Police and fire briefs for June 19, 2012
Third man held in counterfeiting probe
Investigators with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office arrested a third man Monday accused of selling counterfeit merchandise at a flea market on Florida Boulevard, according to an arrest warrant.
Alain Massamba, 4335 Marthagene Drive, Memphis, Tenn., was booked into Parish Prison on one count of illegal use of a counterfeit trademark.
Undercover agents bought merchandise from Massamba on May 4 and June 8 at his booth at Deep South Flea Market on 5905 Florida Blvd., the warrant says. A private investigator later determined the merchandise, including Nike shoes and Coach purses, was fake.
Investigators returned to the booth at 3:10 p.m. on June 8 and seized more than $179,000 worth of counterfeit merchandise, the warrant says.
Investigators also arrested Amadou Ly, 43, 11888 Old Hammond Highway, Apt. 7; and Amer Alkhatib, 48, 4728 Tigerland Ave., Apt. 4, on June 8 for selling fake merchandise at the flea market, according to affidavits of probable cause for the two men.
Homeland Security officials in Baton Rouge received tips in January that multiple vendors were selling counterfeit merchandise at the flea market and opened a joint investigation with the state Attorney General’s Office, according to Massamba’s arrest warrant.
Suspect in robberies, kidnapping arrested
Police arrested a 17-year-old man Monday accused of committing multiple robberies in Baton Rouge between March and June, a police spokesman said.
Patrick Jamar Harris, of Baton Rouge, was booked into Parish Prison on six counts of armed robbery, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, and one count each of first-degree robbery and simple escape, Cpl. Tommy Stubbs said in a news release.
Harris was found by members of the U.S. marshal’s task force Monday in the 3700 block of Keokuk Street, Stubbs said. He briefly escaped arresting officers but was quickly taken back into custody, Stubbs said.
Harris is accused of committing two robberies in March, three robberies in April, one in May and one in June, Stubbs said.
In one robbery, in March, two other suspects were apprehended but Harris escaped, Stubbs said.
Harris also briefly kidnapped the victims of his last two known robberies before letting them go, Stubbs said.
1 booked with DWI
in EBR Parish Prison
Authorities arrested at least one person suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked him into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Sunday and 2:30 p.m. Monday, booking records show.
Aaron Taylor, 22, 7635 Barbara Cohn Place, was booked on one count each of second-offense DWI and reckless operation of a vehicle.
Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.