A New Orleans man is behind bars without bond after St. Bernard Parish deputies say he took off in a stolen car, rammed a sheriff’s unit, hit a civilian vehicle in New Orleans, then tried to hide in a nearby yard before being caught, Sheriff James Pohlmann said. Deputies reported finding an AR-style Anderson AM-15 in the vehicle, and the driver now faces a stack of felony charges.
How deputies say the stop unfolded
Special Investigations Division agents first spotted a silver Hyundai that had been reported stolen out of Jefferson Parish sitting in the parking lot of a business in the 6700 block of St. Claude Avenue in Arabi. When they moved in to contact the driver, he struck a St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office unit and took off westbound on St. Claude Avenue, according to FOX 8. Officers later recovered an Anderson AM-15 multi-caliber AR-style rifle or pistol from the stolen Hyundai. The chase continued into New Orleans, where deputies say the Hyundai hit a second civilian vehicle and both cars were disabled. Field Operations deputies reported finding the suspect in the yard of a residence in the 6000 block of St. Claude Avenue, where they took him into custody.
Weapons and legal context
Investigators said the Anderson AM-15 was seized from the vehicle and logged into evidence following the arrest. Under Louisiana law, the Legislature’s statute RS 14:95.1 prohibits people convicted of certain felonies from possessing firearms, which is the law typically used for possession-by-a-felon allegations.
Charges, records and next steps
Sheriff Pohlmann identified the suspect as 27-year-old Jasmin Augustus of the 3100 block of Pauger Street in New Orleans. He was booked on charges that include possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated criminal damage to property, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, as reported by FOX 8. A criminal-history check showed Augustus had outstanding felony warrants in Texas and is currently out on bond in Orleans Parish, and deputies said he now faces additional charges there as well. Anyone with information was asked to contact the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.
