Woman Arrested for Vehicle Theft

class=”alignleft size-full wp-image-38965″ src=”http://klax-tv.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Joni-Leigh-Smith-mug.jpg” alt=”Joni-Leigh-Smith-mug” width=”200″ height=”282″ />On July 19th, 2014, Deputies from the Deville Substation responded to the 400 Block of Barney Rush Rd. Deville, LA in reference to theft of a motor vehicle. Upon the deputies arrival, the victim had no information about a suspect.

A short time later, the stolen vehicle was recovered by RPSO Patrol Deputies abandoned behind a residence in the Boyce area.  The vehicle had sustained damage and was returned to the owner.

A suspect who fled the scene, was later identified as Joni Leigh Smith of Boyce.  During the course of the investigation, Detectives were able to secure arrest warrants on Smith and tracked her to Wilson, LA, a village in East Feliciana Parish.  RPSO Detectives notified the Wilson Police Department of the active warrants and to be on the lookout for Smith.

On July 23rd, Officers from Slaughter, LA Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that Smith was a passenger in.   Smith was taken into custody on the active warrants and transported to the East Feliciana Parish Detention Center.  Smith was transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked for 1 count Unauthorized Use of a Moveable and 1 count Simple Criminal Damage to Property $500-50000.  Smith was later released on a $10,000.00 bond.