Officers in Pine Prairie responded recently to a report of theft of money at the high school after video footage shows the suspect walking through campus on Sunday, October 21.
The video footage shows Antoinette E. Reed allegedly going in and out of classrooms in the Pre-K building as well as the elementary gym.
When officer Ben Bordelon arrived on scene days after the incident, the school’s principal Quint West advised money was missing from several of the classrooms.
Officer Bordelon reported, “One classroom had homecoming money (cash and checks) missing, one classroom had $45 cash, another had $12 cash missing and two drinking glasses, another had $15, and another classroom had $21 missing.”
According to officer Bordelon’s report, Alexandra Hazelton, who teaches at school, advised approximately $670 was taken from a filing cabinet in her classroom. Other teachers advised portions of the remaining money that was taken came from candy sales.
A day later, Reed was picked up and brought to the police station for questioning. During the questioning, Reed, according to the report, “advised she is homeless and has been staying inside classrooms at the school and (St. Peter’s) church.”
Reed acknowledged eating and drinking what she could find but denied taking the money from the classrooms. She was then transported to the Evangeline Parish Jail where deputies found a green medicine bottle containing hydroxyzine in her bags.
Officer Bordelon’s report states, “the medicine bottle belonged to a juvenile whose motheris a teacher at PPHS. Andrus’ classroom is also located in the same building Reed was seen going into on camera.”
Reed acknowledged taking the medicine bottle and was booked on charges of simple burglary, theft, and distribution or possession of a legend drug without a prescription.
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TONY MARKS Associate Editor