A lost wallet led to the arrest of a Lena man on theft charges according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.

NPSO Patrol Division responded to a reported theft of a wallet at a business in the 11000 block of Hwy. 1 at Cypress July 30 at 8:30 pm. A New York resident stopped at the business. While pumping gas he placed and forgot his wallet (containing cash, identification and credit cards) on the gas pump. As he was leaving the parking lot of the business he realized he forgot the wallet, but when he returned, it was gone.

The case was turned over to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division High Tech Crime Unit. Detectives worked with the store management to review video surveillance, disseminating an image of a suspect among the patrol division.
Patrols in south Natchitoches Parish identified the suspect as Kevin D. Johnston, 39 of Lena, along with his possible whereabouts in a RV camper on Felix Roge Road near Melrose.

Johnston was wanted by State Probation and Parole for Absconding and by the Tenth Judicial District Court for Failure to Appear in Court on June 29, 2017 for a Probation Review.

NPSO Detectives, Task Force Agents and Patrol Deputies went to the RV camper Aug. 1 at 3 pm where they came in contact with Johnston. When they informed him they had a search warrant for his person and the camper he reached into his back pocket handing them the stolen wallet.

Johnston was booked into the Natchitoches Detention Center and charged with Theft, Probation Violation and Failure to Appear in the Tenth Judicial District Court. He remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center awaiting bond and a court appearance.

Detective V. Kay was assisted by the NPSO Patrol Division and NMJDTF in the arrest.