Kenneth Barnes (via NOPD)
Kenneth Barnes, 47, was located at noon near Foucher and Baronne Streets, police said. For more information, read the full news release below.
A suspect believed to be responsible for committing a dozen armed robberies over the past eight months is off the street tonight (Oct. 26) after police arrested him this afternoon during a citywide search. Acting on information gathered by district detectives, officers assigned to the TIGER Unit tracked down and arrested Kenneth Barnes at noon today near the intersection of Foucher and Baronne Streets.
Through the course of the investigation, detectives identified Barnes as the suspect in the following incidents:
- Attempted Armed Robbery reported on October 24 at the Jimmy John’s sandwich shop in the 7600 block of Maple Street;
- Armed Robbery reported at the Shell Gas station on October 21 in the 600 block of South Carrollton Avenue;
- Armed Robbery reported on September 29 at the Rite Aid in the 7100 block of St. Charles Avenue;
- Armed Robbery reported on March 31 at the Maple Street Bookstore in the 7500 block of Maple Street;
- Armed Robbery reported on March 2 at the Rite Aid in the 1100 block of South Carrollton Avenue; and
- Armed Robbery reported on March 1 at the Smoothie King in the 200 block of North Carrollton Avenue.
Detectives have identified Barnes as a suspect in an additional six incidents. All of the investigations are on-going. The First, Second and Third Police District as well as the TIGER Unit ((Tactical Intelligence Gathering and Enforcement Response) are working collaboratively on the on-going investigations.
Citizens with information that can help solve crimes are asked to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.
The NOPD has worked aggressively over the past several months to attack violent crime, with a focus on preventing and solving armed robberies reported citywide. The focused coordination of police resources has led to a double-digit decrease in armed robberies reported citywide. Year-to-date, 656 armed robberies have been reported in 2016 compared to 768 armed robberies reported through the same time last year—a decrease of 15 percent.
