http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl042109mljeweler.f8adbf80.html
Fake rush-hour robbery ends with jeweler, teens arrested
03:06 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Michael Luke / Eyewitness News
COVINGTON, La. – A group of teenagers working on a school project which had them wearing ski masks and carrying weapons ended with arrests when the Covington Police and a sniper responded to the scene of a fake robbery, Covington Police spokesman Capt. Jack West said Tuesday.
Covington P.D.
Officer Steve Reiff holds the SKS assault rifle, a pellet pistol, and the tactical vest. Reiff is the SWAT Team’s sniper that positioned himself with his rifle at the strip mall.
Monday afternoon, Covington Police received a call from a witness saying two teenagers donning ski masks picked up an assault rifle and a pistol out of the trunk of a car and entered Expressions in Gold, a jewelry store, police said. While the witness was on the phone, the teenagers, while inside the store, pointed the weapons at people, who then raised their hands, police said.
Ten Covington Police officers responded to the call, including a SWAT sniper officer, as other officers surrounded the store, police said.
As police were getting into defensive positions, the owner of the jewelry store, Janet Deluca, came out, telling officers that they were making a movie and no robbery was occurring, police said.
Officers asked for the weapons, police said, and were eventually shown the weapons that had been hidden. The pistol turned out to be a pellet gun. The assault rifle, however, was real, though unloaded. One of the participants also was wearing a tactical vest, police said.
The teenagers are students at Covington High School and told officers the video was being made for a school project, police said. Covington Police Department Spokesman Jack West said the school project has to be approved by a board before it can go into production.
Additionally, West said that a city ordinance requires anyone doing a project such as the video must get a permit alerting the police department that it's happening.
Six teenagers involved and the owner of the store were placed under arrest and transported to the Covington Police Department where they were booked and placed in St. Tammany Parish Jail, police said.
One of the teens arrested was a juvenile, police said.
Deluca, 52, was charged with letting a disorderly place, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Andrew Deluca, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice, false swearing and unlawful use of body armor.
Neil Blanchard, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Julian Candilora , 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Jahir Barros-Lastra, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Raven Plescia, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
All teenagers were released to their parents following their booking.
Fake rush-hour robbery ends with jeweler, teens arrested
03:06 PM CDT on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Michael Luke / Eyewitness News
COVINGTON, La. – A group of teenagers working on a school project which had them wearing ski masks and carrying weapons ended with arrests when the Covington Police and a sniper responded to the scene of a fake robbery, Covington Police spokesman Capt. Jack West said Tuesday.
Covington P.D.
Officer Steve Reiff holds the SKS assault rifle, a pellet pistol, and the tactical vest. Reiff is the SWAT Team’s sniper that positioned himself with his rifle at the strip mall.
Monday afternoon, Covington Police received a call from a witness saying two teenagers donning ski masks picked up an assault rifle and a pistol out of the trunk of a car and entered Expressions in Gold, a jewelry store, police said. While the witness was on the phone, the teenagers, while inside the store, pointed the weapons at people, who then raised their hands, police said.
Ten Covington Police officers responded to the call, including a SWAT sniper officer, as other officers surrounded the store, police said.
As police were getting into defensive positions, the owner of the jewelry store, Janet Deluca, came out, telling officers that they were making a movie and no robbery was occurring, police said.
Officers asked for the weapons, police said, and were eventually shown the weapons that had been hidden. The pistol turned out to be a pellet gun. The assault rifle, however, was real, though unloaded. One of the participants also was wearing a tactical vest, police said.
The teenagers are students at Covington High School and told officers the video was being made for a school project, police said. Covington Police Department Spokesman Jack West said the school project has to be approved by a board before it can go into production.
Additionally, West said that a city ordinance requires anyone doing a project such as the video must get a permit alerting the police department that it's happening.
Six teenagers involved and the owner of the store were placed under arrest and transported to the Covington Police Department where they were booked and placed in St. Tammany Parish Jail, police said.
One of the teens arrested was a juvenile, police said.
Deluca, 52, was charged with letting a disorderly place, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Andrew Deluca, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice, false swearing and unlawful use of body armor.
Neil Blanchard, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Julian Candilora , 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Jahir Barros-Lastra, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Raven Plescia, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
All teenagers were released to their parents following their booking.
