Three in custody for bank robberiesERIK SANZENBACH

Published 12:00 am Monday, September 27, 1999

L’Observateur / September 27, 1999

LAPLACE – The suspects in the Sept. 8 robbery of a Hibernia National Bankin Norco are also under arrest for the Aug. 25 robbery of the HiberniaNational Bank on Main Street in LaPlace. The suspects have also beenconnected with a third Hibernia bank robbery in Reserve on June 11.

Arrested were Charles Holmes, 22, 353 Fir St., LaPlace, Brian NevilleLoper, 25, 201 E. 10th St., Reserve, and Ronny White, 22, 2509 Sugar RidgeDrive, LaPlace.

All three were apprehended on Sept. 8 after the Norco bank robbery. Deputies in St. Charles Parish informed the St. John Sheriff’s Office thatthe suspects were heading their way and gave a description of the fleeing vehicle. The car was cornered minutes later at the intersection of FirStreet and West Fifth Street in LaPlace, and the three suspects were placed under arrest.

According to deputies, when the vehicle was stopped one of the suspects was attempting to change his clothes because the dye pack in the stolen money bag had discharged. Police also found masks and guns in the escapevehicle. The robbers has used ski masks and handguns in both St. JohnParish robberies.

The suspects are being held in the St. Charles Parish Correctional Centerunder $500,000 bond each, set by Judge Kirk Granier.

“They got greedy,” said Capt. Mike Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’sOffice. “They did one bank too many and made some mistakes, because theywere greedy.”Tregre said formal charges will be brought against the men soon.

St. John Parish Sheriff Wayne Jones said the FBI was involved, and thecase is being discussed by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Jones also said thearrests would not have been possible without the extensive cooperation of St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne.

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