LAFAYETTE, La. — A 52-year-old New Orleans man is behind bars following a violent robbery and a subsequent police pursuit in Lafayette. Melvin Heno was arrested on armed robbery charges after he allegedly stole cash from a Circle K convenience store on Eraste Landry Road.
According to authorities, Heno entered the store and committed the robbery before fleeing the scene. Officers quickly located Heno, but he attempted to evade arrest by leading police on a brief chase. The situation escalated when Heno reportedly resisted arrest, using force in an effort to avoid capture.
The suspect was apprehended shortly after the violent confrontation and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center. He faces multiple charges, including armed robbery, resisting an officer, aggravated battery (resisting an officer with force or violence), and driving on a roadway laned for traffic. His bond has been set at $25,000.
The incident underscores the dangers law enforcement officers face while responding to crimes, as well as the swift action taken to apprehend the suspect.