Cypress- A private citizen assisted Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies in the arrest of a burglary suspect near Cypress on Tuesday evening, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
On Tuesday, January 6, 2026, at approximately 8:12 p.m., deputies assigned to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Operations Bureau were dispatched by the NATCOM 911 Center to a reported possible burglary in progress in the 11000 block of Louisiana Highway 1, south of Cypress.
A concerned citizen, familiar with the area, contacted NATCOM 911 after observing a suspicious 2006 white Ford pickup truck at the residence and a male subject loading items into the rear of the vehicle.
The citizen was aware the residence was unoccupied and that the homeowner was not at home at the time.
While deputies were en route, the concerned citizen contacted NATCOM 911 again and reported that he had the suspect detained.
Deputies arrived on scene and identified the suspect as Mario R. Stewart, 40, of the 800 block of Bayou Derbonne Road in Montrose, Louisiana.
The homeowner was contacted and responded to the scene. After conducting an assessment of the property, several items were determined to be missing, including an air compressor, stainless steel cables, copper, a stainless valve, and an electric motor, among other items. The total value of the stolen property was estimated to be over $3,500.
During the investigation, deputies learned that Stewart had allegedly been taking items from the property since around Thanksgiving. Deputies also discovered that some of the stolen property had been taken to a location on Bayou Derbonne Road. With the assistance of a relative, deputies were able to recover the stolen property, which was returned to the homeowner.
As a result of the investigation, Stewart was transported and booked into the LaSalle Corrections / Natchitoches Detention Center and charged with Criminal Trespassing, Theft, and Simple Burglary. He was also charged with Failure to Appear for Pre-Trial on March 11, 2025, in the 10th Judicial District Court on charges of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things valued between $1,000 and $5,000.
Stewart remains incarcerated at the LaSalle Corrections / Natchitoches Detention Center.
Detectives with the NPSO Criminal Investigations Bureau are assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Deputies say the concerned citizen stated that he regularly pays attention to the residence and surrounding area while traveling to and from work and noticed something suspicious, prompting him to act out of concern for his neighbor.
Sheriff Stuart Wright praised the citizen’s actions, stating,
“We are extremely grateful for this citizen’s awareness and willingness to look out for his neighbor. His actions played a key role in stopping this crime and recovering stolen property. I encourage all citizens, if you see something suspicious, report it immediately. Working together, we can help keep our communities safe.”
“We also thank our Communications Division for their promptness in getting the information out to our responding units.”
Deputies involved in the investigation were Deputy Sgt. K. Padilla and Deputy Cpl. B. Keyser.
If you see suspicious activity in your community, contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-357-7851or 911 if it’s a crime in progress.
