Suspect arrested in Carrollton after two Garden District robberies

A 21-year-old man accused in two armed robberies in the Garden District on Thursday afternoon was arrested a few minutes later following a law-enforcement chase into the Carrollton area, New Orleans police said.

The first robbery was reported at 2:26 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29, in the 1400 block of Sixth Street (near Coliseum Street). Two men, both 29 years old, were sitting in their vehicle when a man later identified as Derrell Hilton approached and demanded their money at gunpoint, the NOPD report in that case states.

“When the victims displayed their empty wallets, Hilton took both of their cell phones and took off toward Sixth Street,” the report states.

At 2:30 p.m., Hilton approached three people — a 70-year-old woman, a 35-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man — on Second Street near Coliseum and took the women’s purses at gunpoint, the report in that case states. The man tried to chase Hilton until Hilton turned on him with the gun, but the victims were able to get the license plate number on Hilton’s car, a white Toyota Camry, the report states.

At 2:54 p.m., a police officer with the Housing Authority of New Orleans saw the Camry and began chasing it, the report states. A passenger in the vehicle got out and ran away, but Hilton crashed the car into a tree at the intersection of Cohn and Joliet streets in Carrollton, the report states. Hilton tried to escape, but officer shut down several streets and found him near the corner of Hickory and Cambronne streets.

The vehicle was later determined to have been stolen from the 3000 block of Gravier Street on Sept. 25, the report states.

Hilton is charged with four counts of armed robbery, one count of aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, fleeing from an officer and other charges, according to jail records.

Anyone with information on the case or the identity of the man who escaped is urged to call the NOPD Sixth District station at 658-6060 to speak to a detective, or CrimeStoppers at 822-1111 to leave an anonymous tip that could be eligible for a cash reward.

Note: A version of this article about the search was first posted at 4:01 p.m. Thursday, and updated Friday morning with details about the robberies and the arrest.