Area police searching for robbery suspect

Law enforcement agencies are still on the hunt for a Crowley man who they want to question about armed robberies in Eunice and Ville Platte on Monday.
Ariel Alexander Harmon is wanted by Ville Platte and Eunice police for questioning about the armed robberies at Advance America Cash Advance in Eunice and Ville Platte Clinic Pharmacy.
“We are still trying to confirm whether he is a suspect at this point,” Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said Wednesday morning.
The man suspected as the driver of the getaway vehicle, Algernon J. Wilson, 29, of Crowley, was arrested by Ville Platte after the pharmacy heist Monday afternoon, Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot said.
Fontenot said the two men left the pharmacy with Ville Platte police in pursuit. The vehicle wrecked and the driver was captured, he said.
The passenger fled and eluded a manhunt, he said.
The description of the passenger matched some of those of the Eunice armed robber, Fontenot said.
Some items left in the vehicle also matched descriptions from the Eunice armed robbery, he said.
The Eunice armed robbery occurred at about 11:30 a.m. Monday. The Ville Platte robbery occurred in the afternoon.
“The suspect was armed with a handgun, and he walked into Advance America Cash Advance and demanded the worker empty the registers,” Fontenot said. “He then forced the woman into the back area of the business and told her to open the safe.”
Fontenot said that Harmon is a black male about 6 feet tall, in his 30s, and he was wearing a brown hoodie and possibly black pants. The suspect fled the scene on foot, headed north down the old Basile Road (La. 757), with an undisclosed amount of money.
“Officers searched the area, and tracking dogs were brought in the from the sheriff’s office,” Fontenot said.”The dogs lost the scent around West Magnolia and Dudley streets.”
Fontenot added, “The Advance American Cash Advance worker is OK but shaken up.”
On Wednesday, the Ville Platte Police Department did not have an update on the search for Harmon.
Both agencies say that Harmon should be considered armed and if anyone with any information regarding Harmon’s whereabouts should contact the Ville Platte Police Department at 337-363-1313 or the Eunice Police Department at 337-457-2626.
Advance America Cash Advance is located at 2230 W. Laurel Avenue in Eunice. The Ville Platte Clinic Pharmacy is located at 505 Jack Miller Road.
Wilson’s bail has been set at $106,000 by 13th Judicial District Judge Gary Ortego.