18-Year-Old Louisiana Man Arrested After Allegedly Stealing Multiple Cell Phones and Attempting to Steal a Purse

St John the Baptist Parish, Louisiana - An 18-year-old Louisiana man has been arrested after he allegedly stole multiple cell phones and attempted to steal a purse.

Jalen Joseph Johnson, 18, of Edgard, Louisiana, was arrested on April 6, 2023, according to the St John the Baptist Parish Sheriff's Office, after allegedly stealing cell phones from individuals at local businesses and trading them in for cash.

On March 30, 2023, a male subject later identified as Johnson stated to a store clerk that he had lost his phone in the store. When the clerk gave the subject the use of his personal cell phone to ping the subject's phone's position, the subject departed the store with the clerk's phone and escaped in a dark-colored Honda.

Officers later responded to a theft incident at a local business on April 1, 2023. The victim said that while he was shopping, a subject, later identified as Johnson, stole his cell phone from his grasp, took off running, then entered a dark-colored Honda Accord and drove away.

Police also responded to an attempted theft at a neighborhood store on April 1, 2023. A male, later identified as Johnson, allegedly attempted to grab the victim's purse as she approached the door to a store. She swung at him as he snatched her purse, and he fled the scene, racing to the back of the parking lot and driving away in a dark-colored Honda Accord.
Detectives soon learned that the suspect, later identified as Johnson, had traded in the mobile phones for fast cash at a cell phone Kiosk at a nearby business. The used cell phones are subsequently recycled at these kiosks.

Detectives identified Johnson as the suspect after conducting an investigation and reviewing security video. Police acquired a judicial warrant to arrest Johnson. He was charged with theft - $1000 - $5,000, attempted simple robbery, simple robbery, and resisting an officer. In lieu of a $51,500 bond, he is being kept in custody. Johnson was also wanted by the Kenner Police Department on a fugitive warrant.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.