*** When Poaches was arrested in Chester, police said he was wearing a bullet proof vest and was carrying a pistol. ***
Just hmmmmm.
I also wondered but there is another reason. According to Mr Poaches LaToyia's family made death threats against him because they thought he had something to do with her disappearance and possible death (go figure).
Anyway, whenever he went out he wore his vest and gun. Which is what he was wearing as the police suprised him trying to hide Latoyia's body near those RR tracks.