Convicted rapist held in string of burglaries

• By KIMBERLY VETTER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Nov 5, 2009 - Page: 1B

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A convicted rapist released from prison six months ago was arrested Tuesday in several robberies and aggravated burglaries between LSU and Midcity.

Baton Rouge Police Department officers nabbed Jeffery Jerome Bennett on Tuesday in the 2200 block of Maryland Street after a detective noticed he was wearing clothes that matched those of a recent robbery suspect, police spokesman Sgt. Don Kelly said.

When the detective approached Bennett, the 39-year-old Baton Rouge man fled, Kelly said. He was caught about a block away after a brief pursuit.

Officers later searched Bennett’s home at 2229 Georgia St. and found evidence that linked him to 10 incidents of robbery and burglary that occurred between Sept. 28 and Monday, Kelly said. The incidents involved more than 10 victims, many of whom were LSU students.

In most of the incidents, Bennett knocked on the doors of residences and forced his way inside after the occupants opened the door, Kelly said.

On Oct. 12, Bennett knocked on the door of a residence in the 1200 block of Park Boulevard and told the person who answered that he was a police officer, an affidavit of probable cause says. When the resident asked to see his badge, Bennett showed the person a gun.

In other cases, Bennett entered homes through an unlocked door, Kelly said.

On Oct. 25, he walked into an apartment in the 2500 block of McGrath Avenue and confronted a woman inside, an affidavit says. When the woman resisted Bennett’s demands for valuables, he grabbed her, pointed a kitchen knife at her and made her go through her purse.

In a few cases, Bennett made people drive him to an ATM and withdraw cash, Kelly said.

On Oct. 21, Bennett forced four people he approached at a residence in the 1800 block of Olive Street to take him to an ATM and withdraw cash, an affidavit says. Bennett then made them drive him to an area near Missouri Street and Interstate 10 where he fled on a bicycle.

Items Bennett stole during the string of robberies and burglaries include cash, cell phones, bicycles, a laptop, a gun, a television and a PlayStation, the affidavit says.

Bennett is accused of committing the crimes less than six months after being released from prison on a forcible rape, armed robbery, aggravated burglary and burglary conviction.

The rape occurred on July 18, 1989, when Bennett forced his way into a woman’s Baton Rouge home and robbed and raped her at gunpoint, an affidavit of probable cause says.