Eunice police and St. Landry Parish deputies late Friday morning apprehended a fugitive who had vowed to do whatever was necessary to avoid returning to prison.

He changed his mind after being subjected to tear gas and facing K-9 officers about to be unleashed on his hideout.

Authorities received a tip at mid-morning that Gerald J. “Papoose” Matt, Jr. was laying low in a trailer house on La. 13 just south of Maple Avenue.

Shortly before noon, they launched a coordinated raid on the property, blocking highway traffic for some time before Matt was taken into custody.

He and two others are accused in a home invasion earlier this year.

A bond hearing has been set for Sept. 15 for one suspect and a bond hearing scheduled for another. Gerald Matt was taken to the parish jail Friday.

Judge Alonzo Harris will hear Allen Matt’s application for bond on charges of armed robbery, false imprisonment, home invasion, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and felony theft.

Mott, 31, of 1562 Duralde Highway, Drakeeno R. Mitchell, 19, of 100 Crestview Dr., Eunice, and Gerald Matt of the Eunice area are charged with busting into a Sunset home on May 1, wearing ski masks and armed with guns.

Mitchell’s bond was set earlier at $80,000. Special conditions are that he live with his mother, not go anywhere without his mother, observe a 7 a.m. until 5 p.m curfew and not use or be associated with alcohol, Controlled Dangerous Substances and/or firearms.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, a man in the Sunset house was pulled from his bed and bound with duct tape around his hands and fee.

The victim stated after being tied up, the suspects went through the home which belongs to his father, taking guns, jewelry and a black safe containing antique coins and antique money valued at $55,000.

The victim stated that the bandits also stole his dually pickup truck, which they used to haul the safe from the home. The truck was later found in Evangeline Parish.

After a long investigation, evidence was obtained which lead to a number of subjects questioned in regards to this incident. Detectives were able to obtain enough information which lead to recovery of two guns.

The arrest warrants were issued in early August.