St. John investigators puzzle over breathing units found in woods
Published 12:00 am Saturday, February 19, 2000
ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / February 19, 2000
LAPLACE – Detectives with the St. John the Baptist Sheriff’s Office areasking the community for help in locating the owners of five self-contained breathing units found in the woods near Bayou Steel.
The units, packed in black, hard-shell cases, were discovered Feb. 6 by aLaPlace man hiking through the woods near some railroad tracks by Bayou Steel.
Detective Royal Burke reported the man “found them around 1 p.m. andcalled us up about 7 p.m after trying to find out what they were.”The SCBUs, made by a company named UltraLight II, are mostly used by firefighters, according to Burke. Four of the units are estimated to costaround $2,500, and a smaller fifth unit is priced at $1,400.
However, Burke said they have checked all the fire departments in the region and none report any breathing units missing or stolen.
The units consist of a bright yellow oxygen tank, air valves and a mask that covers the entire face. All the units are brand-new, according to Burke.The detectives thought this might be equipment used by the local refineries and chemical companies in case of chemical spills. But after furtherinvestigation, no local company said the equipment belonged to them.
“We were told that chemical plants use a different breathing system,” said Burke.
Detectives are concerned that because the units were found near the railroad tracks they might be from just about anywhere.
“We are checking out of state,” said Detective Eddie Cooper, who is also working on the case.
“We definitely suspect that these units were stolen,” said Burke.
Anyone with any information on these five SCBU should call Burke at 652- 2773.
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