A 42-year-old man was arrested by New Orleans Police Sunday and is accused of stealing a tip jar and punching a woman in the face after she tried chasing him following the altercations near Jackson Square.
The incident was reported as an armed robbery with a knife at about 3:48 p.m. near the intersection of Decatur and Saint Ann streets, NOPD logs show.
New Orleans Police said the alleged suspect identified as Kenneth Carlson, stole a knife from a 47-year-old woman shortly before stealing a tip jar from a 59-year-old woman, who was able to retrieve the tip jar, according to nola.com.
Additionally, police said a 50-year-old woman briefly pursed Carlson on foot before he punched in the face, the newspaper reported.
Carlson, however, had been previously arrested earlier this month on a charge of simple battery but was released on his own recognizance with the condition he enter a drug and alcohol treatment program, according to WVUE.
As Carlson was being transported to the facility, Carlson jumped out of the vehicle when it stopped at an intersection, according to the news channel, citing court records.
A court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Carlson, but wasn’t arrested until after Sunday’s incident.
Orleans Parish Justice Center online records show Carlson was booked into jail on suspicion of charges that include armed robbery, resisting a police officer, simple battery and theft.
