Shotgun-Toting Convicted Felon Located and Arrested

On Wednesday (March 2, 2022), a Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy responded to a resident’s complaint that a man he knew had come into his yard with a shotgun, fired the shotgun and threatened to shoot the homeowner. After cursing the homeowner, the shotgun-toting man left the scene.

The patrol deputy relocated to the house of the man who is alleged to have made the threat and encountered Robert Earl Bridges, Jr., age 41 and a resident of Elmer Corkern Road. Bridges, a convicted felon, surrendered a loaded 12-guage shotgun to the deputy without incident. While searching Bridges, the deputy discovered he had on two pairs of pants. In a zippered pocket on the inside pair of pants, the deputy discovered marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Bridges was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail.

Once at the jail, Bridges was booked on charges of illegal discharge of a weapon, criminal trespass, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with a weapon present and possession of drug paraphernalia. In addition, he was booked on an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court. His bond was set at $30,500.

“There is likely more to this story than meets the eye,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “It’s uncommon for someone to enter a residential yard, fire a shotgun blast and threaten the homeowner. It is common, however, for one of our deputies to respond to such a complaint and to make an arrest if necessary. I extend thanks to our deputy for resolving the situation and making the arrest.”