Just minutes after receiving an alert about an attempted armed robbery of a gas station in Edgard, St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s deputies pulled over a blue Ford Explorer fitting the description of the getaway vehicle on Highway 3127 and had three suspects in custody.
Shawn Himel, 45, of 169 Wisner St. in Paradis, was arrested and charged with obstruction of justice and felony carrying an illegal weapon. Himel was booked in the Nelson Coleman Correctional Facility under $1 million bond. A hearing arraignment has been scheduled for April 21.
Last Tuesday, St. Charles Parish sheriff’s deputies pulled over the Explorer based on an alert that was issued after the attempted robbery.
Deputies observed the passenger sitting in the front seat allegedly toss a handgun out of the vehicle, which Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Patrick Yoes said was recovered. Himel and two others were in the SUV.
The three suspects were held until St. John’s investigators arrived at the scene.
Himel is accused of entering a Shell gas station in Edgard around 4 p.m. and making a purchase. He then told the clerk to give him the money when the register drawer opened during the sale, according to the arrest report.
When the employee refused, Himel lifted his shirt to reveal a gun stuck in the top of his waistband, which in turn provoked the employee to sound the alarm, according to the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The two passengers in the SUV were apparently unaware of Himel’s actions and not charged. One of the passengers told police that while they were being pursued by St. Charles Parish deputies, Himel pulled his weapon on the driver and demanded that he keep driving.
The driver ignored Himel and pulled over, according to authorities.
According to Yoes, “Observant deputies and detectives happened to be in the right place at the right time to locate a vehicle fitting the description.”
St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said he has a great working relationship with his neighboring departments and he hopes the public, as well as the criminals, recognize this. “I want the good guys to know it and I want the bad guys to know it,” Tregre said. “Tuesday was a great case study for our departments and how we work together, all of us – St. James, St. Charles and St. John parishes. In this case, St. Charles and St. John parishes worked together and we got the suspect in minutes.
“I hope everyone takes notice of that, good and bad.”
Be the first to comment