NOPD ANNOUNCES MULTIPLE INDICTMENTS IN STRING OF
RESTAURANT ARMED ROBBERIES REPORTED IN THE UPTOWN AREA IN 2015
NEW ORLEANS—Following
a months-long, comprehensive investigation by the NOPD, a grand jury returned
multiple indictments today (Jan 20) on four individuals for their involvement
in a string of armed robberies reported at restaurants in the Uptown
neighborhood last year. Wesley Davis, 19, Jockquaren Van Norman, 20, Dwayne
Stevenson, 20, and Nicholas Spiller, 22, all face multiple indictments in the
incidents.
Watch Video: Chief Harrison
announces multiple indictments on string of Uptown restaurant armed robberies
“From the very first incident, we made a commitment to use
every available resource to track down the suspects responsible for these
crimes and bring them to justice, and we did,” said NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison. “Given the initial
evidence, this was a difficult case to tackle, but we put together a smart team
to get it done and do it right. Our officers worked upwards of 12-16 hours per
day to gather intelligence, review surveillance video, interview witnesses,
follow every lead, and put together a strong case against these suspects. We
will continue to strongly pursue this investigation and we will not stop until
everyone responsible is off the street.”
The first incident was reported on August 20, 2015 at
Restaurant Patois on Laurel Street. Just before 11:00 p.m., three masked
suspects entered the restaurant, produced guns and demanded property from
employees and customers inside. The victims complied and the suspects then fled
out of the restaurant on foot with cash and property.
The second incident was reported on September 24, 2015 at
Atchafalaya Restaurant on Louisiana Avenue. Around 9:45 p.m., two unknown black
males approached the restaurant wearing Velcro masks and dark hooded
sweatshirts. When the suspects entered the building, they produced handguns and
moved through the restaurant demanding property from employees and customers
inside. After taking money from the cash register at the bar, the suspects fled
the location on foot toward Laurel Street.
The third incident was reported on September 28, 2015 at
Monkey Hill Bar on Magazine Street. Around 10:15 p.m., three suspects, wearing
gloves, hoodies and masks and armed with handguns made their way into the building.
According to the victims, the individuals took cash from the register, money
from an upstairs office and wallets and money from the victims themselves. All
three suspects fled the area on foot.
No one was injured in any of the incidents.
After presenting the facts and findings, the grand jury
returned the following counts on the four individuals:
Wesley
Davis (DOB: 6-13-1996)
- One count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery between
August 16 and September 28th.
- One count of Armed Robbery at Monkey Hill Bar
- One count of Armed Robbery of Merlin Riley
- One count of Armed Robbery at Patois Restaurant
- One count of Armed Robbery at Atchafalaya
Restaurant
Jockquaren
Van Norman (DOB: 10-26-95)
- One count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery between
August 16 and September 28th.
- One count of Armed Robbery at Monkey Hill Bar
- One count of Armed Robbery at Patois Restaurant
Dwayne
Stevenson (DOB: 3-15-95)
- One count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery between
August 16 and September 28th.
- One count of Armed Robbery at Monkey Hill Bar
- One count of Armed Robbery of Merlin Riley
- One count of Armed Robbery at Patois Restaurant
- One count of Armed Robbery at Atchafalaya
Restaurant
Nicholas
Spiller (DOB: 3-7-93)
- One count Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery between
August 16 and September 28th.
- One count of Armed Robbery at Monkey Hill Bar
-
One count of Armed Robbery at Atchafalaya
Restaurant
Spiller, Davis and Van Norman are in custody. Stevenson is
still at-large.
Today’s indictments are a direct result of a coordinated and
comprehensive investigation by NOPD detectives, members of the FBI New Orleans
Violent Crimes Task Force, ATF and the District Attorney’s Office.
FBI New Orleans Special
Agent in Charge Jeff Sallet said, "We commend the outstanding efforts
of the New Orleans Police Department, the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s
Office as well as the Agents and Task Force Officers assigned to the FBI’s
Violent Crimes Task Force, which led to the arrest and charging of those
allegedly responsible for several Uptown restaurant robberies. Through a joint
investigation by local, state and federal law enforcement, the city of New
Orleans is safer tonight. The officers and agents involved in this
investigation worked relentlessly to bring these individuals to justice showing
a true dedication to the residents of New Orleans."
The investigation is on-going and detectives believe there may
be other suspects involved in the incidents.
Citizens with information that can help solve
this crime are asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111 or toll-free
1-877-903-STOP. You could receive a cash
reward of up to $2,500 for the information leading only to the arrest, except
on homicides, where Crimestoppers will pay half of the reward upon the arrest
and half on the indictment of the responsible person(s). You do not have to give your name nor testify
to receive the reward but you must contact Crimestoppers directly with your
information. Citizens can also submit an anonymous tip online to Crimestoppers
at www.crimestoppersgno.org.
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