Destrehan man arrested for allegedly setting fire to car; was in possession of drugs and weapons
Published 5:44 pm Monday, February 20, 2023
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
ST. CHARLES PARISH — The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has arrested a Destrehan man for allegedly setting fire to his car in an effort to collect insurance money. During the arrest, illegal drugs and weapons were found leading to additional unrelated charges.
Brett Eliser, 32, was booked into the St. Charles Parish Jail on Friday, February 17 on one count each of Simple Arson, Insurance Fraud, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with Intent to Distribute, Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms, Illegal Carrying of Weapons and Criminal Mischief.
In the early evening hours of January 16, the Norco Fire Department responded to a report of a vehicle fire located in the 1600 block of Lower Guide Levee Road in Norco. The truck had been reported stolen out of the New Orleans area earlier that day and the SFM was requested to investigate further.
Following extensive investigative efforts which included collecting witness statements, surveillance video and records research, deputies were able to determine the fire was intentionally set and they identified Eliser, the owner of the vehicle, as a suspect in the case.
On February 17, 2023, the SFM, with assistance from the St Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, took Eliser into custody at his home in Destrehan. During the arrest, deputies located evidence related to the fire along with stolen firearms, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
The SFM would like to remind all Louisianans that if you have information about a fire investigation, you can report it to our office anonymously either through our tip line at 1-844-954-1221 or online at lasfm.org.
