Knife-wielding man allegedly breaks into New Sarpy home

2 men also charged with exchanging gunfire in Boutte

New Sarpy resident Clifton Blue, 33, was arrested on Feb. 12 and charged with attempted armed robbery and simple burglary after he allegedly tried to break into a residence located at 540 W. Lawson St.

Police reports also indicate that Blue pointed a knife at homeowner Arnold T. Lawrence and threatened to kill him if he didn’t turn over money.

Lawrence was eventually able escape and flag down a St. Charles Parish deputy, to whom he told what happened.
Lawrence claims that he was in his house when he heard a knock at the door, but as he walked towards the door, he could see a hand coming through a window near the entry.
Lawrence opened the door where he was met by a black male who said, “Give me some money or I will kill you.”

In an attempt to mislead Blue, Lawrence asked him to follow him into the street. There, Blue grabbed a 6-inch green knife off of the ground, pointed it at Lawrence and began repeatedly asking for money.

Still trying to get away from the alleged robber, Lawrence says he hopped on his bicycle. Blue followed in his white Pontiac Grand Prix. Eventually, Lawrence lost Blue’s trail and was able to get the attention of a deputy.

The deputy located the ditched knife and reported that the screen on a lower window at Lawrence’s house appeared to be pried open. The deputy also found that the glass was broken.
Upon booking, Blue was also charged with aggravated  battery for a separate incident that occurred in December 2008 where he was involved in an altercation with New Sarpy resident Louis Smothers, 52.

During the argument, Blue allegedly stabbed Smothers on the left side of his face with a broken glass bottle, leaving him with a 7-inch laceration.

Smothers admits that the two had been arguing about their dislike for one another when Blue stabbed him.

In other news, Two men who allegedly exchanged gunfire in Boutte early on Feb. 13 have been booked with attempted murder, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office reported Monday.

No one was injured in the exchange, which occurred shortly before 5 a.m. in the 100 block of Boutte Estates Drive in Boutte.

Lance Smith, 29, 139 Hahn St., Lot 4, Hahnville, allegedly fired shots at a 2009 Chevrolet Impala, shattering a window. Benjamin F. Walls III, 26, of Houston, was riding in the vehicle and allegedly returned fire.

Walls was arrested after he returned to the scene, and Smith was arrested at the scene, Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange said.

“Detectives did not find any weapons at the scene, but they did find a number of shell casings,” LaGrange said.