Man arrested with gun during proactive patrolling

New Orleans man arrested night of March 20 for illegal use of a weapon and resisting an officer.

St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies working proactive patrols in Arabi the night of March 20 arrested a man who had a gun when he fled from officers, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Ronald Francois, 21, was one of twin men in dark clothes looking into windows of businesses in the 6700 block of St. Claude Ave. in Arabi when seen by officers. The businesses they were looking in were closed at the time and all lights were off.

When the two men saw the marked sheriff’s unit they both turned and walked away from the officers, who approached them to do a pedestrian stop and exited the marked unit in full uniform , Sheriff Pohlmann said.

One subject fled on foot and was chased by Lt. Lee Morgan and Sgt. Brad Nuncio west on St. Claude Ave. The subject, identified as Francois, retrieved a dark colored handgun from his waistband as he turned east bound on Maris St. Sheriff’s officers set up a perimeter to locate Francois.

He was located in a vacant lot on Mehle St. and was taken into custody. Officers then conducted a search of the area and found a handgun matching the description of the weapon Francois was seen with.

Francois was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison and booked with charges of Illegal use of a weapon and resisting an officer.