Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: June 10, 2009

Phone: (318) 525-5066 Fax: (318) 673-6933

Contact: Cpl. Bill Goodin, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shreveport Police arrest well to do panhandler

Shreveport Police investigating a complaint relative to a suspect begging for money arrested a man who had over $2000 on his person.

At approximately 1:50 p.m. on May 28, 2009, Shreveport Police Community Liaison Officer Cpl. Robert Elliott received a complaint regarding a male suspect approaching motorists in the 1000 block of Bert Kouns begging for money. Upon arrival there, Cpl. Elliott observed a male suspect approaching vehicles apparently asking for money. Cpl. Elliott arrested the male suspect, identified as 61 year old Booker T. Harris, and booked him into the Shreveport City Jail on one count of panhandling, begging and soliciting alms. During the booking procedure, officers discovered that Harris had $2,300 hidden in his shoe and $85.76 in his pockets. All of the monies located were placed in Harris’ property at the jail.

The panhandling, begging and soliciting alms ordinance prohibits, among other things, any person from soliciting money or other things of value from any operator of a motor vehicle that is in traffic on a public street.

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View all SPD press releases at www.shreveportla.gov