Plaquemines Parish saw its first instance of armed robbery in over a year this past week. However, officials now believe they have the suspects in custody.

On Tuesday October 18, shortly before 10 p.m., a 49-year-old Belle Chasse woman was confronted at gunpoint by two black males between the ages of 14 and 17, in her driveway, in the 100 block of Ballay St. The suspects, armed with an unknown type of handgun, forced the victim to lie on the ground and then demanded the victim hand over her car keys and purse.

It is believed that the suspects followed the victim to her residence as she left the Dry Dock, a restaurant in Algiers Point.

As the suspects fled the scene in the two vehicles, the victim immediately notified the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office and provided responding deputies with a description of her vehicle, along with a description of the suspects and the second getaway vehicle.

Within minutes of receiving the broadcast, Deputy Steven Lambert responded to the area of the Woodland Bridge on Hwy 406, and observed the victim’s vehicle, occupied by a young black male, heading toward the Algiers area.

Deputy Lambert began chasing the fleeing vehicle toward Algiers, as New Orleans Police Department units were notified. Deputy Lambert pursued the vehicle, at which time the suspect exited the vehicle and fled on foot into the neighborhood. Responding units from NOPD, PPSO and Gretna PD, set up a perimeter and searched the area for several hours to no avail.

The victim’s vehicle, along with her purse and other property were recovered on the scene. The victim’s vehicle was processed for further investigation and forensic evidence was obtained.

Days after the chase, officers began performing stakeouts in unmarked vehicles outside of the Dry Dock. Three men, all fitting the descriptions provided by the victim, eventually made their way back to the restaurant.

When officers ran the plates on the car the suspects arrived in, NOPD found it to be reported stolen, and three individuals were taken into custody.

Their names have not been provided at this point in the investigation.

Several accounts identified the suspects as one adult and two juveniles.

The PPSO has issued warrants to test the subjects’ DNA against that found in the Belle Chasse woman’s vehicle. However, those will likely be processed later in the week, as the suspects are already in custody.

Sheriff Michael Lafrance praised the deputies rapid response and the professionalism displayed by Deputy Lambert.

“Our deputies quick response and immediate saturation of the area, led to the recovery of all of the victim’s property without further incident. The immediate assistance of NOPD and Gretna greatly aided us during the pursuit and with our investigation.”