Police nab "sleeping" burglar

A Taylor Street resident who went out to his car found a would-be burglar passed out in the front seat around 5 a.m. one morning last week, Plaquemine Police Capt. Steve Bezet reported Monday.

The victim of a robbery on Chinn Street later identified the suspect as the man who stabbed him and took his wallet containing around $200 the night before, Bezet said.

Justin Cox, 24, of 24511 Johnson Street, Plaquemine, was charged with second degree robbery, misdemeanor theft and aggravated battery in connection with the first crime and trespassing, criminal damage to property and burglary in the second, the captain said.

Bezet alleged the suspect had forced his way into the car on Taylor Street using a screwdriver, and had started to disassemble the dashboard possibly to remove the radio when he passed out from what was believed to be a combination of drugs and alcohol.

Police who responded to the car burglary thought Cox fit the description of a robbery suspect from the previous night, the officer said.

Bezet said a man walking on Chinn Street was stabbed with a screwdriver and robbed of his wallet. He said the victim, who was taken to a Baton Rouge hospital for treatment of a superficial stab wound, later identified Cox as his assailant.

Cox admitted to the robbery, but denied the stabbing, Bezet said. He said the suspect told police the robbery victim had tried to buy drugs from him and he had grabbed the money.

As of Monday, Cox remained in the Iberville Parish Jail in lieu of bond, records showed. Bond information was not immediately available.