News

Last week, members of the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office K-9 Division traveled to Gulfport, Mississippi, where they instructed their nationally recognized “Decide and Deploy” course to six different agencies from across the state of Mississippi. The training focused on strengthening the skills of K-9 handlers, improving decision-making in the field, and reinforcing the working bond between handlers and their partners.

The course emphasized the importance of learning to read subtle signals and behavioral cues from a working K-9 — skills that are crucial to safe and effective deployments. Handlers were guided through real-world scenarios designed to improve communication, build confidence, and reinforce the trust needed between handler and dog. Instructors also highlighted the value of constant, ongoing training, which helps ensure that K-9 teams remain prepared for the unpredictable situations they encounter in service to their communities.

DeSoto Parish is blessed to host four residents in our schools this year. Allow us to introduce each over the next two days. Meet our resident — Presley Elliott. Ms. Elliott is a resident with us from Louisiana Tech University. She is working alongside her mentor, Mrs. Webb in her Kindergarten class at North Desoto Lower Elementary. Ms. Elliott has enjoyed many things about her residency so far but her favorite has been getting to know her students and building relationships with them. We welcome Ms. Elliott to our DeSoto Family.

Meet our resident — Haley Henderson. Ms. Henderson is a resident with us from Northwestern State University. She is working alongside her mentor, Christian Holsomback in her Kindergarten classroom at North DeSoto Lower Elementary School. Ms. Henderson has enjoyed many things about her residency so far but her favorite has been building relationships with the children. We welcome Ms. Henderson to our DeSoto Family.

Plan to attend the Christmas Open House and Silent Auction at Cook-Hill Bed & Breakfast, located at 816 5th Street in Grand Cane. This event is planned for Saturday, December 6 from 12:00 p. m. until 3:00 p. m.

Come join in the fun with refreshments while you bid on auction items. You need not be present to win, with proceeds going to Cook-Hill Restoration Fund.

For more information call 318–858–0800.

On the morning of Monday, November 24, 2025, deputies with the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office Warrants Division, assisted by the DPSO K-9 Division, successfully located and apprehended Leo Horton, a convicted felon and registered sex offender who was wanted on a parole violation for the State of Louisiana.

Deputies received information regarding Horton’s possible location and responded to a residence in Mansfield. Upon entry, K-9 “Karen” was deployed to assist in the search. K-9 Karen quickly alerted to a closet inside the residence where Horton was found attempting to hide from deputies. He was swiftly taken into custody.

Leo Thomas Horton (45yo black male of Pelican, LA) was subsequently booked into the DeSoto Detention Center on charges of a Fugitive Warrant and Resisting an Officer.

DESRI, in partnership with Cleco Power, today announced that construction has begun on the 240-megawatt (MWac) Dolet Hills Solar Project (Dolet Hills or the Project) in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana, after achievement of full notice to proceed.

“The start of construction at Dolet Hills marks an important milestone for DESRI and for the region,” said Hy Martin, Chief Development Officer at DESRI. “By repurposing the interconnection rights from a retired generating facility, this project adds new, cost-effective clean energy to serve Cleco Power’s customers. We’re proud to support economic growth with our local community benefit programs and meet the business needs of the Gulf region’s growing economy. We are especially thankful to DeSoto Parish and the City of Mansfield who have supported the project throughout its many years in development.”

The 3rd Annual “Spirit of DeSoto Tree Lighting” will be taking place on Saturday, November 29th between 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. behind the Stonewall Government Plaza. The tree ceremony is at 6:30 p.m.

A free shuttle will be available so that attendees may park at North DeSoto High School, while DPSO will transport everyone back and forth to the event. This will include loads of family fun with food, live worship music, a new and improved light show, engaging crafts for kids, and SANTA will be in attendance to take pictures under the tree! So, be sure to come out and join us on the 29th, to kick off this Christmas Season!

Last week, DeSoto Clerk of Court Lisa Lobrano Burson asked Mindy Brown to be her Chief Deputy Clerk of Court.

Burson stated, “Today I was honored to surprise Mindy Brown by asking her to be my Chief Deputy Clerk of Court for DeSoto Parish. Not only is she one of the sweetest individuals that I know, but she has been a true asset to our office. She handled the ever-important November 5th Presidential Election seamlessly, including coordinating new commissioner schools, pre-election classes, attending Board of Elections Supervisors meetings, ensuring we had enough commissioners for each of the 57 precincts in DeSoto Parish, and entering payroll for our commissioners as soon as it opened.”

Burson added that in addition to all of these things, she has served as the Clerk’s Office Manager since July 1st and keeps the office running like a well-oiled machine.

The results of Saturday, November 15’s election, show that the two Parishwide School Board Propositions in addition to the three Propositions for the Village of Grand Cane all passed but with very low voter turnout.

DPSB’s Proposition No. 1 regarding 43.17 Mills Renewal passed by 70% and No. 2 for 8.17 Mills Renewal indicated a passage with an unofficial turnout of 11% Parishwide. Both renewals are for 10 years.

The Village of Grand Cane citizens voted on two Propositions, also for 10 years, with only 28 casting ballots, which indicated an unofficial turnout of 17.1%. Only 5 votes were cast opposing the renewal.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson would like to congratulate Dy. Cory Vines who has completed the necessary requirements for POST Certification at the Caddo Regional Training Academy! Dy. Vines’ graduation was held yesterday afternoon, and he will be joining our DPSO team in the Corrections Division! He is pictured with (left to right) Assistant Warden Kevin Coleman, Dy. Makeal Williams, Chief Deputy Monica Cason, Dy. Cory Vines, Cpl. Chris Taylor, and Sgt. Billy Cotton.

On the afternoon of November 12, 2025, DeSoto Parish Narcotic Agents were able to close out a months-long investigation into the illegal distribution of Meth, Xanax, and Suboxone in and around the Mansfield area. DeSoto Narcotic Agents, Street Level Unit, and S.W.A.T. were able to execute a search warrant at an address on McDonald Lane located in Mansfield, where DeSoto S.W.A.T. was able to locate Dalton Duran (28yo White Male of Mansfield) on the property. Mr. Duran was taken into custody without incident on a warrant for two counts of Distribution of Schedule II (Meth), one count of Distribution of Schedule II (Suboxone), and three counts of Distribution of Schedule IV (Xanax). A female subject, Whitney Coleman (30yo White Female of Grand Cane) was also located on the property and was found to also have warrants out of Caddo Parish on drug charges. Ms. Coleman was then taken into custody without incident.