By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

RESERVE — The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating Wednesday’s aggravated burglary in Reserve, exploring the possibility of connections to two similar incidents — one that happened in Destrehan earlier this month and one occurring on the same street in Reserve in October.

St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to the 300 block of Central Avenue in Reserve at 8:16 p.m. Wednesday after an armed man assaulted a 55-year-old Reserve woman in her home, striking her and forcing her into a bathroom.

Authorities said the victim identified the suspect as a black man wearing a dark jacket.

The victim said when she exited her bathroom, an unknown man with a gun confronted her.

“When she struggled with the assailant for the gun, he pushed her to the floor,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said, adding at one point the victim was able to disarm the man. “The perpetrator had already taken money from the victim’s purse on the kitchen table. When she attempted to unlock the front door for him to leave, he knocked the keys from her hand and struck her in the face before closing her in the bathroom.”

The victim called 911 for help from the bathroom.

Tregre said he increased patrols in the area and plans on equipping Central Avenue with more surveillance cameras. He is asking residents to be aware of their surroundings and make special efforts to lock all doors and windows.

Tregre said the suspect gained entry to the residence through an open kitchen window, and made it out of the house with $20.

“We have been in touch with the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office to see if the two (cases) are related,” Tregre said Friday, referencing an armed robbery that took place in Destrehan’s Ormond subdivision.

In that case, St. Charles Parish Sheriff Greg Champagne said at approximately 9:15 p.m. Dec. 4, in the 100 block of Villere Drive, an unknown male entered a Destrehan residence through the back door. Champagne said the suspect pointed a gun at a man and woman in the house and demanded their money and cell phone. After the victims complied with the demands, the suspect grabbed the female victim by the arm in an attempt to take her with him. When they got to the door, the female victim was able to push the suspect out of the door and lock it.

Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said one cell phone and an unspecified amount of money was stolen in the robbery.

The suspect was described as a black male, approximately five-feet, eight-inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds. Authorities said the suspect was wearing a black ski mask, a grey jacket and white gloves.

The incident remains under investigation, and anyone with any information is asked to contact Detective Jennifer James at 985-783-1355 or 985-783-6807.

In another case, St. John Parish deputies are still searching for the knife-wielding man who struck in the 300 block of Reserve’s Central Avenue — the same block of Wednesday’s crime — at 11:39 p.m. Oct. 16.

The 41-year-old female victim told deputies she did not close the door completely after arriving home, and when she turned around she saw a man with a knife telling her to keep quiet.

The victim told deputies the perpetrator was about five-feet, eight-inches tall, black and had a medium build. He was wearing a blue work shirt and pants.

“There is nothing to indicate the two cases (on Central Avenue) are related, but we are looking into the possibility,” Tregre said, adding the weapons used and method of entry in the two Reserve cases differed.

Anyone with information regarding either St. John Parish home invasion is encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Tips can also be submitted online at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.

Those that call Crimestoppers do not have to testify and may qualify for a cash reward.