MONROE, La. – A 22-year-old man allegedly scooped up $1,300 from a cash register at a Duson, La. gaming property over the weekend. It was his third theft from the same casino. But this time, after fleeing, he crashed his car and wound up in a hospital, police said.
The suspect, identified as Triston Dupuis of Opelousas, La. allegedly grabbed the cash around noon on Saturday when casino employees were interacting with other customers, KLFY, a local TV station, reported.
A police officer spotted him and started to run after Dupuis. But the suspect reached his Nissan Versa and drove off. A short time later, Dupuis crashed the car into trees in Lafayette, police said. That is about 15 miles east of Duson. Officers had followed Dupuis in a high-speed chase.
After the crash, Dupuis was trapped in the Nissan. Lafayette firefighters extricated him.
Dupuis in Serious Condition
Dupuis was injured and taken to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. But he was listed in serious condition over the weekend, police said.
He will be booked on the charges after his release from the hospital, police said. The name of the casino was not identified in local news reports.
Suspect in Prior Casino Thefts
Dupuis is a suspect in two prior thefts at the same casino, police claim. One involved over $1,000 and the other was about $300, police said.
Lafayette Police say they also have an outstanding arrest warrant for Dupuis for a domestic abuse allegation case earlier this month.
