Alexandria, LA (2/14/2023) – Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office (RPSO) reported at 8:25 pm on Sunday, February 12th, 2023, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch was notified of a silent alarm activation at the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit building.
Patrol Deputies responded and located a back door to the building propped open upon their arrival. Deputies and a K-9 searched and cleared the building. Nothing appeared to be missing, as all the individual offices and evidence rooms were secured.
As deputies finished searching the area, they heard noises coming from another building near the 1600 block of Arnold Drive. They located a subject identified as Monica Lauren Mathews, 33, of Ball. Mathews was in possession of a dog, and both were detained as deputies continued their investigation.
From their investigation, deputies learned Mathews entered the building from an exterior door leading to a hallway. Deputies located paint peeled from the door facing, appearing to be tampered with. Once inside, Mathews used the restroom located in the hallway. According to Mathews, she thought the building was the Sheriff’s Office sub-station.
RADE Agents also responded to verify all other offices and evidence rooms were secure and had not been tampered with.
Mathews was arrested and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for simple burglary, criminal trespass, criminal damage to property, and allowing dogs to run free. Mathews remains in jail at the time of this release, being held on a $6500.00 bond. The dog was also impounded.
Arrestee:
Monica Lauren Mathews, 33
Ball, LA 71405
Charges:
criminal damage to property
simple burglary
criminal trespass
allowing dogs to run free
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A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “Allen persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
