St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office books Violet man with burglary after he broke into an Arabi home while a teen was home alone

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrested a Violet man for burglarizing an Arabi residence while a 13-year-old girl was home alone and getting a friend to help him evade deputies by making a false 911 call, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

David Williams, 21, of the 3500 block of Shannon Drive in Violet, was booked with simple burglary, and Sean Williams, 23, of the 2900 block of Angelique Drive in Violet, was booked with accessory after the fact to simple burglary and criminal mischief. The two are not related.

On May 31, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies received a call about a residence burglary in the 1800 block of Angela Street.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they met with the juvenile’s father who works nearby and was summoned to the home by his daughter as she was hiding from the suspect. The father told deputies when he arrived home he confronted the suspect, later identified as David Williams, but he fled on foot.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the juvenile was not injured in the incident.

Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify Williams by a backpack he dropped as he fled from the scene, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

During the course of the investigation, detectives determined David Williams hid in a nearby residence under construction, and was aided by Sean Williams in calling 911 to make a false report about a carjacking near Torres Park in an effort to distract deputies, and providing him with a ride out of the parish.

Working along with the New Orleans Police Department’s Tactical Intelligence Gathering Enforcement Response Team and the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crimes Task Force, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office detectives apprehended Williams at a relative’s home in New Orleans. Sean Williams was apprehended at his place of employment.

A criminal history check was done on both subjects which revealed David Williams has several prior simple burglary charges and one conviction for simple burglary out of St. Bernard Parish.

David Williams and Sean Williams are both being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison. David Williams’ bond has not yet been set; Sean Williams’ bond is $15,000.

Sheriff Pohlmann said criminals who think they can commit crimes of this nature in St. Bernard Parish and flee to surrounding parishes and not get caught are mistaken.

“We will not tolerate dangerous individuals who put the safety and well-being of our residents at risk,” the Sheriff said. “Our relationships with these other jurisdictions are stronger than they realize. We will not stop until we find you and arrest you.”