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NOPD Arrests Suspect in Shooting, Aggravated Assault Incident in Fifth District

by Aaron E. Looney

February 16, 2018

Categories: On Duty

Topics: Assault/Battery, Fifth District, Good Police Work

NOPD Arrests Suspect in Shooting, Aggravated Assault Incident in Fifth District

The NOPD has arrested Dimitris Polk (DOB: 09-29-1987) on numerous charges stemming from an incident that occurred on February 16, 2018 in the Fifth District.

At about 10:30 p.m., Fifth District officers were dispatched to the 1500 block of Flood Street on a suspicious person call. Upon arrival, officers established a perimeter in the area and spoke to one of the victims who said that an unknown black male – later identified as Polk – had entered her residence armed with a firearm and threatened to kill the victim, her husband and juvenile child. The victim said she was able to exit the residence and locate a nearby Fifth District officer responding to the call.

Officers then noticed an unknown black male leaving the victim’s residence and drew their weapons, ordering the male to the ground. The subject complied and was detained by police.

During investigation of the incident, officers learned that a concurrently reported aggravated battery by shooting incident was possibly related to this incident. Officers relocated to the intersection of St. Claude Avenue and Tupelo Street and spoke with the victim, who said that he was driving an RTA bus when he picked up a rider who he described as acting in a suspicious manner. The victim said the subject told him he needed the bus to travel to “the middle of the block.” The victim told police that once the bus reached the intersection of St. Claude Avenue and Louisa Street, the subject began yelling at the victim and fired two shots inside the vehicle, one of which ricocheted and allegedly struck the victim in the forearm, causing a laceration. The subject then reportedly exited the bus and fled the scene on foot. The victim was later transported to an area hospital for treatment.

Further investigation led detectives to develop Polk as the perpetrator in this incident.

Polk was arrested and booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on eight counts of aggravated assault in relation to the bus driver, bus passengers and three victims inside of the home; two counts of illegal use of a weapon; and one count each of aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, and aggravated criminal damage to property.

Anyone with additional information in this incident is asked to contact Fifth District detectives at 504-658-6050.