Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man wanted for stealing money from a donation box at a Raceland church has been arrested. Rusty Dupre, 21, of Bayou Blue was arrested Friday and admitted to committing the crime.

On Thursday, January 24, deputies responded to St. Hilary of Poitiers Catholic Church in Raceland in reference to a burglary. Deputies learned a man had walked into the church, forced open a donation box, and taken money from inside. He had also stolen a component of one of the security cameras which captured images of the suspect wearing a red shirt and shorts with an American flag print.

Deputies followed up on several anonymous tips submitted to Crime Stoppers Bayou Region, but none correctly identified the suspect. Through investigation, deputies developed Rusty Dupre as a suspect and found he had active warrants for his arrest. Deputies tracked Dupre to a camper on Danos Street in Raceland where he was found hiding in a closet. When questioned about the church burglary, Dupre confessed to taking money from the donation box. Deputies discovered the shorts with the American flag print which Dupre was seen wearing in the surveillance photos. Deputies also found Dupre in possession of methamphetamine, a digital scale, baggies, and a small amount of Xanax.

Dupre was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Simple Burglary, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Xanax, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He was also booked on outstanding warrants for Theft and Contempt of Court. His bond is set at $36,000.

Rusty Dupre