The investigation of a reported arm robbery led to two drug arrests in Ruston last week.
Omarion Ty’shon Russell, 19, and Chauncey Antonio Harper, Jr., 21, both of Ruston, were arrested on February 3 at an East Colorado Avenue residence after a juvenile reported he was robbed.
Investigating officers were told by the juvenile victim that he was asked by a suspect if he wanted some marijuana. The victim said he began walking, but the suspect pulled a firearm from his waistband and grabbed him and asked for his money and his vape pen.
According to an officer’s report, the juvenile said the suspect took his money and vape pen and ran to a residence near the school board office. He identified the location the suspect was going to on Colorado Avenue.
The juvenile was taken to the Northern Louisiana Medical Center due to his anxiety. He said both he and the suspect were on surveillance video at the convenience store in the 300 block of South Farmerville Street.
Officers reviewed the video and acquired a photograph of the possible suspect. The victim at the emergency room confirmed it was the suspect who robbed him.
RPD officers and Lincoln Parish deputies went to the East Colorado residence and found several individuals in a vehicle outside the residence.
Omarion Russell was located in advised of his rights and taken it to the Ruston Police Department for questioning. During the interview, Russell told officers that it was not an armed robbery, but that he had sold the victim a bag of grass pretending it was marijuana. Russell said he asked the juvenile for $25 in payment and the victim gave him several folded bills. Russell said he did not count it and put it in his pocket
Police found $13 in $1 bills in Russell’s hoodie pocket. Russell was also in possession of a vape pen of the same flavor and brand as the one the victim reported stolen.
A strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle at the location. A search located multiple baggies of suspected marijuana, digital scales, and two pills believed to be oxycodone/acetaminophen. Harper claimed ownership of the marijuana but said he did not remember the two pills being in the bag with the marijuana.
Russell and Harper were taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. Harper was booked for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of oxycodone/acetaminophen.
Russell was booked for unlawful possession of a vapor product while under the age of 21, false representation of a drug, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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