Officer Steve Reiff holds the SKS assault rifle, a pellet pistol, and the tactical vest. Reiff is the SWAT Team’s sniper that positioned himself with his rifle at the strip mall.
Posted on 04/24/2009 7:01:01 AM PDT by BBell
COVINGTON, La. – A group of teenagers working on a school project which had them wearing ski masks and carrying weapons ended with arrests when the Covington Police and a sniper responded to the scene of a fake robbery, Covington Police spokesman Capt. Jack West said Tuesday.
Monday afternoon, Covington Police received a call from a witness saying two teenagers donning ski masks picked up an assault rifle and a pistol out of the trunk of a car and entered Expressions in Gold, a jewelry store, police said. While the witness was on the phone, the teenagers, while inside the store, pointed the weapons at people, who then raised their hands, police said.
Ten Covington Police officers responded to the call, including a SWAT sniper officer, as other officers surrounded the store, police said.
As police were getting into defensive positions, the owner of the jewelry store, Janet Deluca, came out, telling officers that they were making a movie and no robbery was occurring, police said.
Officers asked for the weapons, police said, and were eventually shown the weapons that had been hidden. The pistol turned out to be a pellet gun. The assault rifle, however, was real, though unloaded. One of the participants also was wearing a tactical vest, police said.
The teenagers are students at Covington High School and told officers the video was being made for a school project, police said. Covington Police Department Spokesman Jack West said the school project has to be approved by a board before it can go into production.
Additionally, West said that a city ordinance requires anyone doing a project such as the video must get a permit alerting the police department that it's happening.
Six teenagers involved and the owner of the store were placed under arrest and transported to the Covington Police Department where they were booked and placed in St. Tammany Parish Jail, police said.
One of the teens arrested was a juvenile, police said.
Deluca, 52, was charged with letting a disorderly place, criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
Andrew Deluca, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice, false swearing and unlawful use of body armor.
Neil Blanchard, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, wearing of masks in public places, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Julian Candilora , 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Jahir Barros-Lastra, 18, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, obstruction of justice and false swearing.
Raven Plescia, 17, was charged with criminal mischief, disturbing the peace and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.
All teenagers were released to their parents following their booking.
Officer Steve Reiff holds the SKS assault rifle, a pellet pistol, and the tactical vest. Reiff is the SWAT Team’s sniper that positioned himself with his rifle at the strip mall.
Brilliant...future Democrats one and all.
???
Halloween must be a real kick in that town...
This was really stupid, but what is “unlawful use of body armor?” Is that against the law now, too?
So, if I got caught crossing the border illegally from Mexico and told them I was just making a movie, I would be in MORE trouble than the actual illegals?
I am certain she is beautiful, but that mask just makes her look like a sycophantic idiot.
RS 14:95.3 — Unlawful use of body armor
§95.3. Unlawful use or possession of body armor
A.(1) It is unlawful for any person to possess body armor who has been convicted of any of the following:
(a) A crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2(B) which is a felony.
(b) Simple burglary, burglary of a pharmacy, or burglary of an inhabited dwelling.
(c) Unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
(d) Felony illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities.
(e) Manufacture or possession of a delayed action incendiary device.
(f) Manufacture or possession of a bomb.
(g) Any violation of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law.
(h) Any crime defined as an attempt to commit one of the offenses enumerated in Subparagraphs (a) through (g) of this Paragraph.
(i) Any law of any other state or of the United States or of any foreign government or country of a crime which, if committed in this state, would be one of the crimes enumerated in Subparagraphs (a) through (h) of this Paragraph.
(2) The prohibition in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall not apply to any person who is participating in a witness protection program.
B. No person shall use or wear body armor while committing any of the crimes enumerated in Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a) through (i) of this Section.
C. Whoever violates the provisions of this Section shall be fined not more than two thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not more than two years, or both.
D. For the purposes of this Section, "body armor" shall mean bullet resistant metal or other material intended to provide protection from weapons or bodily injury.
Added by Acts 1983, No. 286, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1140, §1
I’ll bet that’s a “pile-on” that’s more or less rubber-stamped in these situations. I want to see “body armor” that a 17-year-old can buy.
Part of Mardi Gras is to dress up like a fool and act like an idiot. Oh, and don’t forget your mask as you don’t want anyone to recognize you.
At least they are teaching the kids something they can use to make a living.
Thanks.
And out of costume she's a mild-mannered, spinster, ancient books librarian.
“Sycophantic”? I don’t see how it does that.
Disturbing the peace in your own store??? WTF???
I'm willing to bet all of these charges will be dropped or at least there will be no conviction.
ok, all these charges are a over reaction by the government. look at all the chjarges that they created to place on these folks.
ok not the smartest thing, but at least they had the store owners permission. they probably are decent students, and really took the class assignment seriusly.
I would think a stern warning from the cops should be enough, yeah it was not bright to do, but no one got hurt, and it was innocent. all they was doing was playing cops and robbers on film.
the over reaction by teh authorities is appalling. they will not reast until these kids and store owner are marked for life as felons. (one more group that can never own a gun)
this should have been delt with as a warning, and make a good discussion at school on what is dumb and what is not.
Now I am sure all the kids int eh school rightlfully fell that this is unfair, no leason will be learned, except contempt for th ecops an prosecuters in this town.
discusting behavior by the authorities. give them a warning, have a talks at school about the dangers of this, adn get one with life, dont wreck these young mens lives with a prosecution. decades ago this would have been NOT prosecuted.
and get this, they are using gun laws to prosecute some of these guys. yes gun laws, even though this was an innocent movie, these gjys may have gun violations ion there record for life.
this is sick, just plain sick. dumb movie project, now is even a dumber prosecution. let these guys go with a warning you dumb assed authorities!!!
It is interesting, though, that there don’t seem to be a firearms-related charges. Usually they find a way to pile those on top, whether or not said charges can be substantiated at the time of arrest.
Old anti-Klan legislation. You'll find similar laws in many of the old southern states.
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