Vandals leave Jaguar fans with flat tires
Authorities are investigating possible vandalism in a parking lot near the Police Department’s First District headquarters on Plank Road after 16 vehicles were found, each with all four tires deflated, the Baton Rouge constable said Sunday.
A group of Southern University football fans parked their cars in the lot, which is near the First District office at 4445 Plank Road and close to a sewage treatment plant, before getting on a bus to travel together to the Jaguars’ game against the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M., on Saturday, Baton Rouge Constable Reginald R. Brown Sr. said.
A friend of those fans passed by the lot Sunday to check on the vehicles and noticed the flat tires, police spokesman Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
That person passed the word to the fans and Brown, who contacted the Police Department, McKneely said.
Police went to the lot at 3:45 p.m. Sunday and found the flat tires, McKneely said.
Authorities are not quite sure yet if all the tires were punctured but they do suspect vandalism because of the high number — 64 — of deflated tires, Brown said.
Authorities also are not sure yet if any property was stolen from the vehicles or if the vehicles were damaged in any other way because the fans have not yet returned to Baton Rouge from the game, Brown said.
The fans are expected to return at 6 a.m. Monday, Brown said.
The group of fans regularly travels to Southern football games as part of bus trips organized by former Metro Councilman Charles Kelly, Brown said.
Southern lost to New Mexico, 66-21, on Saturday.
Editor’s note: This story was changed on Sept. 3, 2012 to correct the number of vehicles vandalized.