Armed robbers strike at two restaurants

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, January 28, 2004

By LEONARD GRAY Managing Editor

BOUTTE – Two armed robberies of fast-food restaurants in three days in St. Charles Parish resulted in a total of eight arrests, with three more still being sought as of press time.

Sheriff Greg C. Champagne said it was actually the third such robbery in eight days, counting the Burger King holdup on Jan. 18, but it appears none of the robberies are related.

“We don’t think so, but we’re not ruling it out yet,” Champagne commented.

The latest incident occurred at Wendy’s Restaurant, at 13211 U.S. Highway 90 in Boutte, on Sunday at 7:22 a.m..

Just prior to opening time, Champagne said, the female manager and an employee named David Sumlin Jr., arrived at the restaurant. Sumlin took out a load of trash and allegedly left the rear door open to allow three men to enter.

Once inside, the sheriff related, the gunmen shoved Sumlin aside and forced the manager to her knees with a gun to her head and forced her to tell them the combination to the business safe.

Another Wendy’s employee then showed up for work, noticed through the window the situation and ran to Wal-mart to summon police, according to Champagne. The suspects noticed the running employee, and fled themselves into the nearby residential neighborhood.

The three suspects were quickly apprehended, one at the end of Melanie Drive, another at Wade Street and U.S. 90 and the third in Wal-mart:

€ Faterrol P. Lane, 24, 3016 Annunciation St., New Orleans, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery by use of a firearm.

€ David Booker, 25, 12275 U.S. 90, Luling, armed robbery, armed robbery by use of a firearm and criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery.

€ Rondell L. Cannon, 19, armed robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery and armed robbery by use of a firearm.

While the search was in progress, Champagne added, a woman in a car was noticed cruising the area several times.

Subsequent investigation determined she was allegedly trying to pick up the three gunmen. Arrested was:

€ Patrice J. Cannon, 20, 511 Paul Fredrick St., Luling, criminal conspiracy to commit armed robbery and being a principal to armed robbery.

Finally, questioning of the robbery suspects determined the identity of another suspect:

€ David Sumlin Jr., 19, 38 Delores St., Waggaman, criminal conspiracy to armed robbery and criminal mischief.

Champagne said questioning determined that the robbery was four months in the making and originally planned to take place on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 19.

Back on the night of Jan. 22, at 9:43 p.m., a carload of men pulled up at the Sonic Drive-In at 12557 U.S. Highway 90 in Luling, partially blocking a car being driven by a women there to pick up an employee friend.

Three of the four occupants got out, and while two went into the restuarant, one came to her passenger side-window and tapped on it with the butt of his gun.

Champagne said the gunman tried to circle around in

an apparent attempt to carjack the vehicle, but the woman used her remote-controlled locks on all doors and windows, slammed her car

into gear and fled the scene, hitting the suspects’ vehicle in the process.

“It was quick thinking on her part,” the sheriff said.

The two gunmen inside proceeded to rob the three employees, including the manager, and forced the manager to open the safe.

Meanwhile, two men had parked a half-mile away and, using a pay phone and attempted to reach the robbery suspects, Champagne continued. As the vehicle used at Sonic was found abandoned a half-mile from the robbery scene. It was later determined to have been carjacked earlier in Jefferson Parish. However, they missed connection. The pair were arrested and the car they were using was towed:

€ Brandon Ellis, 19, 1944 Malibu Place, Marrero, being a principal to armed robbery.

€ Lenard W. Stevenson, 23, 200 Melba Place, Marrero, being a principal to armed robbery.

The owner of the towed vehicle, later called about retrieving it, was told to report to the detective bureau to claim it. However, Champagne said, questioning had already determined his alleged role and the arrest was made:

€ Marlando Surratt, 21, 1836 Walling Drive, Marrero, armed robbery and possession of stolen property.

One of the remaining three suspects was apprehended by Jefferson Parish authorities and the other two are still being sought, Champagne said. “I’m just proud of our guys,” the sheriff said. “We can’t prevent it, but we have a good chance of catching them. Thank God, nobody was hurt.”