Arrested suspect in Apple Street robbery likely linked to four other cases, police say

A man arrested following an armed robbery downtown will be charged in a recent robbery on Apple Street, and is likely linked to four other robberies around the Carrollton corridor, New Orleans police said.

Brian Ward, 23, was arrested after a brief chase following an armed robbery on Port of New Orleans Place in the NOPD Fifth District, said Lt. Jennifer Dupree, who leads investigations in the Uptown-based Second District. During that chase, Ward was driving a Mazda MX3 taken during a Nov. 2 robbery at Apple and Dublin streets, and police have since confirmed he was the gunman in that case, Dupree said.

“He had just committed an armed robbery with the vehicle,” Dupree said.

That case was linked to two other robberies that occurred right around the same time — one on Joliet Street, then another on South Claiborne, Dupree said. And, based on his description and a distinctive New York Yankees hat worn in all three of those cases, Ward is now a suspect in the robberies of two businesses, including the Uptown Beauty store on South Claiborne Avenue.

Anyone with additional information is urged to call the NOPD Second District station at 658-6020 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.