2nd arrest made in LaPlace kidnapping, robbery
Published 11:47 am Tuesday, August 4, 2015
LAPLACE — A second arrest has been made in connection with a January kidnapping and armed robbery case involving a LaPlace business.
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives booked Clarence Bolden, 42, of Reserve on July 29 with aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping and armed robbery.
Bolden was already incarcerated in the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Sherman Walker Correction Center following his earlier arrest in a home invasion case on Central Avenue in Reserve on Feb. 3.
Bolden’s bond on the additional charges is $160,000.
Detectives previously arrested Herbert Johnson Jr., 46, of Reserve at his place of employment in connection to the January crime.
The case began in January when authorities said a man broke into a couple’s LaPlace home and later robbed their store on West Airline Highway.
St. John Sheriff Mike Tregre said deputies, who responded to the LaPlace business following the report of an armed robbery in progress, learned an assailant fled on foot to the rear of the store toward the railroad tracks. Deputies searched the area to no avail.
No one was injured in the robbery. The victims told detectives an armed man was in their home when they arrived at approximately 8 p.m. that night, adding the assailant asked them where their safe was.
After realizing there was no safe at the residence, the victims said the armed man forced the couple to drive him to their store.
The victims said when they arrived at the store, the assailant demanded money and the victims surrendered an undisclosed amount of cash to the suspect, who then fled the scene.
The Sheriff’s Office later released video surveillance of suspects and announced they were seeking information leading to the arrest of two men.