[StBernard] Chalmette man arrested in robbery after faking parking lot accident, police say

[Westley Annis]

Chalmette man arrested in robbery after faking parking lot accident, police
say
By Bob Warren, The Times-Picayune 
December 18, 2009, 6:01PM


Thomas Price, arrested FridayA Chalmette man has been arrested in connection
with an incident in which he allegedly faked being hit by a vehicle driven
by an elderly driver and then robbed the driver. 
St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies arrested Thomas Price, 32, Friday
evening at a Chalmette residence, the Sheriff's Office said.

He will be booked with simple robbery and crime against a person age 65 or
older. He was being held Friday at the St. Bernard Parish prison in
Chalmette

Authorities said Price faked being hit by an 85-year-old man driving a
vehicle in a Chalmette parking lot Dec. 11. When the driver emerged from the
vehicle, Price allegedly told him he would not report the accident if the
man gave him some money. Price then grabbed around $30 from the driver and
fled.

Two witnesses said they saw Price slap the side of the car and pretend that
it had hit him.

After a surveillance photo ran in The Times-Picayune and nola.com, a tip was
called to the Sheriff's Office identifying the man in the photo as Price,
authorities said.