By VICKIE JAMBON

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Authorities with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office are searching for two men – an armed robber and an alleged rapist – who committed two separate crimes during the Mardi Gras holiday.

Public Information Officer Maj. Michael Tregre with the Sheriff’s Office said a 5-foot-6-inch, black male wore a black sweatshirt and dark blue jeans when he robbed Advance America Cash Advance at 1120 West Airline Highway, on Feb. 5 at 2:05 p.m.

“The subject walked in, approached the counter, raised his shirt and was holding a sawed-off shotgun. He demanded money,” said Tregre.

After the cashier gave the armed robber an undisclosed amount of money, the man ran out of the store, heading west on foot, Tregre said.

Anyone with information regarding the robbery is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Ricardo Colas with the Sheriff’s Office at (985) 652-6338.

In a separate incident, a 27-year-old Garyville woman told authorities she was raped by a man, after the two left Rusty’s Pool Tavern on Feb. 7 at 1:30 a.m.

According to Tregre, the woman told authorities she left the bar at 513 East Airline Highway with a man, whom she can only identify as Dwayne or “Cowboy.”

She said the man drove her to a site near San Francisco Plantation on LA Highway 44 in Garyville in a vehicle described only as a jeep.

The woman told authorities the man pulled the jeep over and asked her to get out.

After stepping out of the Jeep, the woman said the man asked her for sex.

“She said no to sex. While outside the vehicle, Dwayne/Cowboy pulled her clothing off and raped her,” said Tregre.

Tregre said after the woman was allegedly forced to the ground and raped, the man drove her to Debbie’s Tavern at 15232 River Road in Good Hope, and left her there. She went to the St. James Parish Hospital in Lutcher for medical treatment on Feb. 8 at 2:56 p.m.

The hospital reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office and told authorities the woman’s body was bruised, according to Tregre.

Anyone with information about the alleged rape is asked to contact Detective Lt. Juan Watkins with the Sheriff’s Office at (985) 652-6338.