[StBernard] La. fugitive linked to heist of weapons

[Westley Annis]

La. fugitive linked to heist of weapons
 
By Mark Boxley
of The Daily Times Staff



New information released by authorities Friday has given insight into why
the Maryville Police Department SWAT Team was involved in the arrest of a
Louisiana fugitive Wednesday. 

In a statement given to The Daily Times Friday, the St. Bernard Sheriff's
Office in Louisiana indicated Herbert Clifford Vititoe, 37, was a suspect in
the May 27 burglary of a sheriff's trailer in Louisiana where as many as 20
weapons were stolen, including an AK-47 and two handguns equipped with
homemade silencers. Drugs -- including marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy -- and
$1,200 in cash were also reported stolen from the trailer, which was
temporarily holding evidence and seized property.

Vititoe was arrested in Maryville Wednesday on a warrant out of St. Bernard
Parish, La., charging him with attempted murder of an off-duty St. Bernard
deputy who reportedly confronted the man in connection with the burglary.

According to information from the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office, Vititoe had
been out of prison for about four days when the burglary took place and was
considered a "subject of interest" in connection with it. The off-duty
deputy was working security detail at a local store on June 1 when Vititoe
walked in, the statement said.

"When the deputy told Vititoe (that) sheriff's detectives wanted to talk
with him, the suspect allegedly pushed the deputy and ran from the store to
a nearby truck and tried to drive away," the sheriff's office statement
said.

The deputy gave chase and dove into the open vehicle and struggled with
Vititoe, but was forced to the ground in the parking lot, the statement
said. At that point, "the suspect allegedly tried to run over (the deputy)
-- striking him with the vehicle and causing minor injuries."

Authorities in Louisiana had information that Vititoe was possibly heading
toward Maryville in a vehicle believed to be stolen in Metairie, La., and
forwarded it to the Maryville Police Department.

"We knew that he had some acquaintances here, and we had an idea ... of what
kind of vehicle he might be in," Maryville Police Chief Tony Crisp said
Friday. 

Vititoe was apprehended by members of the Maryville Police Department SWAT
Team Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at an apartment complex near the intersection of
Watkins Road and Goldleaf Street.

It was the nature of the burglary in Louisiana -- and the guns allegedly
taken by Vititoe -- that warranted the SWAT Team's involvement, Crisp said.

"We knew what he had stolen and knew he was probably heavily armed," Crisp
said. 

Vititoe was reportedly in possession of a .40-caliber Glock handgun at the
time of his arrest. Information from the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office
indicates that the handgun's serial number was "obliterated" and it is not
known if the gun was among those stolen from the sheriff's trailer. 

Once in custody in Maryville, "Vititoe made statements implicating himself
in the burglary," the statement said.

Vititoe was charged Friday in Maryville with theft of a motor vehicle and is
being held in lieu of a $50,000 bond pending a 9 a.m. June 13 hearing in
Blount County General Sessions Court. He is being held without bond on the
attempted murder charge from Louisiana.

Authorities in St. Bernard Parish will be seeking Vititoe's extradition to
Louisiana after discussing the matter with authorities in Tennessee, the
statement said. 

Once in Louisiana, Vititoe will face charges of attempted murder, burglary
and possession of a firearm by a felon. 

Another man suspected to have played a part in the burglary was arrested in
Metairie, La., Thursday. The weapons stolen in the burglary were reportedly
recovered in a storage space in Metairie.