Stupid Criminals Lock Themselves Out of House in Tioga, Louisiana

The Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office reports the arrest of two men who locked themselves out of a home and then tried to get back in - using an ax! When officers arrived at the scene, they found the two drunken men fighting in the home's front yard. Both men were arrested and released on bond. A third man was arrested for interfering.

Here's the report from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office facebook page:

On December 31st, at approximately 11:56 pm, RPSO received a call in reference to a subject forcing entry into a residence with an ax in the 8500 block of US 71 North in Tioga. Upon arrival, contact was made with 2 suspects in the front yard later identified as Joseph McCartney, 25 and Travis Barlow, 25 both of 8518 LA 71 North, Tioga, LA. Both suspects appeared to be intoxicated and both suspects were detained pending further investigation. Contact was made with witnesses who advised that they were in the residence with a two year old toddler while McCartney and Barlow were fighting outside. The fight between the two suspects went from the yard into the residence where damage was done in the residence. Barlow stated that he went outside and started wrestling with McCartney and ran inside the residence with McCartney's keys to his vehicle. Barlow and the other witness with the child stated that they locked themselves in the back bedroom and that the suspect McCartney attempted to make entry to the residence and to the bedroom using an ax. Both McCartney and Barlow were placed under arrest for Disturbing the Peace by Fighting and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center and booked and later released on a $250.00 bond.

During the investigation of this incident, another subject, later identified as Ronnie McCartney, 55 of 600 East Meade Rd., Pollock, LA, arrived at the scene and was attempting to interfere in the investigation. McCartney was asked to leave the scene several times and he continually refused to do so. The deputies informed him several times that there was an investigation going on and for the safety of the scene, he would have to leave. The subject refused and he was advised he was being placed under arrest for Interfering with a Law Enforcement Investigation. At this time, the suspect started resisting and became very combative, belligerent and fought with the deputies as they were attempting to handcuff him. Deputies had to deploy a taser to take the subject into custody and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. Ronnie McCartney was charged with Interfering with a Law Enforcement Investigation and Resisting Arrest. He was transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center where he was booked and later released on a $500.00 bond.