Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office

Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office Welcome to the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office official page! Sheriff

Tonight was the first session of the 2026 RPSO CITIZENS ACADEMY. Tonight, Sheriff Mark Wood welcomed the attendees and i...
09/02/2026

Tonight was the first session of the 2026 RPSO CITIZENS ACADEMY.

Tonight, Sheriff Mark Wood welcomed the attendees and introduced them to the command staff structure of RPSO, spoke about some of the tasks the Sheriff’s Office handles and went over the upcoming sessions with the attendees.

We appreciate our Training Staff for putting this training on to give civilians an inside look at law enforcement but more importantly RPSO.

See everyone next week!

It’s hard to believe but cold weather will get here soon. Beat the rush, get that firewood now. FIREWOOD SALE THURSDAY S...
09/01/2026

It’s hard to believe but cold weather will get here soon.

Beat the rush, get that firewood now.

FIREWOOD SALE THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
7 AM to 1 PM

$60 PER RICK
LIMIT 2 RICKS

At approximately 3:15 PM today, August 31, 2026, Patrol Deputies responded to the 5000 block of Benjamin Street in the G...
08/31/2026

At approximately 3:15 PM today, August 31, 2026, Patrol Deputies responded to the 5000 block of Benjamin Street in the Grundy Cooper subdivision in reference to a welfare concern.

Sheriff’s Detectives say this is an active investigation and no further details will be released at this time. Currently, there is no indication of a risk to public safety at this point in the investigation.

We will update this release as more information becomes available.

On August 26, 2026, Sheriff’s Detectives were contacted by a victim in reference the alleged theft of their Yorkshire Te...
08/27/2026

On August 26, 2026, Sheriff’s Detectives were contacted by a victim in reference the alleged theft of their Yorkshire Terrier dog taken from their property in Hineston, LA. According to the initial complaint, the owner returned home on Sunday August 23, 2026 and discovered their dog missing.
Patrol Deputy’s responded and took the initial report and the complaint was forwarded to the Criminal Investigation Division for follow-up investigation..

Through their investigation, Sheriff’s Detectives were able to obtain photographs and video of a contract delivery driver in a personally owned gray Nissan Altima making a delivery at the residence. Further investigation also showed the driver on the victims property with the alleged stolen dog.

With the assistance of the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office, contact was made with the possible suspect, identified as Valita Di Yar Shipp of Leesville, LA. As their investigation continued, Sheriff’s Detectives, working in conjunction with the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division at Fort Polk, were able to establish sufficient probable cause that supported the original allegations and an arrest warrant for Shipp was obtained as well as a search warrant for her residence.

Contact was made with the U. S. Army CID at Fort Polk and the search and arrest warrants were executed on Fort Polk by military law enforcement personnel, VPSO and RPSO. Shipp was located and taken into custody without incident, placed under arrest and transported to the Vernon Parish Jail where she was booked for one count theft $1,000 – $5,000. The Yorkshire Terrier dog was located in good condition and released to the rightful owner.

RPSO would like to thank the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office as well as the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division for their assistance in this investigation.

“ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.”

Arrestee:
Valita Di Yar Shipp
137 Meeks Court, Fort Polk, LA

Charge:
Theft $1,000 – $ 5,000

Thanks so much to Dr. Alysia Tolbert-Nelson and her staff at Horseshoe Drive Elementary for having us for “Together Tues...
08/26/2026

Thanks so much to Dr. Alysia Tolbert-Nelson and her staff at Horseshoe Drive Elementary for having us for “Together Tuesday”!

It’s so encouraging to see the students and the teachers who are so dedicated to teaching them!

Thanks again and have a great school year!

Today, we had the pleasure of participating in   at Horseshoe Drive Elementary New Vision Academy. Sheriff Mark Wood alo...
08/26/2026

Today, we had the pleasure of participating in at Horseshoe Drive Elementary New Vision Academy.

Sheriff Mark Wood along with Major Travis Davidson and SRO supervisors got to greet and welcome the students for a new day of learning possibilities!

We want to thank Dr. Alysia Tolbert-Nelson, Principal and her staff for their warm welcome and we look forward to the next visit!

Today, we had a visit from a young lady who is doing an internship selling educational materials. Shelvy "The Bookgirl" ...
08/25/2026

Today, we had a visit from a young lady who is doing an internship selling educational materials.

Shelvy "The Bookgirl" Millado will be working on the Deville area after completing several weeks in LaSalle Parish.

We have vetted Shelvy and she is a student from San Diego State University working toward a degree in computer science and Finance.

We wish Shelvy all the best and to be safe.

Working together to help keep our communities safe.
08/22/2026

Working together to help keep our communities safe.

REGION 3 NEWS RELEASE
August 22, 2026

Alexandria Man Arrested for Child S*x Trafficking and Purchase of Commercial S*xual Activity

Alexandria - On August 21, 2026, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP SVU), working in coordination with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, conducted an undercover chat operation in Alexandria and surrounding areas. The operation resulted in the arrest of 37-year-old Esaw Owens III.

During the operation, undercover law enforcement officers communicated with Owens regarding s*xual acts in exchange for money. As a result of the operation and information obtained, Owens was arrested for human trafficking of children for s*xual purposes and purchase of commercial s*xual activity. Owens is employed by the Rapides Parish School Board as a coach and bus driver. He was transported to the Rapides Parish Correctional Facility and processed on the charges.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. No further information is available at this time.

LSP SVU works to rescue and seek justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans for s*x or labor. The public plays an important role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes and is urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through an anonymous reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators. The form can be found by visiting http://la-safe.org/and clicking on the “Suspicious Activity” link.

Contact Information:
Sgt. Scott Moreau
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section
Office: (318) 769-9872
[email protected]

On July 15th, 2026 Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit received an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers in referen...
08/20/2026

On July 15th, 2026 Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit received an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers in reference to an individual, identified as John Fitzgerald Marshal, allegedly selling illegal narcotics from his residence in the 3000 block Olcutt Street. The case was assigned to an Agent and through their initial investigation, the complaint was quickly confirmed. As their investigation continued, Agents were able to establish sufficient probable cause and obtain a search warrant for Marshal’s residence.

On July 30th, 2026, RADE Agents executed the search warrant at 3101 Olcutt Street where Marshal and three other individuals were present at the time of the warrant service. A search of the residence was conducted and agents located approximately 10 ounces of Methamphetamine, approximately 6 ounces of Fentanyl, just under 1 ounce of powder co***ne, approximately 800 Ecstasy pills, approximately ¼ pound of high grade Ma*****na, 52 Xanax pills, 4 fi****ms, one of which was reported stolen, and a variety of other prescription pills. Along with the narcotics and the fi****ms, Agents located $2134 in assorted U.S. currency.

Marshal was taken into custody without incident, placed under arrest and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he was booked on various narcotics related charges. Marshal was also provided with a Civil Asset Forfeiture Form for the seized cash.
Marshal remains in jail at the time of this release being held on a $710,000.00 bond.

RPSO has a Bureau of Alcohol, To***co, and Fi****ms Task Force Officer who was contacted in reference to the fi****ms charges associated with this case for potential federal prosecution.

The Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit is a multi-jurisdictional team comprised of the Alexandria Police Department, Ball Police Department, Boyce Police Department, Cheneyville Police Department, Forest Hill Police Department, Glenmora Police Department, Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office Lecompte Police Department, McNary Police Department, Pineville Police Department, Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office, Woodworth Police Department, Grant Parish District Attorney’s Office, Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office, Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole and the FBI SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE.

The RADE Unit continues to target individuals suspected of trafficking narcotics in the Central Louisiana area. If you have information or would like to report any narcotics activity, you may do so by sending direct messages to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement page at https://www.facebook.com/RADEunit/.

“ALL PERSONS ARE PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION.”

Arrestee:
John Fitzgerald Marshal, 54 3101 Olcutt Street, Alexandria, LA
Charges:
Possession of CDS II (Methamphetamines) with Intent to Distribute Possession of CDS II (Fentanyl) with Intent to Distribute Possession of CDS II (Powder Co***ne) with Intent to Distribute Possession of CDS I (Ecstasy) with Intent to Distribute Possession of CDS I (Ma*****na) with Intent to Distribute Possession of CDS IV (Xanax) with Intent to Distribute four counts of Illegal Carry of a Firearm with Narcotics four counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon Possession of CDS II (Oxycodone) Possession of CDS II (Methadone) Possession of a Stolen Firearm Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses

Thanks Red River Bank for letting the public know about this attempted SCAM!!
08/18/2026

Thanks Red River Bank for letting the public know about this attempted SCAM!!

If you receive an unexpected call from someone claiming to represent Red River Bank and asking you to click a link to verify a fraud alert, do not click the link or log in.

We will never ask you to provide your Online Banking username, password or Secure Access Code. Never share this information with anyone.

Simply hang up and call your banker directly or call us at (866) 561-4090 to confirm the request. Your security is our priority.

Address

701 Murray Street
Alexandria, LA
71301

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office:

Shortcuts

Share

Category