1 arrested, 1 sought after LaPlace McDonald’s safe burglarized
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, December 7, 2016
LAPLACE — One suspect has been arrested and another has been identified and is being sought by police following numerous burglaries, one that included McDonald’s, last month in St. John the Baptist Parish.
St. John Sheriff’s Office deputies began their case at 2:30 a.m. Nov. 12 when they observed two males walking east on Woodland Drive in LaPlace, where burglaries recently occurred.
After arriving in the area of Woodland Drive and U.S. 51, deputies observed the subjects walking west on Woodland Drive and attempted to make contact, at which time one of the subjects fled west on Woodland Drive.
Deputies were unable to apprehend the first subject, later identified as Zechariah David Collins, police said.
However, deputies detained the second subject, identified as Jamal R. Edwards, before releasing him later that day.
About 4:15 a.m. Nov. 12, deputies located a latex glove and a bag of cash and coins in the area Collins ran, a release from the Sheriff’s Office said.
Deputies later responded at 5 a.m. to a McDonald’s burglary complaint on U.S. 51 in LaPlace, where officers learned money was missing from the business’ safe.
“After reviewing recorded video surveillance from the business, officers identified Collins, a former McDonald’s employee, entering the building with no forced entry and using a security code to get into the safe and take the cash and coins then leaving the building,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said.
Authorities did not release how much money was stolen or recovered.
Collins is wanted in connection with the burglary.
After further investigation, Edwards was arrested Nov. 28 and booked with principal to simple burglary.
He posted a $15,000 bond and was released Nov. 29.