By ROBIN SHANNON
Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A Garyville woman accused of an armed robbery and kidnapping in Reserve is in custody in St. John Parish, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Maj. Mike Tregre said a description from the victim involved in the incident helped deputies identify 27-year-old Coretta B. Brown, 117 Sherman Walker St., Garyville, as the prime suspect in the case.

“The victim in the case described the suspect as being ‘very pregnant,’ so our options were narrowed down,” Tregre said. “The suspect was apprehended in the 300 block of E. 13th St. in Reserve and brought in for questioning. At that time, she confessed her involvement.”

Tregre added that Brown told detectives that she is seven months pregnant.

According to a report on the incident, around 11:30 a.m. on August 16 Brown allegedly approached an 18-year-old female at a gas station in the 1200 block of LA Hwy. 44 in Reserve. The victim, who was standing near her own car, states that Brown approached from behind and forced her to get into the vehicle.

Brown instructed the victim to drive to the 1100 block of LA 44, where the victim handed over an undisclosed amount of cash. Brown then exited the vehicle and walked away with an unidentified man.

Tregre said Brown, who was booked with armed robbery and aggravated kidnapping, is being held in the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility in LaPlace on $75,000 bond. Brown has a lengthy arrest record.

 in St. John Parish that includes armed robbery, theft and resisting arrest.

The case is still under investigation at this time, and anyone with any information should contact the St. John Sheriff’s Office at 985-652-6338.