Wild Series of Events Includes Thefts of Purse, Truck and Then a Hit-And Run

A Louisiana man faces credit card abuse and hit-and-run charges after a bizarre turn of events that took place on Monday.

Around 1 p.m. on Monday, May 25, La Grange Police investigated a wreck on Travis Street at the La Grange Cemetery, according to a report from La Grange Police Chief David Gilbreath. It was raining that day. Someone slid off the road, struck a light pole, street sign and the cemetery fence before driving away without calling police. La Grange Police notified surrounding law enforcement agencies to look out for a damaged vehicle.

Then around 2:30 p.m., a female worker at Weikel’s Bakery called police reporting a missing wallet. The woman told Police that a male entered the office at Weikel’s earlier that day, supposedly looking for the restroom. The woman directed the man to the restroom. Later that afternoon she noticed that her wallet was missing from her purse. The woman told police that the man was the only other person to enter her office.

Gilbreath said the woman immediately began calling her financial institutions to report her credit cards as stolen. One of the institutions informed the woman that her credit card was used at Murphy’s gas station in La Grange that afternoon. The woman went to Murphy’s and found her wallet in the trash, but her credit cards and drivers licence were missing.

In the meantime, a DPS Trooper pulled over a damaged U-Haul box truck pulling a U-Haul car hauler trailer loaded with a Toyota RAV4 SUV. The trooper made the stop on TX-71 near Columbus. Both tires on the passenger side of the trailer were blown out.

The trooper determined that the U-Haul was involved in the hit-and-run accident in La Grange. He arrested the driver, 28-year-old Eric John Lemarie of Lafayette, Louisiana. Two other passengers were inside the vehicle, Chaz Pierre Lemarie and Karina Lopez Lemarie, both 30 and also from Lafayette. The trooper released both passengers in Columbus without charges.

By the time DPS brought Eric Lemaire back to La Grange, Gilbreath said, La Grange Police determined he was the suspect who took the wallet at Weikels. They also learned that the U-Haul truck and the car hauler were reported stolen from Spicewood.

La Grange Police charged Eric Lemarie with disregarding duty upon striking a fixed object, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and credit card abuse. Gilbreath said more charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues. Gilbreath said Eric Lemarie also had warrants from Harris and Travis counties.

The story doesn’t end there.

Also on Monday, Gilbreath said, another U-Haul car hauler trailer was reported stolen in Columbus. Gilbreath said the two passengers, Chaz and Karina Lemarie, are the suspects in that theft.

Curiously, the Toyota Rav4 has not been reported stolen, Gilbreath said.