On February 22, 2024, at 10:16 AM, Malik Merrick, a 26-year-old male from Kentwood, was apprehended on multiple charges related to warrants, including motor vehicle theft, access device fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, possession of fraudulent identification documents, forgery, and falsification of insurance ID cards.
The Berwick Police Department initiated an investigation in August 2023 after receiving a complaint from a victim in Texas. The victim informed the department that their identity had been stolen and utilized to fraudulently acquire a vehicle worth $80,000 from a Berwick dealership back in June 2023. As the investigation progressed, it was revealed that Merrick was part of a scheme where several vehicles were purchased under false pretenses across the state.
With help from Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, Lafayette Police Department, and Louisiana State Police, detectives were able to identify Malik Merrick as the primary suspect. Additional evidence obtained during their comprehensive investigation confirmed Merrick’s connection to the crimes committed in Berwick. Consequently, arrest warrants were issued against him.
Merrick was located and taken into custody in Hammond on February 20th; officers from Berwick Police Department traveled to Tangipahoa Parish Jail on February 22nd to secure his transfer back to Berwick. After being transferred and booked by local authorities on the outlined charges mentioned above, Merrick now awaits his bond hearing while remaining incarcerated.