Members of the Shreveport Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit have arrested an area security guard following a lengthy investigation into citizen complaints of illegal activity at a local park.
In late September, the Shreveport Police Department began receiving complaints from citizens that had been stopped and detained by a private security guard at Hamel’s Memorial Park, located in the 900 block of Clyde Fant Parkway. The complaints alleged that the security guard would forcibly stop patrons in the park and tell them that they were in violation for being in the area after closing hours. The guard would then advise his victims that he was going to call a Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Deputy to issue them a $75.00 ticket, unless they could pay him a $25.00 cancellation fee. One of the victims gave the security guard $17.00, at which time the guard released his victims and left the scene.
During the course of an in-depth investigation, Officer Mike McConnell was able to develop Delbert L. Washington as the suspect who had detained the victims and extorted money from them. Officer McConnell subsequently drafted a warrant for Washington’s arrest and on October 17th, McConnell, assisted by other members of the Major Crimes Unit, arrested Washington at his residence without incident.
Delbert L. Washington, 39, of the 2800 block of Grove St. in Shreveport, was booked into the Shreveport City Jail and charged with 3 counts of false imprisonment and 1 count of theft by fraud.
If anyone else has been victimized in a similar fashion by a security guard at any park, they are urged to call the Shreveport Police Department at (318) 673-7300 so that each case can be fully investigated.