Sheriff’s Offices in Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes combine to arrest two men believed responsible for armed robberies in five parishes; Also handguns, masks, a back pack and other items seized

Sheriff’s Offices in Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes have combined to arrest two Marrero men believed responsible for armed robberies in multiple parishes and seized handguns, masks, a backpack and other items used in the crimes, Sheriffs Newell Normand and James Pohlmann said.

Sam J. Williams, 38, and Travis L. Davis, 37, both living at 2820 Bayou Teche Drive, were stopped by Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputies early Sept.17 while in a sports utility vehicle that was being sought in connection with at least four armed robberies in Jefferson, one in Chalmette, and possibly others in three other parishes.

Travis Davis, arrested in Chalmette one armed robbery and four in Jefferson Parish.

Sam Williams, arrested in one Chalmette armed robbery and four in Jefferson Parish.

Further investigation led to a warrant being executed to search their residence, where two handguns and items believed used in robberies including masks, bandanas, a unique tan back pack, gloves and clothing were found. Also, cigarette packs with markings matching those taken in a Chalmette store robbery the night of Sept. 13 were also found at the residence.

The men are being held at the Jefferson Parish Corrections Center, booked with 12 counts of armed robbery, based on the multiple victims in the four robberies in Jefferson. The robbers took both store property and personal property of employees in the Jefferson and St. Bernard robberies.

St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives participated in the investigation after the men were stopped in the SUV and intend to obtain warrants of arrest charging both men with armed robbery and possibly other charges, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

It was St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives who through investigation learned the possible license plate number of an SUV believed to be the getaway vehicle in the Sept. 13 robbery of a Family Dollar store on Paris Road in Chalmette.

Sheriff’s detectives were able to locate video through the cooperation of owners of residences in the area of the robbery and that led to identifying a possible license plate number, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Jefferson Parish authorities determined a vehicle with that plate number had also been spotted in areas near where armed robberies were committed in recent months.

Jefferson investigators had been conducting follow-up investigations into a number of businesses in Jefferson Parish that have been robbed between July 25 and August 28.

Jefferson deputies stopped the vehicle based on the plate number.

The registered owner of this vehicle was identified as 33 year-old Lawnada Tapp, who told investigators her boyfriend, identified as Williams, often used her vehicle. As a result, a search was underway to locate and question Williams in regards to these robbery investigations.

On Saturday, September 17, Jefferson deputies observed this vehicle being operated on Highway 90 near Beechgrove Boulevard in Westwego. The vehicle was being driven by Williams and seated in the front passenger seat was Davis.

Both of these individuals were detained and later turned over to Robbery Section detectives. After being questioned, Williams and Davis were transported to the JPCC and booked accordingly.

During the execution of a search warrant, JPSO Robbery detectives located the tan back pack that was observed in the video at each robbery scene; two firearms, as well as several pieces of clothing seen in the stores’ video surveillance

Williams has a prior arrest history for distribution of cocaine, indecent behavior with juveniles, sexual battery, battery on a police officer, simple battery, criminal trespass and resisting an officer. Davis has a prior arrest history for first-degree robbery, simple robbery, second degree battery, intentional exposure to AIDS virus, stalking, illegal possession of stolen things, simple burglary, distribution of marijuana and theft of goods.

Based on the fact that both Williams and Davis are convicted felons, investigators are in the process of issuing warrants for the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.