Late Thursday night Webster Parish Sheriff’s investigators arrested Shongaloo Volunteer Fire Department’s former chief Charles Ray Duck, Jr., 32, for felony theft, malfeasance in office, felony unauthorized use of an access device as theft, unauthorized use of a moveable, and fugitive from Cullen Police Department for failure to pay tickets. This arrest followed an intense investigation into Duck’s fiscal actions after a report of alleged misuse of funds was filed by the Fire District 9 Board of Commissioners a couple of weeks ago.

 

Sheriff’s investigators Lt. Dustin Reynolds and Sgt. Scott Tucker headed up the investigation that led to a search warrant of his home conducted Thursday morning. During the search, detectives found a number of receipts and other evidence suggesting that fire department funds were used to purchase groceries, makeup, home electronics and other household goods and furnishings. Additionally, officers discovered and seized equipment belonging to the fire department that was being utilized in the home by Duck for his own personal use.

 

“We seized an air compressor, tools, a power washer, and several other things,” said Reynolds. “All were bought with fire department funds.” Duck was not at his home at the time of search.

 

“We strongly advised his family to encourage him to make contact with our office immediately,” explained Tucker. “And by Thursday night he had done so.”

 

During an interview with Duck detectives learned even more about his severe misuse of public monies.  “He admitted that while he was Chief of Shongaloo’s Volunteer Fire Department he used department funds to purchase items for his personal use,” explained Reynolds. “Then he told us he’d even paid his electric and gas bills with the public funds.” 

 

Detectives also discovered evidence proving that department funds were used by Duck to pay for memberships to adult websites, social networking sites and more; and that cash monies collected during fundraisers had not been deposited into the department’s account. “We also found where he [Duck] would regularly receive cash back on deposits of public funds into the account,” concluded Reynolds.

 

Duck had been serving as the Fire Chief in Shongaloo for nearly one year before he was relieved of his position last week by the district’s board when the official investigation began. Sheriff’s investigators are continuing to sort through other evidence that could result in additional charges.

 

Duck was transported and booked into the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center early this morning.