'Credible threat' to harm Baton Rouge police uncovered after pawn shop burglary, arrests

Baton Rouge Police Chief Carl Dabadie said Tuesday officers uncovered a "credible threat" against police from one of four burglars who broke into a Government Street pawn shop and stole eight handguns.

Seventeen-year-old Antonio Thomas, caught by police on Government Street shortly after the burglary of the Cash America pawn shop around 2 a.m. Saturday, told detectives he and the other burglars intended to harm officers, Dabadie said.

"We're going to look for bullets to kill police officers," Cpl. L'Jean McKneely, a Baton Rouge police spokesman, said the burglar told detectives after he was caught.

Dabadie said the threat to officers, in part, explained the heavy police presence — with many in riot gear — at weekend protests.

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