Police and fire briefs for May 5, 2012

May 12, 2012

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Deputies arrest 2 in robbery at Wal-Mart

East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested and booked two people involved in an armed robbery at the Central Wal-Mart on Thursday, according to a news release.

About 8 p.m., a female shopper entered the women’s bathroom and was immediately confronted by a man who pistol-whipped her and stole her purse, the release says.

The man fled in a gray Mazda, but deputies in the area pulled the car over quickly and arrested the man and a woman inside, the release says.

James Hilton, 19, 6351 Willow Grove, was booked into Parish Prison on counts of armed robbery and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. The woman, Marquita Cage, 19, 1900 Blount Road, Baker, was booked on a count of armed robbery, the release says.

Police: BR man, 26,
killed in car crash

A Baton Rouge man died in a Friday afternoon crash at Madison Avenue and Hiawatha Street, police said.

Gentry Walls, 26, of 5333 Evangeline St., failed to stop at a stop sign and was struck by a Buick Sedan driven by a 68-year-old man who was northbound on Hiawatha Street, the release says.

Walls was pronounced dead at the scene. The other driver was not injured, the release says.

The crash, which occurred at about noon, is under investigation.

Faulty stove source
of fire at Kings Court

An electrical malfunction in a stove that started a fire at Kings Court Apartments on Dougherty Drive was put out by neighbors Thursday night, according to a news release from the Fire Department.

Neighbors at King Court Apartments noticed a fire in apartment No. 151 just before 10 p.m. and broke through a window to get into the apartment, according to the fire department. The neighbors used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. The fire damaged the stove and cabinets in the kitchen. Firefighters made sure there were no hidden fires in the wall.

One person cut his leg while trying to get into the apartment through the broken window but he was treated by Emergency Medical Services and released, according to the fire department.

Electrical problem cause of duplex fire

An electrical malfunction at a duplex at 1420 N. 37th St. at 11:40 a.m. Friday cause a fire that destroyed the unit, according to the Fire Department.

The other unit at 1418 N. 37th St. received heavy smoke damage and the American Red Cross was called to help the residents.

There were no injuries but in the fire, which caused an estimated $35,000 in damage, according to the fire department.

Police make 11 arrests on suspicion of DWI

Authorities arrested at least 11 people suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Thursday and 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Those booked and the counts against them:

  • Jason Hutchinson, 38, 4390 Petermessing Road, Addis, first-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
  • Christi Charrier, 29, 8012 Bayou Fountain, first-offense DWI.
  • Teri Gates, 47, 22444 La. 16, Denham Springs, first-offense DWI, parking where prohibited, not in possession of driver’s license and reckless operation of a vehicle.
  • Steven Gremillion, 21, 17340 Liberty Road, Pride, first-offense DWI, improper lane usage, speeding and driver’s license suspended/revoked.
  • Gary Jackson, 50, 14831 Bluff Creek Drive, Baker, first-offense DWI and failure to maintain control of a vehicle.
  • Antoine Johnson, 29, 2373 Eastgate Drive, first-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, drinking in a motor vehicle, equipment violation and other laws of the road.
  • James Knight, 18, 302 Le Triomphe Parkway, Broussard, first-offense DWI, improper lane usages, no turns allowed and reckless operation of a vehicle.
  • Fernando Lebron, 28, 682 Fall Creek Drive, first-offense DWI and failure to control a vehicle.
  • Gregory McConnell, 52, 7628 Debit Drive, first-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
  • Matthew Melane, 20, 15665 Springwood Ave., first-offense DWI, headlights required and driving over the median.
  • Bryant Pinell, 46, 12074 Newcastle Ave., first-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, failure to signal/improper signal.

Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.