Deputies book 2 with looting

• By KIMBERLY VETTER
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Sep 25, 2008 - Page: 1B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s deputies made two arrests in the biggest looting case they encountered since Hurricane Gustav roared through the parish.

Ronnie Alexander, 20, 16409 Bristoe Ave., was booked Sunday into Parish Prison in the theft of $68,000 worth of merchandise from the Wal-Mart SuperCenter at 2171 O’Neal Lane.

His 16-year-old brother was placed into Juvenile Detention in that case, an affidavit of probable cause says.

The burglary occurred between 10 p.m. Sept. 1 and 3:30 p.m. Sept. 2, hours after Hurricane Gustav slammed into Louisiana’s coast and left the majority of Baton Rouge homes and businesses, including the O’Neal Lane Wal-Mart, without power.

Alexander, his brother, and possibly others broke into the store through the back door of the Wal-Mart Tire and Lube Center, the affidavit says.

Alexander loaded Wal-Mart bags and luggage with merchandise, the affidavit says. The stolen merchandise included food, clothing and electronics such as laptop computers and portable DVD players, said Casey Rayborn Hicks, a Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

Between the time of the burglary and Alexander’s arrest, Alexander and his brother — both of whom live near the store — sold some of the merchandise “on the streets,” the affidavit says.

Deputies received a call through Crime Stoppers in reference to Alexander and his brother selling stolen items from a vehicle and from their Bristoe Avenue home, the affidavit says.

While executing a search warrant, detectives found $15,598 worth of stolen merchandise at Alexander’s home, Hicks said. They also found drugs, she said.

Alexander was arrested and booked on one count each of looting, simple burglary, theft, simple criminal damage to property, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute MDMA, which is a drug similar to methamphetamine. His bond is $75,000.

Alexander’s younger brother was placed into Juvenile Detention on the same counts, Hicks said, adding that additional arrests are possible.

Lack of power was one of the main reasons the Wal-Mart was burglarized, Hicks said. Without electricity, the store’s alarms didn’t work, she said.

When asked if additional security measures were in place during the time of the burglary, Anna Taylor, a Wal-Mart spokeswoman, said security is present at all Wal-Mart stores, whether the stores are open or closed.