LAPLACE – An alleged scheme to cash forged checks has landed three St. James Parish men in hot water, with more arrests possible.
On Friday, Dec. 20, 2013, at 4:56 p.m., St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to 124 Belle Terre Blvd. in LaPlace, First American Bank and Trust, for the report that an individual was trying to cash a forged check at the drive through widow. Before deputies arrived at the bank, the individual and four other subjects in the car drove away from the drive through window.
Witnesses saw the subject that attempted to cash the check exit the vehicle and enter a nearby restaurant. The other subjects in the car drove from the area, but arriving deputies saw the described vehicle and pursued it to the intersection of Percy Hebert Road and Parish Road, where the car stopped, and the occupants fled from the vehicle.
Deputies apprehended Clarence Watson, 52, from Lutcher who witnesses saw exit the car and go to a nearby restaurant. He was in possession of several reported stolen checks. Zakendrick Williams, 27, from Lutcher was apprehended on Elm Street after a brief foot pursuit. Deputies apprehended Jarrid Ferrygood, 22, from Vacherie who was driving the car. Ferrygood was hiding under a boat in a shed at a residence on Elm Street. Deputies apprehended two backseat passengers, Myia Marcell, 20, and George Robinson, 24, nearby without incident.
After detectives interviewed Marcell and Robinson, the two subjects were released.
Watson was arrested and booked with forgery, bank fraud, 15 counts of possession of stolen things, parole violation and fugitive from another agency. Watson remains in custody in lieu of a $22,500 bond.
Williams was arrested and booked with bank fraud, resisting an officer and fugitive from another agency. Williams remains in custody in lieu of a $9,000 bond.
Ferrygood was arrested and booked with principal to bank fraud, resisting an officer and flight from an officer. Ferrygood bonded out of jail on a $14,500 commercial bond.
The investigation is ongoing, and as the investigation develops, detectives anticipate more arrests are forthcoming.