Suspect Carl Kopietz, wanted in 2008 arson and burglary of a Chalmette daiquiri shop destroyed by fire, has been caught in Michigan by U.S. Marshals

Carl Kopietz, a native of Michigan wanted in a May 5, 2008, arson fire in Chalmette set to destroy evidence of a burglary at a daiquiri shop where he drank, has been caught in Michigan bythe U.S. Marshal’s Service and faces being brought back for prosecution, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kopietz, 39, a drifter who came through Chalmette while working construction jobs after Hurricane Katrina, was arrested Monday, April 7 by a Marshal’s Service task force in the Detroit area, the sheriff said. Kopietz had left the New Orleans area about 2010, skipping out on several theft and drug charges pending against him in other parishes including Jefferson and St. Tammany.

It was only in late February that St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives were able to obtain warrants from a judge for Kopietz’ arrests for arson and burglariy in a six-year-old fire at Daiquiries of St. Bernard, a small bar at 120 Packenham Drive, just off West Judge Perez Drive.

Kopietz allegedly frequented the bar when he worked in Chalmette. Kopietz is being held in a county jail in Oakland, Mich., and faces several felony charges in Michigan. He would be brought back to St. Bernard Parish for prosecution, probably when charges there have been completed in Michigan, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“It is good news to hear he was tracked down,’’ the sheriff said. “It took a while to develop information which led to obtaining warrants for this suspect’s arrest. And it would be good to be able to prosecute and resolve this six-year-old case.’’

About 5 a.m. on May 5, 2008, the daiquiri shop was broken into, its three video poker machines emptied and the place torched, apparently to destroy evidence of the break-in. The site is now a vacant plot of land. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen, Sheriff Pohlmann said at the time. The Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted an investigation, also aided by the Louisiana Fire Marshal’s office, including a $5,000 reward offered in the case, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said evidence was developed which led to Kopietz as the perpetrator after someone came forward with information. Others may also have been involved, he said.

He said St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives presented information to a state district judge to obtain arrest warrants. Judge Robert Buckley of St. Bernard Parish issued warrants Feb. 25 for the arrest of Kopietz for arson and burglary.