By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — One suspect is behind bars and police are looking for another after a 61-year-old woman was pulled from her van and robbed at gunpoint in Edgard.

St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at 8:39 p.m. Dec. 16 to the 2900 block of River Road in Edgard following an armed robbery call.

A 61-year-old female victim told deputies two men with a handgun robbed her while she was sitting in her parked van, Sheriff Mike Tregre said.

“The victim told deputies that when the two men approached the van, she blew the horn, flashed the lights and screamed for help,” Tregre said. “They broke the driver’s door window, pulled her from the van and demanded her wallet and medications.”

The victim reported her wallet, gas card, checkbook and other items stolen.

Emergency medical technicians treated the victim on the scene, but she refused transportation for additional medical attention, according to Tregre.

“Through information received from concerned citizens and evidence from the crime scene, detectives identified Roland Lewis, 22, from Edgard as a suspect,” Tregre said.

“Lewis met with detectives and admitted to his involvement in the armed robbery. Detectives arrested Lewis Friday and booked him with armed robbery with a firearm.”

Tregre said there was physical evidence tying Lewis to the scene and thanked residents for calling in with tips to aid in the investigation.

Sgt. Dane Clement also said information received from the public was crucial in Lewis’ arrest, and “input from the community enhances these investigations.”

Clement said no descriptive information on the second suspect is available at this time, but Tregre said detectives are working several leads in the case.

Lewis remains in custody in lieu of a $60,000 bond set by Judge Sterling Snowdy, which has a “no 10 percent” clause.

Clement said the clause means 10 percent of the bond couldn’t be posted for release, unlike other bonds. He said the bond option is used at the judge’s discretion who sets the bond and is typically attached in personal, violent crimes.

This investigation is ongoing, and detectives encourage anyone with information to call the Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Those with information who call Crimestoppers do not have to testify in court and may qualify for a cash reward.

Tips can be submitted at stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.