JEFFERSON PARISH – Sheriff Newell Normand reports members of the Jefferson Parish Robbery Division, along with investigators from the Westwego PD and the Kenner PD were conducting subsequent investigations into several robberies and attempt robberies that occurred during the late evening hours of Friday, August 29, 2014. The suspect in all of the incidents was described as a B/M, 20-30 years of age, 5’6-5’10” tall, 120-160 lbs. with a medium complexion. He would always have some type of covering concealing a portion of his face. On several of the incidents, when a weapon was displayed; it was described as a black or black & silver colored handgun. Information developed in this investigation described the suspect vehicle as a Dodge Challenger, grey or black in color. This information was shared with area law enforcement agencies.
Saturday night, around 10:59 PM, JPSO 911 Center received a report of a robbery at the Circle K located at 330 Veterans Blvd in Metairie. The suspect was described as a B/M whose face was partially covered. The victim reported the suspect reached into a backpack, implying he had a weapon and demanded money. After taking the cash drawer from the clerk, the suspect fled. Within minutes, around 11:02 PM, First District patrol officer Joe Marcel spotted a grey Dodge Challenger near the intersection of Veterans Blvd. and Causeway. He attempted to conduct an investigatory stop on the vehicle, however, the driver sped away at a high rate of speed north on Causeway Blvd. onto the northbound lanes of the Causeway Bridge. As the vehicle pursuit continued, notification was made to the Causeway Police of the pursuit. A Causeway PD unit clocked the Challenger speeding in excess of 100 MPH on radar and joined in the pursuit. Causeway PD notified the Mandeville Police Dept. requesting their assistance in stopping the suspect/vehicle. As the Challenger neared the end of the bridge, his vehicle engaged the spike strips that were deployed onto the roadway. When the vehicle rolled to a stop, officers from the Causeway PD and Mandeville PD approached the suspect with their weapons drawn. While doing so, the suspect accelerated in their direction causing several of the officers to fire at the suspect. The vehicle came to a stop after striking an unoccupied Causeway PD unit.
The suspect, identified as Ranell Joseph, B/M, 26, of 27870 Aaron Street in Plaquemine LA was not shot, however he did require medical attention for injuries he sustained from impacting the Causeway PD unit. Ranell Joseph was transported to University Hospital for treatment; his injuries did not appear to be serious. Upon his release from University, Ranell Joseph was booked with a list of charges.