The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrested a Marrero man after he tried to use counterfeit money to purchase a vehicle from a Chalmette woman, then stole her car after she realized the money was fake, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.
Jyrell Poole, 19, of the 5800 block of Glasco Drive, was booked Jan. 25 with carjacking, monetary instrument abuse and resisting an officer. He also was booked on two outstanding warrants out of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, one for simple criminal damage and the other for a traffic attachment.
Shortly before 8 p.m. on Jan. 25, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about a vehicle theft in the 900 block of East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they met with a female who stated a man, later identified as Poole, had fled in her vehicle after he attempted to purchase it with counterfeit money.
According to the woman, she met Poole through an app called Let Go and they agreed to meet about him purchasing her vehicle.
The woman said Poole, who gave her a fake name, asked to test drive the vehicle, which she allowed him to do. Upon his return, the woman said, Poole agreed to make the purchase and produced a roll of cash that appeared to be counterfeit. When the woman attempted to get a better look at the money, she said a struggle ensued between them and Poole got into her vehicle and fled.
Sheriff Pohlmann said deputies located Poole inside the vehicle a short time later near the corner of West Judge Perez and De La Ronde drives in Chalmette. When deputies attempted to speak to Poole he fled on foot but was apprehended after a brief chase.
Deputies recovered the vehicle and 46 fake $20 bills.
Poole was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison where he is being held on a $41,000 bond.
Sheriff Pohlmann urges St. Bernard residents to use caution when using social media apps to buy and sell items from strangers.
“You should never go alone to meet someone you don’t know,” the Sheriff said. “Always bring a friend with you and choose a public meeting place such as a busy shopping center or gas station where others are sure to be around.”
Sheriff Pohlmann also discourages residents from getting into a vehicle with a stranger.
“If someone insists on test driving a vehicle, have them leave the keys to their car or something of value with you to ensure they will return,” the Sheriff said, “and ask to see some sort of proper identification from the individual.”
