The Southern University PoliceDepartment has identified the four suspects involved in a dorm room robberythat occurred last semester.
Jarvis Robinson and Howard Wardof Houma were arrested Dec. 27, 2004 and booked into East Baton Rouge Prison.Warrants were issued for Terrence Ellis of New Orleans and Matthew Firven ofHarvey. The latter two are currently incarcerated in New Orleans for unrelatedcharges, according to SU Police Chief Dale Flowers. None of these suspects wereenrolled at Southern University.
The suspects were identified, inpart, due to the work of Crimestoppers.
“Crimestoppers played a big rolein identifying these suspects,” Flowers said. “The Crimestoppers segment ranlocally on (WBRZ) Channel 2. During the Christmas Day basketball game betweenthe (Miami) Heat and the (Los Angeles) Lakers, it was apparently seen byRobinson and Ward or their family members. They came to turn themselves inafterwards.”
Through further investigation,Firven and Ellis were later identified.
Christopher Simmons of NewOrleans, who was a Southern student at the time, was arrested before thesemester break in connection to the robbery. He was taken to the East BatonRouge Parish Prison where he made bail. It is believed that he orchestrated therobbery.
“Simmons has been indefinitelysuspended from the university for his involvement in this crime,” said RobertBennett, SU Dean of Student Life. “He still has to go through the court systemto face his charges.”
Simmons is charged withprinciple to armed robbery and principle to aggravated battery, according toFlowers.
On Nov. 30, 2004, Robinson,Ward, Ellis and Firven entered Room 603 of Jones Hall where two people werepresent.
Three of the suspects pulledweapons and demanded clothing from one of the men. The victim was on the righttemple with a weapon as he attempted to leave the room.
The suspects then robbed thevictim of cash, a cell phone and other clothing. The other person present wasnot robbed.
Firven, Ellis and Robinson arecharged with aggravated battery, armed robbery and false imprisonment. Wardfaces the charges of principle to aggravated battery, armed robbery and falseimprisonment.
Court hearings for this casewill be announced at later dates.
