U.S. Marshals and Louisiana State Police Capture Fugitive Hiding in Morgan City

New Orleans, LA – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) New Orleans Task Force and Louisiana State Police (LSP), located and arrested fugitive, John Henry Bartholomew Jr. (32 years old), hiding out at a motel on Highway 182 in Morgan City, Louisiana. He had been featured on local New Orleans metro area news as a fugitive and was aware that law enforcement was looking for him. The arrest was made with support from a Crime stoppers GNO (Greater New Orleans) tip and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service Western District of Louisiana (U.S. Marshals Service Lafayette, LA Office). He was arrested after a twenty-minute standoff at which point he surrendered without incident.

On Tuesday July 07, 2020, at approximately 10 am a Louisiana State Police Trooper attempted to stop a silver Ford F-150 traveling 86 mph in a 60-mph zone on I-10 westbound in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana . Upon the Trooper making contact with the driver, later identified as John Henry Bartholomew Jr., the vehicle smelled of Marijuana and Bartholomew began acting very nervous. He was asked to step to the rear of the vehicle and his female passenger was also asked to step out of the vehicle.

While the uniformed Louisiana State Police Trooper was attempting to place him under arrest for narcotics violations Bartholomew got back in the truck and would not listen to verbal commands and began to reach for something. Bartholomew then drove off leaving the female passenger on the side of the road. During a pursuit by the Trooper, Bartholomew threw two separate firearms out of the truck along with various narcotics. He then continued into St. John the Baptist Parish before stopping near the 100 block of Tammy Dr. in Laplace, Louisiana. He then fled on foot and efforts to arrest him via the use of a Taser failed. Bartholomew then fought with the trooper and threw him off before fleeing into a pond. It was learned that Bartholomew had a pistol wedged between the driver seat and another firearm modified into an AR-pistol style rifle in the back seat that were thrown off the Bonnet Carre Spillway during the pursuit.

Bartholomew was wanted by Louisiana State Police on a St. Charles Parish warrant from July 07, 2020, charging him with felony Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Battery and Resisting a Police Officer, Speed Limit Violations, Operating a Vehicle with License Suspended, False Certificates, No Evidence of Motor Vehicle Liability Security, and felony Possession of Schedule I Narcotics. As a result of the July 7th incident on July 22, 2020, another warrant was obtained by Louisiana State Police for Bartholomew for Possession of Firearms by a Convicted Felon as it is alleged that that during the vehicle pursuit with Louisiana State Police that he threw a rifle and handgun out of his vehicle on the Bonnet Carre Spillway while being pursed by Louisiana State Police. The weapons were recovered by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office Marine Division. Louisiana State Police also obtained a warrant for Bartholomew in St. John the Baptist Parish on July 07, 2020, for Resisting an Officer, felony Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Battery of a Police Officer, and Reckless Operation.

U.S. Marshal Scott Illing stated, "I would like to thank the public for the help in this investigation via the Crime stoppers Greater New Orleans tip and also recognize the cooperation of Louisiana State Police and U.S. Marshals Service which led to the safe arrest of Bartholomew with nobody injured during his arrest."

Any information about violent fugitives and sex offenders can be provided to the U.S. Marshals Service at (504) 589-6872 or via email at usms.wanted@usdoj.gov. Crime stoppers Greater New Orleans may also be contacted with tips at (504) 822-1111.