St. Paul RCMP has laid charges for two separate break-and-enter cases after DNA evidence matched a suspect for both incidents.
On May 19, 2016, at 4:39 a.m. St. Paul RCMP responded to a commercial alarm at a pawn store along 50 Avenue in the town of St. Paul. Officials found the front door of the business smashed and noticed many missing items. DNA was collected at the scene but had no match at the time.
St. Paul officers responded to another break-and-enter on June 27, 2022, at 5:28 a.m. in a dollar store in the town of St. Paul. RCMP found the front door to the business smashed and learned that a safe was stolen from the office. DNA was also collected and after receiving judicial authorization, St. Paul officials obtained DNA from a suspect, which was a match to both incidents.
As a result of the investigation on Aug. 23, 2023, Lawrence Desjarlais was arrested and charged with two counts of break and enter and theft over $5000.
Cpl. Stephen Cunningham of the St. Paul RCMP says the investigation demonstrates that the RCMP takes property crime very seriously and the will continue investigations for however long it takes to make an arrest.
Desjarlais was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on conditions, with his next court date being Sept. 21, 2023, at the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul.