DNA from 2016 used to add new charges to St. Paul break and enter suspect

St. Paul RCMP used previously unmatched DNA from 2016 in order to lay new charges on a suspect.

Back on May 19, 2016, St. Paul RCMP responded to a commercial alarm at a pawn store along 50 avenue in the Town of St. Paul. Officers found the front door to the business smashed and noticed many missing items.

DNA collected at the scene had no match at the time, police said. 

Then over a year ago on June 27, 2022, St. Paul RCMP responded to a break and enter into a dollar store. 

Officers found the front door to the business smashed and learned that a safe was stolen from the office. DNA collected at the scene. After receiving judicial authorization, St. Paul RCMP obtained DNA from a suspect, which was a match to both incidents.

As a result of the investigation, on Aug. 23, 2023, St. Paul RCMP have arrested and charged Lawrence Desjarlais (44), a resident of St. Paul, with two counts of break and enter and theft over $5000.

Desjarlais was taken before a justice of the peace and was released on conditions, with his next court date being Sept. 21, 2023, at the Alberta Court of Justice in St. Paul.

“This investigation demonstrates that the RCMP takes property crime very seriously and will continue our investigations for however long it takes to make an arrest” said Cpl. Stephen Cunningham of the St. Paul RCMP.