Jonesboro Robbery Spurs Talk about Public Safety
By: Shernay Williams
Updated: July 18, 2012
Authorities say a man was robbed at gunpoint while at work in Jonesboro.
The crime is bringing attention to public safety in the town, which just recently lost most of its police force.
The Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office says a man and woman robbed the Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts store in Jonesboro around four this morning. The sheriff says his team responded within minutes and is on the case, but some residents say in order to feel safe, they need more of a police presence in Jonesboro.
"When they forced their way in, Mr. Brown had a tussle with the individuals," says Sheriff Andy Brown.
David Brown tells investigators, the masked suspects-- a man and woman--ran off with about $800.
The store manager says the pair met brown right as he was unlocking the door for his 4 a.m. shift. It's just 400 feet from the police department. Employees at this store and residents say they expect an increase in crimes like this since the police department has been dissolved.
"I know too many people around here. If there's not enough police officers around here, there's going to be a lot of stuff happening," says Matthew Bosh, a Jonesboro resident.
Every resident we spoke with agreed, except one --who says off camera-- she supports the mayor's decision to cut police and save money.
Sheriff Brown has picked up the slack, but he doesn't support the mayor's move.
"You close the police department to open the dog pound?" he questioned.
Calls from Jonesboro have tripled, he says, and many want answers on ongoing investigations that Sheriff Brown says he simply can't take on.
But the he says he will investigate crimes that happened after July 1st, including Wednesday's robbery.
"My job is to protect and enforce the laws whether I like it or not," he says. "And we're going to get as aggressive as we have to and make sure these things don't happen."
The sheriff says he will send the mayor an invoice at the end of the month. Mayor Leslie Thompson has said he'll pay it, because he thinks the bill will be less than staffing a full police force.
The crime is bringing attention to public safety in the town, which just recently lost most of its police force.
The Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office says a man and woman robbed the Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts store in Jonesboro around four this morning. The sheriff says his team responded within minutes and is on the case, but some residents say in order to feel safe, they need more of a police presence in Jonesboro.
"When they forced their way in, Mr. Brown had a tussle with the individuals," says Sheriff Andy Brown.
David Brown tells investigators, the masked suspects-- a man and woman--ran off with about $800.
The store manager says the pair met brown right as he was unlocking the door for his 4 a.m. shift. It's just 400 feet from the police department. Employees at this store and residents say they expect an increase in crimes like this since the police department has been dissolved.
"I know too many people around here. If there's not enough police officers around here, there's going to be a lot of stuff happening," says Matthew Bosh, a Jonesboro resident.
Every resident we spoke with agreed, except one --who says off camera-- she supports the mayor's decision to cut police and save money.
Sheriff Brown has picked up the slack, but he doesn't support the mayor's move.
"You close the police department to open the dog pound?" he questioned.
Calls from Jonesboro have tripled, he says, and many want answers on ongoing investigations that Sheriff Brown says he simply can't take on.
But the he says he will investigate crimes that happened after July 1st, including Wednesday's robbery.
"My job is to protect and enforce the laws whether I like it or not," he says. "And we're going to get as aggressive as we have to and make sure these things don't happen."
The sheriff says he will send the mayor an invoice at the end of the month. Mayor Leslie Thompson has said he'll pay it, because he thinks the bill will be less than staffing a full police force.
