Man Wanted for Multi-State Crime Spree Arrested in Bossier Parish

A man from Mississippi is now behind bars in Bossier Parish in a case that seems like it could only be something out of a TV crime drama.

It all started the evening of July 1 with a call from a concerned resident about a suspicious person in his north Bossier Parish neighborhood.

Bossier Sheriff's deputies, assisted by a K-9 named Ace, searched the wooded area off of Highway 160, where they located the man -- identified as 38-year-old Matthew Block of Saltillo, MS -- and took him into custody without incident.

Block told deputies he wasn't in his right mind and had snorted meth that he had just bought while in Shreveport. He said he came to northern Bossier Parish, where he ditched a stolen truck in the woods. Then he started knocking on doors asking for some water, but soon fled back into the woods.

At first, he gave deputies a false name, but they quickly determined his real identity. Turns out he had warrants for his arrest in Mississippi for a stolen truck -- but that's not all.

Detectives conducted an extensive investigation and found out Block was responsible for six robberies of Subway restaurants in Georgia, Florida, Arkanasa, Louisiana and Texas. He also stole two vehicles, committed a residential burglary, stole prescription medication and stole another person's identity to have dental work done.

Block told deputies he was a convicted felon, and said he used different handguns during the robberies and would eventually ditch the weapons. He also said he was high on meth or cocaine during most of the crimes. His crime spree dates back to May.

In Bossier, he's charged with resisting arrest by providing false information, criminal trespassing and illegal possession of stolen things. Detectives have been working with law enforcement agencies in the other states and jurisdictions where Block committed the other crimes. Additional charges are pending.