Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in November incident

LAPLACE — Authorities announced this week they made an arrest in an attempted armed robbery that took place outside Frank’s Auto Body Shop in November.

In a release Wednesday from St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre, authorities announced they booked Joseph Cole, 24, of Marrero with attempted armed robbery March 19.

Cole was in custody in Jefferson Parish and released to St. John deputies, who booked the suspect in the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Sherman Walker Correctional Center.

Cole was sought in connection with an attempted armed robbery Nov. 13 at the body shop, which is located at 621 Main St. in LaPlace.

Sgt. Dane Clement said the 61-year-old male victim told deputies after closing his business at approximately 5:30 p.m., he noticed a man in a car that was parked in front of the shop.

“The victim approached and spoke to the man, who asked the victim if he could fix a part on his car,” Clement said.

“He told the perpetrator that he would be able to fix the vehicle at a later date. The perpetrator followed the victim to his car, pulled a handgun from under his tan-hooded sweatshirt and pointed the weapon at him.

“The victim pushed the gas pedal, racing his engine. The perpetrator fled to his vehicle and drove eastbound on East Airline Highway.”

Tregre said detectives sent evidence collected at the crime scene to the Louisiana State Police Crime Laboratory for analysis. Based on the results and the victim’s description of the perpetrator, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Cole.

Clement said authorities are not releasing details on what was sent to the crime lab, adding Cole is the only suspect in the armed robbery and no one was injured during the incident.

Cole bonded out of jail March 23 on a $35,000 bond.