Victim, neighbor detain carjacker

With the help of a neighbor, the victim of a Sunday carjacking attempt caught the man who tried to steal his pickup at 155 Marilyn Drive in Baton Rouge, an affidavit of probable cause says.

The victim punched Brent Kelsey, 29, in the face after Kelsey pushed a woman getting into the passenger’s side of the victim’s pickup and told the victim he wanted the truck, the affidavit says.

The victim and a neighbor held Kelsey down until Baton Rouge police officers arrived, the affidavit says.

Kelsey, 42387 Black Bayou Road, Gonzales, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a count of carjacking.

Firefighters put out house fire 2nd time

A Saturday house fire on Cal Road re-ignited early Monday, forcing St. George Fire Protection District firefighters back out to the scene to battle the blaze, a department spokesman said.

Firefighters were called to 9546 Cal Road at 2:31 a.m. Monday, spokesman Eldon Ledoux said. When they arrived six minutes later, the house was mostly in flames.

The blaze was under control at 3:07 a.m., Ledoux said. No one was injured.

A couple escaped the home without injury Saturday when it caught on fire the first time, Ledoux said.

The couple was alerted by a crashing sound.

The carport and part of the living room roof were heavily damaged as the fire moved into the attic, he said. The rest of the house was damaged by smoke and water.

Additional damage was done to the house Monday during the second fire, Ledoux said. The damage was at least $160,000, he said.

The fire Saturday started when a meat smoker was placed under an overhang, giving the fire direct access to the attic and the roof, Ledoux said. The cause of the fire on Monday is still under investigation.

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.