Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: June 24, 2009

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

Contact: Cpl. Bill Goodin, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shreveport Police arrest suspect in string of robberies

Shreveport Police have arrested a local teen in connection with at least three overnight robberies.

At approximately 10:00 p.m. last night, Shreveport Police patrol officers were dispatched to the 7100 block of Youree Dr. relative to a car jacking. Upon arrival there, officers contacted the victim, who advised that a black male suspect had approached him with a handgun and robbed him of his vehicle, a 1990 Toyota. Some hours later, at 3:30 a.m., officers responded to the Circle K store in the 8900 block of Walker Rd, relative to a robbery. Officers arriving on scene there discovered that a black male suspect armed with a handgun had accosted the clerk and demanded money. The suspect received an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene. Just an hour later, patrol officers were dispatched to the Circle K store in the 3300 block of Bert Kouns in reference to a robbery at that location. Once again the clerk reported to police that a black male armed with a handgun entered the store and demanded money. As in the previous robbery, the suspect received an undisclosed amount of money and fled the scene.

Just moments later, at approximately 4:50 a.m., patrol officers spotted a 1990 Toyota pulling into the Circle K parking lot at Baird Rd. and Bert Kouns. Officers stopped the vehicle and were able to take the suspect, identified as 18 year old Mario Stewart of the 800 block of York St. in Shreveport, into custody. The Toyota the suspect was driving was the vehicle stolen in the carjacking on Youree Dr. and officers located evidence in the stolen vehicle linking Stewart to both Circle K robberies. Detectives have booked Mario Stewart into the Shreveport City Jail on three counts of armed robbery.

These investigations are ongoing and detectives are working at this time to determine what, if any, other crimes Stewart might be responsible for. Anyone having any information regarding Mario Stewart is urged to call Shreveport Police Detective Jack Miller at 318-673-6955 or Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

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View all SPD press releases at www.shreveportla.gov