LAPLACE — An alert resident is credited by authorities with leading them to arrest a LaPlace man on a felony sex charge relating to a juvenile.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said Terrance Carlisle, 34, of Williamsburg Drive was booked March 18 with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. He remains in custody in lieu of a $20,000 bond.

Sheriff’s Office deputies began their case after responding to a residence in the 2000 block of Cambridge Drive in LaPlace at 8:07 a.m. following a suspicious activity report.

A complainant told deputies a 14-year-old girl who lived at the residence was supposed to be at school but was seen entering the residence with an unknown older man.

In cases such as these, Tregre asks community members to default to alerting authorities of anything suspicious.

“It could be nothing, but it could be something,” he said this week. “If they suspect suspicious activity — a package that they were not expecting, anything out of the ordinary, anything that looks suspicious — they should report it.

“We have solved a lot of good crime cases that way.

“By the citizens calling, it gives us probable cause to check.”

As deputies approached the residence last week to talk to the occupants, the juvenile and man fled from the rear, Tregre said.

“Deputies found the girl and man on Governors Circle and transported the pair to the Criminal Investigations Division,” Tregre said, adding deputies identified the man as Carlisle.

During an interview, Tregre said the 14-year-old girl told detectives she made plans with Carlisle the night before to meet him at the bus stop the morning of March 18.

“She met Carlisle Wednesday morning, and she and Carlisle went to her residence, where they engaged in intercourse,” Tregre said.

Sgt. Dane Clement said the victim and suspect were at the victim’s home during the reported intercourse, adding the victim did not report any medical issues following the encounter.

Clement said the suspect does not have a sexual crime history in St. John Parish.

— By Gladys Davis Mulkey