May 13, 2002

PRESS RELEASE
To: Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian A. Crawford, Public Information Officer
Phone: 673-6652, cell: 455-2609, page: 675-2137

Fire Investigators Arrest Two in Separate Incidents; Investigation into Mailbox Bombing Continues

Fire Department asks public for help in Town South investigation

Shreveport Fire Department arson investigators arrested two men involved in separate incidents this morning. The first arrest came just before 7:00 a.m. when Fire Investigator Randy Stephens alleges Louis C. Guiton, 39, of Shreveport poured gasoline around his exwife’s home at 833 Huntington Lane. Stephens alledges that Guiton poured the petroleum product around the outside of the home and front porch after the exwife refused to answer the door. The exwife called 911 and Shreveport Police were able to detain Guiton until fire investigators could arrive and question him about the incident. Guiton is being charged with the placing of combustibles, a felony offense similar to a simple arson charge. The district attorney may choose to upgrade the charge to a more severe one of aggravated arson because of the possible harm to life that existed. Guiton may face additional charges for violating a court ordered restraining order placed by the exwife.

In an unrelated incident, fire investigators arrested 34-year-old Larry Dute of Shreveport for communicating the act of a planned arson. According to investigators, Dute made a comment to a third party that he was going to "blowup a bridge" at the Quail Creek Apartments, 1017 Quail Creek Road, where his estranged girlfriend lived. Dute was arrested at the Shreveport Public Boat Launch at the east end of Stoner Avenue this morning without incident. The charge is a felony offense.

In the over-the-weekend case involving the Town South mailbox bombing, fire investigators are still working on leads today to try and determining who destroyed a mailbox at 528 South Dresden Court. The Fire Department is asking for the public’s help in this case. Anyone with information related to this incident are asked to contact Captain Randy Stephens of the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Bureau at 673-6756. ###