Louisiana Assistant Fire Chief Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Pokémon Cards from Target

Justin Taylor, 38, the assistant fire chief of Westwego Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, has been placed on administrative leave following his arrest for allegedly stealing Pokémon trading cards from a Target store on the West Bank. The arrest, made on November 6 at the Manhattan Boulevard location, involved multiple charges, including four counts of theft, four counts of computer fraud, and four counts of universal product code (UPC) label fraud, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office (JPSO).

JPSO alleges that Taylor used a scheme involving fake UPC labels to purchase packs of Pokémon cards at a reduced price. Authorities report that Taylor admitted to creating and using these fraudulent labels, conducting similar transactions on three prior occasions at the same store. The total value of the allegedly stolen merchandise is approximately $300.

In response, Westwego Fire Chief Ken Bouvier confirmed that Taylor is on administrative leave and that an internal review has been initiated. “The Westwego Fire Department is taking this matter seriously and is cooperating fully with law enforcement,” Bouvier said. “We are committed to maintaining the public’s trust and upholding the highest standards of integrity.”

The investigation remains active, with law enforcement and the Westwego Fire Department continuing to review the incident. As the internal review and legal process unfold, further updates are expected.

See the full story here via WAFB.