Two men arrested after a spree of incidents in Meraux of vandalism to vehicles and home mail boxes; Baseball bat believed used found in suspects’ car

Jonathan Cross, 25, booked with criminal damage to vehicles and mail boxes in St. Bernard.

Kory Mattox, 20, also booked with criminal damage.

Two St. Bernard Parish men were arrested for criminal damage to property and flight from officers after a spree of night-time incidents of vandalism to parked vehicles and home mail boxes, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

A metal baseball bat believed used by the suspects to smash property was found in the vehicle they were riding in, with the bat matching an impression made when a windshield on one vehicle was bashed, the sheriff said.

Jonathan Cross, 25, and Kory Mattox, 20, both of whom listed their address as 5648 E. St. Bernard Highway, were stopped at Bartolo Drive at East St. Bernard Highway in Meraux early Sunday morning, Sept. 15, after a brief chase by deputies who spotted them based on a description by witnesses of the car they were riding in, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Both were booked with criminal damage to property and flight from officers and were placed in St. Bernard Parish Prison. Mattox was released on bond, but the amount wasn’t available. Cross was being held in lieu of $4,500 bond.

Vandalism incidents were reported on Aramis Street, Judy Drive and Claiborne Street, all in Meraux.

Residents of several streets where the vandalism occurred said they saw two men in a gold-colored car stop, and one got out and damaged vehicles or mail boxes, then sped away.

Also, one resident of Aramis Street returned home Sept. 17 from a trip out of the parish and reported finding his mailbox knocked to the ground, the sheriff said.

“At least six incidents of vandalism were reported by residents”, the sheriff said.