Area briefs for Feb. 6, 2009

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Feb 6, 2009 - Page: 5B - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Reprints
• Twitter
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Man may be holding girl against her will
A man may be holding a missing 15-year-old Independence girl against her will, Tangipahoa Parish authorities said Thursday.

Angela Squatrito, 15, was last seen Sunday afternoon in Salem, Ill., around 3:30 p.m. with a 45-year-old man identified as Christopher Jones, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

Jones and the girl were seen leaving a gas station in a red 2001 Ford F-150 with the license number X468264. Jones’ employer reported the vehicle was stolen the day the child was reported missing, deputies said.

The case began Feb. 1 as a possible runaway, but investigators said they now believe the girl may be being held against her will.

Authorities said they don’t believe Squatrito left a note, took any clothing or contacted anyone to let them know she was leaving.

Squatrito is 5 feet 5 inches tall with blue eyes and brown hair and weighs about 150 pounds, the news release said.

Jones is a light-complexioned black male, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build, brown eyes and black hair, deputies said. Jones’ last known address is on Viola Lane in Independence, according to the news release.

3rd suspect arrested in home invasions
GONZALES — A third suspect implicated in a series of home invasion robberies in Ascension Parish has been jailed, sheriff’s Chief Deputy Tony Bacala said Thursday.

Mitchell Robinson, 18, 7164 Poinsettia, surrendered to the Baton Rouge Police Department late Wednesday night, Bacala said.

Robinson was booked with eight counts of burglary and one count of aggravated burglary before he was placed in the Ascension Parish Prison.

Two 16-year-old boys accused  in the crime spree with Robinson were arrested earlier Wed-nesday and taken to a juvenile detention facility, Bacala said.

The burglaries took place in the Dutchtown and Prairieville areas of Ascension Parish.

Crash claims cow on I-10 in Sorrento
SORRENTO — A Sorrento police officer was doubtful when the first incident report came in about 4 a.m. Thursday, but soon confirmed a motorist had hit a cow on Interstate 10, said Police Chief Earl Theriot.