LaFayette community rallies around Latino community after string of unsolved robberies
Published 10:30 am Wednesday, February 5, 2025
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A spree of robberies targeting LaFayette’s Latino community has residents concerned, sparking a local outreach group to meet in support of them. The goal of meeting with local enforcement is to brainstorm ways to build trust so that victims of muggings feel safe to call 911.
With three robberies in one day, residents are feeling fearful for their livelihoods. Restaurant owner Roxanne Marroquin, who spoke on behalf of the community at the meeting, said that most of the incidents have gone unreported or were reported late due to fear of local law enforcement.
The LaFayette Latino Outreach group, consisting of members like Fire Chief Jim Doody, local business owner Merilyn Vines and Marroquin, was founded to help build relationships between the growing Latino and Spanish-speaking community and the rest of the city.
The group held a meeting on Thursday to discuss the issue, inviting local officers, media outlets and city officials.
The most recent attacks happened two weeks ago on Friday, Jan. 24, at a trailer park in the area. According to Marroquin, she got a few calls from people in the neighborhood asking for help.
There were two muggings that morning and another in the evening.
Marroquin said that the people in the neighborhood don’t feel safe to call the police for help due to issues in communication and cultural barriers.
A couple of LaFayette’s police officers were present for the meeting and gave their advice.
Like with most crimes, Sgt. Derick Coley said, if it goes unreported, officers can’t do much about it.
Coley said that the 911 center has interpreter services if there is a language barrier.
Many of the victims are being targeted while alone or in groups of two at night.
Doody said the incidents may be crimes of opportunity but that the victims may have been chosen specifically because they aren’t likely to call the police and are known to have mostly cash.
Doody’s advice for community members is to leave work in groups bigger than two, stay off the road at night when possible and call the police if you see any suspicious activity.
Though most of the muggings are happening at night, the police department only has two patrol cars active each night.
The group asked Coley if the Chambers County Sheriff’s Office can help with patrolling the area temporarily to discourage more muggings.
The LaFayette Police Department is continuing to investigate the incidents.
In response, the LPD has started a “See something, say something” campaign in the city.
Anyone who has information about the crimes should call the non-emergent line at 334-576-0914 or for emergencies, call 911.