St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said a 17-year-old male from Arabi and two juvenile males from northern Louisiana were arrested after they escaped from a Baton Rouge facility for troubled youth, stole a car, drove to St. Bernard where they stole a handgun from a vehicle and then held up an Arabi man at gunpoint as he was taking an early morning jog.
Derek Cage, 17, of the 7200 block of W. Judge Perez Drive, was booked Aug. 28 with armed robbery after he confessed to committing the crimes two days earlier with the juveniles. He also was booked with resisting an officer, and for a warrant for juvenile escape and vehicle theft out of the Baton Rouge Office of Juvenile Justice.
A 16-year-old male from Cotton Valle who was involved in the incident was booked Aug. 26 with armed robbery, hit and run, possession of stolen property, and for a warrant for juvenile escape out of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
A 14-year-old male from Shreveport who also was involved in the incident was booked Aug. 26 with armed robbery, hit and run, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, and on a warrant for juvenile escape out of the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office.
Just after 6 a.m. on Aug. 26, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about an armed robbery that occurred near the intersection of Aycock and Patricia streets in Arabi.
When deputies arrived on the scene, they met with the victim at a nearby business where he had gone to report the incident. The victim, who is an active duty captain in the military, told deputies as he was jogging earlier along Aycock Street, a dark sedan occupied by three young males pulled up behind him, got out of the car, and one of them pointed a gun at him, demanding his possessions.
The victim said after he stated he did not have money or anything of value on him, he was ordered to lie face down on the ground and the three males, later identified as Cage and the two juveniles, fled in the vehicle.
Sheriff Pohlmann said the victim was not injured in the incident.
Shortly after 1 p.m. that same day, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about an abandoned, wrecked car near Lebeau Avenue and Bienvenue Street in Arabi.
Deputies who arrived on the scene discovered a black 2014 Honda Accord, later determined to be stolen out of Baton Rouge, wrecked in a ditch at the end of Lebeau Avenue. Witnesses said they observed two juvenile males running from the vehicle, eastbound toward Community Street.
Sheriff Pohlmann said deputies canvassed the area and came in contact with the two juveniles walking northbound in the 500 block of Center Street in Arabi. The subjects were subsequently apprehended and the stolen handgun found in their possession was recovered.
Cage was apprehended Aug. 28 when deputies discovered him hiding in the attic of his mother’s Arabi home. He was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison where he is being held on a $151,000 bond.
Cage, who was serving a four-year sentence for crimes he committed as a juvenile in St. Bernard Parish, was being held at the Baton Rouge youth facility.
The two juveniles arrested in the case are being held at the St. Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Center.
Sheriff Pohlmann said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be filed.
