Robbery suspect jailed
Published 2:16 am Saturday, October 24, 2009
Two Lockhart men were jailed Thursday on separate offenses.
Justin McLeod, 26, now faces charges of first-degree robbery and second-degree theft of property after he allegedly threatened another Lockhart man and stole his cash-filled wallet.
Lockhart chief John Davis said the incident occurred on Sept. 16 and required a trip to Louisiana to bring McLeod to justice.
“From our indications, McLeod approached the victim and asked to borrow ‘a couple of dollars,’” Davis said. “The victim agreed; however, when McLeod asked for $20 more, the victim refused, stating he had to pay bills.
“A fight then ensued over the victim’s wallet with McLeod knocking the victim to the ground,” he said. “McLeod then (allegedly) told his victim that he had a gun and would kill him if he didn’t hand over the wallet.”
Davis said McLeod then left with the wallet containing nearly $400 in cash and several credit cards and fled to Louisiana.
On Thursday, Davis said Louisiana authorities notified him that McLeod had been detained after seeking medical treatment at a Louisiana hospital.
“The story (McLeod) gave was that he had been thrown through a window by Louisiana drug dealers and had lacerations to his foot,” he said, after traveling there to pick up McLeod.
“This type of incident — someone being robbed and threatened — is not commonplace in Lockhart,” Davis said. “Citizens should know every avenue will be pursued in bringing those responsible back home, even if it means a trip to Louisiana.”
McLeod was booked into the Covington County Jail and held without bond on a violation of probation order.
In a separate incident, another Lockhart man was arrested just over the Florida line Thursday after admitting there were crack cocaine, whiskey and beer in his vehicle.
Willie Ray Brooks, 59, was driving westbound in a friend’s Ford Ranger pick-up truck on Double Bridge Road outside of Paxton, Fla., said Mike Gurspan, Walton County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
A Walton County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped the vehicle for having an expired license plate, and not making a complete stop at a stop sign, Gurspan said.
“It was also determined (Brooks) was driving with a suspended license, and during the course of the stop told deputies that he and his passenger had open containers of beer and whiskey in the truck,” he said.
Gurpsan said Brooks granted permission for a vehicle search, which uncovered a pipe and crack cocaine under the driver’s seat. Brooks admitted to authorities that the drug was his and was transported to the Walton County Jail on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of narcotic equipment.
Bond was set at $5,000.