Law enforcement agencies in East Baton Rouge Parish have arrested two men and are still searching for a third suspect in what investigators describe as a large-scale vehicle theft operation tied to at least 19 stolen vehicles, many of them Dodge Chargers. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says the arrests grew out of a joint investigation with the Baton Rouge Police Department’s Auto Theft Unit.
The First Arrest: Social Media Evidence and a Ransom Text
Tajavious Washington was arrested Feb. 9 following an investigation into a string of reported vehicle thefts and burglaries. He’s charged with 13 counts of theft of a motor vehicle, six counts of simple burglary, and additional offenses. His arrest traces back to a series of incidents in December 2025, including the reported theft of two Chevrolet Camaros from Asylum Motorsports. Investigators say they reviewed social media posts and text messages allegedly sent by Washington, including messages referencing payment in exchange for returning a stolen vehicle. Detectives also connected him to the theft of a 2020 Dodge Charger valued at more than $42,000 and a Dodge Challenger worth roughly $30,000.
License plate reader data reportedly showed multiple stolen vehicles traveling together after being taken, and on Dec. 23, deputies recovered four stolen vehicles together in an apartment complex parking lot. Washington’s bond was set at $235,000, with a bond review scheduled for May. As with all pending charges, Washington is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
A Second Suspect, Released and Wanted Again
Brandon Cooper was arrested at the scene in connection with four separate thefts and had an active warrant tied to a prior vehicle burglary. He was later released on bond, and authorities are now actively seeking his whereabouts again as the broader investigation continues.
Key-Programming Equipment Cracks the Third Case
Brian Delcid was arrested Feb. 22 and charged with theft of a motor vehicle and theft of a firearm. According to investigators, evidence recovered during a Jan. 12 search warrant in Gonzales included an Autel key-programming device containing multiple vehicle identification numbers, one of which matched a 2023 Dodge Charger reported stolen Dec. 10. Authorities say a blank key fob had been programmed for that specific vehicle shortly before it was taken, and the Charger’s owner reported a firearm was inside the car at the time of the theft.
Investigators believe Delcid assisted another suspect in carrying out that theft and have linked him to additional early-morning vehicle thefts involving key-programming equipment. Several of the recovered vehicles had already been stripped of parts by the time they turned up, according to EBRSO. The case remains open, and Delcid’s charges, like the others, remain allegations at this stage of the proceedings.