By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A 46-year old Florida resident was robbed at gunpoint, while in LaPlace helping with hurricane clean-up.

St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call around 1 a.m. Saturday, alleging an armed robbery in the 1500 block of West Airline Highway.

&#8220The victim stated that he parked his car, and a silver or gold SUV immediately pulled in behind him,” said Maj. Mike Tregre, spokesman for the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office. &#8220He said the front passenger got out of the SUV and approached him with a handgun and demanded money.”

The victim then advised the robber he only had $20, but then the robber patted the victim down, found and took his wallet, and got back in the SUV and left, according to Tregre.

&#8220The victim managed to get the license plate number, which was a Georgia plate,” Tregre said. &#8220About 45 minutes later, an officer spotted an SUV fitting the description the victim gave, off Hemlock Street.”

A traffic stop was made and the driver fled on foot, but the front seat passenger and the back seat passenger were still in the car, unable to flee.

The front seat passenger was arrested and identified as Jamar Vinnette, 17, of LaPlace. He was charged with armed robbery and is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Center in LaPlace, on a $150,000 bond set by Judge Mary Hotard Becnel.

Tregre said the driver got away and there was not enough evidence to arrest the back seat passenger, but the case is still under investigation.