On January 4, with assistance from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 tracking team and air support, led to the arrest of a Natchitoches man who fled into the woods following a domestic disturbance Saturday night, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Saturday evening, Jan. 3 at approximately 6:15 p.m., deputies assigned to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations Bureau were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center to a reported domestic disturbance involving a knife in the 4900 block of Louisiana Highway 3278 near Natchitoches.
Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with the victim, who was uninjured.
While speaking with her, deputies learned her son, identified as 24-year-old Elias M. Quiller, had allegedly threatened to kill her before fleeing into the woods prior to their arrival. Deputies were provided with a description of the suspect.
The victim informed deputies that Quiller had been acting erratically for most of the day. She stated that after she asked him to remove a television from the bathroom, Quiller armed himself with a kitchen knife and threatened to kill her. According to initial reports, the victim stated she feared for her life and indicated this was not the first time such threats had occurred.
Deputies gathered information for an offense report, including video evidence related to the incident.
Deputies searched the surrounding area but were unable to locate the suspect.
Based on sufficient evidence and probable cause, deputies submitted a criminal warrant to a 10th Judicial District Court judge for Quiller’s arrest.
On Sunday morning, January 4, 2026, at approximately 7:12 a.m., deputies responded back to the victim’s residence after she called 911 reporting that Quiller was standing in her backyard.
Upon arrival, deputies observed the suspect running across Louisiana Highway 3278 into a wooded area.
At approximately 9:33 a.m., deputies again observed Quiller in the backyard before he fled into the woods. Seven NPSO deputies established a perimeter around the area.
Deputies requested assistance from the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 Tracking Team.
DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded with additional manpower, drones, and a helicopter to provide air support.
Deputies from both agencies conducted a coordinated search of a wooded area spanning approximately 1.5 miles.
Quiller was later located and issued loud verbal commands to stop. He refused to comply and attempted to flee again. After additional commands were ignored, the K-9 was deployed, and Quiller was taken into custody a short time later following a dog bite to the hip area.
Deputies assessed the injury, rendered aid, and escorted Quiller back to the scene.
Natchitoches Regional Medical Center EMS responded for medical evaluation. Quiller was transported to Natchitoches Regional Medical Center, treated, and released.
Following his release, Quiller was transported and booked into the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center. He was charged with one count of Domestic Abuse/Aggravated Assault and one count of Resisting an Officer. He remains in the detention center at this time.
Sheriff Stuart Wright expressed his appreciation for the assistance provided during the incident.
“I would like to personally thank DeSoto Parish Sheriff Jayson Richardson and the men and women of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office for their swift response and outstanding assistance,” said Sheriff Wright. “Their K-9 Tracking Team, air support, and additional manpower played a critical role in safely locating and apprehending the suspect. This incident underscores the importance of strong partnerships between law enforcement agencies, and we are grateful for their professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to public safety.”
NPSO Deputies involved were: Deputy H. Layfield, Deputy Lt. B. Smith, Deputy Sgt. C. Olliff, Deputy A. Coon, Deputy Sgt. D. Halliburton, Deputy T. Miller Jr., Deputy J. Edwards, and Deputy A. Weeks.
The victim was issued a Louisiana Automated Victim Notification Form.