OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

Belle Chasse, LA - The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office (PPSO), in collaboration with the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office (SFM), announces the arrest of Willie Garcia, 39, of Belle Chasse following the joint investigation that included several incidents since November of 2022.

After responding to multiple complaints at a residence in the 14000 block of Highway 23 since November of 2022, PPSO and SFM began investigating four separate fire calls that were started damaging the exterior of the residence. Additionally, PPSO investigated two separate shootings at the same location that occurred in January of 2023 and February of 2023 in which gunshots struck and damaged the residence. It was determined that some of the incidents occurred while the residence was occupied. As a result of the joint investigation, SFM issued arrest warrants for Garcia relative to one count of Attempted First Degree Murder and four counts of Aggravated Arson while detectives with the PPSO Criminal Investigation Bureau issued arrest warrants in connection to the shooting incidents on the following charges; two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder, two counts of Aggravated Criminal Damage of Property and one count of Illegal Discharge of a Firearm.

Additionally, PPSO also identified Garcia as a suspect that threatened a Naomi area business owner with a firearm in an unrelated incident on February 22, 2023.

On the evening of February 22, PPSO deputies arrested Garcia without incident in the Belle Chasse area. At the time of his arrest, Garcia, a convicted felon, was in possession of a firearm. Garcia was transported to the Plaquemines Parish Detention Center (PPDC), where he was booked on the aforementioned charges along with one count of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and one count of Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

"These are some serious, violent offenses and we're fortunate this wasn't a more tragic incident. This blatant disregard for human life can't and won't be tolerated," said Sheriff Turlich. "Thank you to our deputies and partners at the State Fire Marshal's Office for their hard work and assistance with removing a violent criminal from our community."

Willie Garcia is currently confined at the PPDC awaiting an appearance in Magistrate Court. For additional information regarding the Aggravated Arson investigation, please see the press release issued by the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office.

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Contact Information:
Captain Chaun J. Domingue
Public Information Officer
Office: 504-934-6785
cdomingue@ppso.net