Reddell set ablaze

A Eunice man is facing multiple charges in two parishes including four counts of attempted second-degree murder after allegedly setting fire to a house in the Reddell area near Mamou early Friday morning, April 9.
James N. Rozas, 33, of Eunice, has been booked on four counts of attempted second-degree murder, one count of aggravated arson, one count of simple arson and one count of violation of a protective order in Evangeline Parish. In Allen Parish he will be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle. Other charges from other agencies are expected.
The Evangeline Fire District One responded to the fire at approximately 3 a.m. Friday morning. Firefighters discovered a woman and her three children were in the home when Rozas entered to announce he had set the house and a vehicle on fire, according to reports. The woman and her children, which included an infant, were able to escape unharmed.
According to reports obtained from the Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court’s Office, Rozas became “highly agitated after ingesting a methamphetamine mixture.”
The reports continued, “He stripped off all of his clothes and became abusive toward the owner. He then set fire to the rear bedroom which was occupied by (the owner) and her three juvenile children.”
During the investigation, the Louisiana State Fire Marshal’s office was called in to discover the origin and cause of the fire. Investigators learned there were multiple areas of origin both inside of the home and in a vehicle parked outside of the home, deeming the fires were intentionally set.
Deputies from the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office and members of the fire marshal’s office learned Rozas fled the area armed with a gun and wearing only a hoodie sweatshirt.
The reports from the clerk’s office stated, Rozas was “known to keep a .380 handgun in his possession.”
Evangeline Parish Sheriff Charles R. Guillory said his agency sent information out to the surrounding communities to look for Rozas.
Allen Parish Detective Matt Hebert, on behalf of Sheriff Doug Hebert III, said detectives were dispatched about 9 a.m. Friday to assist Evangeline Parish. Evangeline Parish deputies were tracking a stolen Ford Ranger traveling west into Allen Parish.
Hebert said the suspect switched vehicles and stole another vehicle off state Highway 104 on a farm in the Oberlin area. The deputies reached the area where the suspect swapped vehicles and learned a white 2002 Tacoma Toyota had been taken and information was given to area agencies.
Within an hour, Hebert said the Coushatta Tribal Police were in pursuit of the vehicle and joined by the other agencies. He said the license plate matched. The pursuit began on U.S. 165 in front of the resort and continued into Kinder where he was stopped at the overpass by the Kinder Police.
Hebert said Rozas was taken into custody. He was released to Evangeline Parish due to the serious charges but will return to Allen to be charged with possession of a stolen vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle.
All of the agencies thanked each other for the assistance in apprehending Rozas. Besides the fire marshal, two sheriff’s departments, Coushatta Tribal and Kinder Police, the Eunice City Marshal assisted in the search.