Lake Charles –
On May 11 at approximately 8:00 a.m. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives were contact by CPSO patrol deputies in reference to a suspicious van that had been in the area of Ham Reid Road, where numerous residential construction sites had been burglarized.
Detectives arrived at the residence on Aberdeen Drive, where the van was parked, and made contact with the homeowner, who allowed detectives to search the home. Once inside detectives located numerous power tools along with a Whirlpool stove, all of which had been reported stolen from residential construction sites in the same area.
After further investigation it was learned Azucena Madrigal, 62, 1628 8th Street, Lake Charles, owned several homes in Lake Charles that were currently being remodeled; possibly with stolen items. Detectives arrived at Madrigal’s home and attempted to make contact with her but were unsuccessful. Detectives obtained a search warrant for the home at which time they located Madrigal along with Joe Rojo, 30, Pasadena, Texas, inside the home. After speaking with Madrigal she allowed detectives to search 2 of her homes, located on 4th Street and 6th Street in Lake Charles. Upon searching the home on 6th Street detectives located numerous new windows and doors, valued at over $10,000, being stored inside. When asked about the windows and doors Madrigal advised detectives they had been purchased to remodel her homes. During further investigation detectives contacted the construction companies where the doors and windows were from and learned they had all been stolen from several different residential construction sites in Lake Charles. After the search of the home on 6th Street Madrigal became uncooperative and detectives obtained search warrants for two additional homes owned by her, located on Rose Street and Pryce Street in Lake Charles. After a search of both residences detectives located numerous building materials and power tools that had been stolen from various residential construction sites in the south Lake Charles area. Detectives also located a commercial grade zero turn lawnmower that had been reported stolen out of Texas.
Madrigal and Rojo were both arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Madrigal is charged with possession of stolen thing in excess of $25,000 and Rojo is charged with possession of stolen things $5,000 but less than $25,000. Judge Guy Bradberry set both their bonds $25,000.
The recovered property that was found is currently being returned back to the contractors.
The investigation is ongoing and more arrests and charges may follow.
CPSO Detective Lee Byrne is the lead investigator on this investigation assisted by CPSO Detective Mike Conner.