ALEXANDRIA, La. (WNTZ) — A Pineville man was arrested twice within a week in connection with the alleged theft and illegal recycling of multiple vehicles, authorities said.

On March 26, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle in the 6000 block of Fifth Street in Alexandria. The victim told deputies they had left their vehicle at a Pineville automotive shop for repairs, but the work was never completed and the car was missing.

Detectives from the Tioga Substation, familiar with the shop due to previous incidents, identified Matthew Wesley Johnson, 43, of 329 Circle Drive in Pineville, as a suspect. Investigators later located the missing vehicle at a local business where vehicles are crushed and recycled.

Detectives obtained arrest warrants after determining there was probable cause to charge Johnson with theft of a motor vehicle valued between $1,000 and $5,000, criminal damage to property exceeding $1,000, and driving under suspension. Johnson was arrested on March 28 without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center. He was later released on a $10,500 bond.

As the investigation progressed, Johnson was linked to two additional stolen vehicles that had also been brought to a recycling center to be crushed. Additional warrants were issued for two counts of motor vehicle theft, including one between $5,000 and $25,000, and two more counts of criminal damage to property.

On April 1, a Louisiana State Police trooper, aware of the active warrants, conducted a traffic stop and arrested Johnson. He was booked again into the Rapides Parish Detention Center and released April 4 on a $20,300 bond.

Johnson now faces the following charges:

• Two counts of theft of a motor vehicle ($1,000–$5,000)
• One count of theft of a motor vehicle ($5,000–$25,000)
• Three counts of criminal damage to property ($1,000–$50,000)
• Two counts of driving under suspension
• One count of switched motor vehicle inspection (MVI)
• One safety belt violation

Detectives believe there may be additional victims connected to the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Matt Dauzat or Detective Susan Mosley at the Tioga Substation at (318) 641-6005.

Anonymous tips may be submitted through the Crime Stoppers P3 Tipster app, available at p3tips.com/community/mobile. Crime Stoppers is a private nonprofit organization and not affiliated with law enforcement.

Note: All suspects named are considered innocent until proven guilty.