Acadia Parish Sheriff Dept. reports manhunt is over ... two Lafayette men are in custody

Two Lafayette men are in custody following a manhunt in Acadia Parish that occurred shortly after noon Tuesday afternoon.

According to Acadia Parish Sheriff Wayne Melancon his office received a 911 call at approximately 12:13 p.m. from a resident reporting suspicious activity in the 9400 block of Airport Road and a possible residential burglary in progress. Upon arrival on scene the responding deputy observed a black male subject kicking in a door leading into the residence. The officer advised that two black male subjects immediately fled the scene on foot.

Melancon stated that deputies and investigators from his agency along with law enforcement and K-9 from surrounding agencies immediately began a search for the pair. A nixle message was immediately sent to residents living in the area advising them of the situation.

Around 1:00 p.m. 911 dispatchers received a call from a resident living in the 7100 block of East Whitney near Morse that reported their resident had been burglarized.

Shortly before 2:00 p.m. both suspects were apprehended and taken into custody without incident. Arrested were: Ronald Joseph Jr., age 25 of Moss Street, Lafayette & Ross Elijah Chaisson, age 19 of Tournoir Street, Lafayette. Both suspects are being charged with simple burglary and home invasion. District Judge Kristian Earles has set bond at $250,000.

Sheriff Melancon also reported that items taken from the residential burglary in the 7100 block of E Whitney near Morse were recovered in the white Ford Expedition the two suspects were driving.

Agencies assisting the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office & K-9 in the manhunt were Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office & K-9, Crowley Police Department & K-9, Abbeville Police Department & K-9, Kaplan Police Department & K-9, Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office and K-9, the Lafayette City Marshall's Office and neighbors in the community.

At press time Melancon advises that three more residential burglaries in the Morse have been reported.

As the investigation continues additional charges are expected.