Parsons Police make arrests in Hashtag Tobacco Shop burglary

(From the Parsons Police Department)

At 9:23 am on Sunday, December 31, 2023 (New Year’s Eve), Parsons Police Officers responded to the Hashtag Tobacco Shop at 2911 Main Street. Officers discovered that the building had been burglarized during the overnight hours. Hashtag Tobacco Shop is currently closed and had been seized by the Labette County Sheriff’s Office as part of a narcotics investigation.

Upon arrival police found that forced entry had been made by breaking through a glass front door of the building. After a search of the building the police determined that the suspect(s) had already departed the building.

After the building was processed for evidence, it was turned back over to the Labette County Sheriffs Office which still has possession of the Hashtag Tobacco Shop from their earlier narcotics investigation. The building was resecured and sealed by the sheriff’s office.

The burglary investigation led officers to a residence in 400 Block of North 29th. A person of interest, Lukas Bridges a 20-year-old male was located there. During a search of the residence, stolen property from the Hashtag burglary was located and seized by officers. Bridges was arrested and booked on charges of burglary, theft, criminal damage, and felony interference.

 
A second suspect in the burglary was developed and was found at his residence in the 2400 block of Dirr. The suspect is a 14-year-old male juvenile who was interviewed. Stolen property from the Hashtag Tobacco store burglary was also found in the residence and was seized. 

The juvenile suspect was taken into custody for burglary, theft, criminal damage, and felony interference. The Juvenile department was notified, and the juvenile was transported to Girard to the Southeast Kansas Juvenile Detention Center.

Sgt Charlie Brown, Detective Sgt Brice Dickens, Corporal Christian Smith, and Officer Donald Joy all collaborated on the response and investigation of this crime.

This continues to be an on-going investigation and citizens are encouraged to “See It, Hear It, Report It.” All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. If anyone has any further information on this incident or if they were a witness to this incident, please contact Detective Lieutenant Sherri McGuire at 620-421-7060, so you can be interviewed. You can also call the Tip Line at 620-421-7057 or email tips@parsonspd.com.