By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — A 17-year-old LaPlace girl was robbed and cut while at work at an Airline Highway business Friday afternoon.

Maj. Mike Tregre, spokesman for the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, said they received a call from the victim, whose name is being withheld for her protection, at 5:28 p.m.

&#8220She advised she had been robbed and cut,” Tregre said. &#8220She said she was bleeding profusely.”

According to Tregre, a man came into David Lee’s Boutique, leading the girl to believe he was going to purchase items from the store.

&#8220At some point he grabbed her from behind, and demanded her to open the cash register,” Tregre said. &#8220The girl said she was having trouble getting it open, and the man became agitated, because it was taking too long, so he cut her on her left forearm with a knife similar to a box cutter knife.”

Tregre said the man attacked the girl a second time, in which he cut her above her right eye using the same knife.

&#8220The girl then attempted to get away and run,” Tregre said. &#8220At that point the perpetrator fled on foot from the store. He made it to the railroad tracks behind the store, where he went west towards Hemlock.”

Tregre said at the time of the incident there was a lot of traffic around the business, and people may have seen the perpetrator without realizing what had happened.

&#8220The perpetrator was described as being a black male, about 5’8” in his early to mid-thirties,” Tregre said. &#8220His build is stocky, and he had short hair. He was last seen wearing a yellow shirt with black horizontal stripes on it, and white jeans.”

Tregre advised anyone who might have seen this man to contact the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 652-6338.