Police: Robber broke into bars for video poker money

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Police used this surveillance photo to track down a man they say broke into four bars in Luling and Boutte.

A 35-year-old Paradis man has been arrested after authorities say he broke into four businesses in the Luling and Boutte area in order to steal money from video poker machines.

Steven A. Brumley was identified after St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne posted surveillance video from one of the crime scenes. A picture from the video showed a man in a black hoodie with a black cloth over the lower portion of his face breaking into a video poker machine.

Authorities would not release how much money Brumley allegedly made off with during the crimes, but he is charged with stealing at least $3,000.

After posting the surveillance photograph on his Facebook page, Champagne said his office quickly began receiving tips on the person’s identity. The information led to an arrest warrant being issued for Brumley for four counts of burglary.

Brumley was located at the intersection of I-310 and River Road in Luling on Friday afternoon. When police tried to arrest him, he fought back, leading to six charges of battery on a police officer, according to Capt. Pat Yoes with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Yoes said that Brumley broke into the businesses about two hours after they closed and jimmied open the video poker machines by using a crowbar.

"He targeted the poker machines as a quick way to make cash," Yoes said.

Yoes added that Brumley was sent to St. Charles Parish Hospital after his fight with police, but broke a hospital bed and attempted to escape.

Police quickly tracked him down, Yoes said.

Brumley was also charged with possession of a schedule II drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer by force/violence, four counts of criminal damage to property, disarming a peace officer, aggravated assault, aggravated burglary, simple escape, four counts of simple burglary, two counts of theft over $1,500 and two counts of theft under $500.