Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: June 14, 2006

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Randy Patrick, Asst. Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Police arrest 2 more for theft of city property

Shreveport police have arrested 2 more city employees in connection with the theft of city property.

Melvin Alford 53 and Adrian West 37 both of Shreveport were arrested in connection with an investigation of theft of City property. Alford was arrested last Friday and West was arrested last Thursday.

In all 10 people are charged with taking copper and other metals belonging to the city and selling them to scrap yards. These individuals were booked into the city jail and then transferred to Caddo Correctional Center.

Two other individuals from the Department of water and sewer were also arrested on unrelated charges.

The charges were issued out of the City Marshal's Office.

Bobby Allums 31 of Shreveport was arrested on a warrant of driving under suspension, while Terry Coleman 56 also of Shreveport was arrested on a warrant of Property Standards Code.

Both Allums and Coleman were arrested last Thursday.

Several weeks ago, the Shreveport Police Department was contacted by Mike Strong, director of the Department of Operational Services, concerning allegations of internal employee theft at the Department of Water and Sewerage. Shreveport Police Detectives began an immediate investigation and surveillance; uncovering evidence that indicated city employees had been stealing property belonging to the City of Shreveport.

Strong says he was saddened to learn that city employees might be involved in breaking the law. "I am extremely disappointed in our employees who were involved in this," says Strong. "But I am also angry. Anyone who is accused of stealing from the City and our citizens should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law."

Shreveport Police have arrested the following suspects, all of whom are employed by the City of Shreveport at the Department of Water and Sewerage. Each suspect has been charged with internal theft of a felony nature and booked into the city jail:

Lindell White, age 50, of Shreveport

Leroy White, age 44, of Shreveport

William Okray, age 27, of Shreveport

Karlo Clarkson, age 50, of Shreveport

Jerry Smith, age 43, of Mansfield

Jerry Fields, age 53, of Shreveport

Rickey Brown, age 34, of Shreveport

Harold Taylor, age 41, of Shreveport

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews