully issues explosive licenses to persons engaged in explosive work ranging from seismic oil and gas exploration, as well as various forms of industrial applications throughout the State of Louisiana. For more information contact: Sgt. Markus L. Smith Public Affairs Unit Louisiana State Police – Headquarters Office: (225) 925-6202 markus.smith@dps.la.gov www.LSP.org | |||
| No attachments for this article. | |||