By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – St. John the Baptist Parish authorities are looking for a Hispanic man who robbed a LaPlace Mexican restaurant Thursday evening, according to a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

An employee of Taqueria Tienda Latina Restaurant, located 1036 W. Airline Highway, told deputies a heavy-set man armed with a black automatic hand gun entered the restaurant about 7:28 p.m. and demanded money from the cash register, said Capt. Dane Clement, a public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office.

The cashier complied, and the suspect left with an undisclosed amount of cash. Clement said patrons at the restaurant saw the suspect leave the scene in an unknown direction driving a white pickup truck.

Clement said authorities are looking for a 5-foot 9-inch tall Hispanic male, between 40 and 50 years of age with bad acne on both cheeks of his face. 

Witnesses said the suspect was wearing a black knitted cap and a black jacket.

Anyone with any information regarding the robbery should call St. John detectives at 985-652-9513 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.