U.S. Marshals New Orleans Task Force Arrest Man on Multiple Weapons, Narcotics Warrants

Washington, DC – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) on Tuesday arrested a man in Gretna, Louisiana, on multiple warrants.

Jahtyra Petty, 25, was wanted out of the 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish on the following:

•    1 Counts) of 14:108.1--Aggravated Flight from an Officer (Felony) -(Felony)
•    1 Counts) of 14:55--AGGRAVATED CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY--(Felony)
•    1 Counts) of 14:69.1--ILLEGAL POSSESION OF STOLEN FIREARMS--(Felony)
•    1 Counts) of 14:95 E--Illegal Carry of Weapons; Crime or CDS (Felony) -(Felony)
•    1 Counts) of 40:966A(MARIJUANA)--Distribution/Possession with the Intent to Distribute Marijuana, or synthetic cannabinoids--(Felony)
•    1 Counts) of 14:99--RECKLESS OPERATION OF A VEHICLE--(Misdemeanor)
•    1 Counts) of 32:61--Maximum Speed Limit--(Misdemeanor)
•    1 Counts) of 14:108--FLIGHT FROM AN OFFICER--(Misdemeanor)
•    1 Count(s) of 14:95.1--POSSESSION OF FIREARM OR CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPON BY A PERSON CONVICTED OF CERTAIN FELONIES--(Felony)

The USMS Eastern District of Louisiana New Orleans Task Force initiated the enforcement operation at an apartment in the 500 block of Wall Boulevard in Gretna.  

Record checks indicated the apartment was listed to Jonyanna Espinoza, 22, also wanted by the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office (JPSO) for failure to appear and theft of goods. Petty and Espinoza are in a romantic relationship and have an infant child together.

Once they established a perimeter and determined Petty was at the residence, USMS investigators announced their presence using a bullhorn and called on Petty to exit the residence.

Petty’s mother arrived on scene and confirmed to investigators Petty was inside the residence and that he had called her to come get the child. The USMS had her make announcements over the bullhorn as well to try to get him to come outside, but Petty refused.

The USMS then developed a plan to breach the residence.

Once the door was breached, Petty appeared from a back bedroom with the infant and walked to the front door where he was placed under arrest, and the child was handed over to Petty’s mother.

Petty was transported to the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center for processing.

JPSO issued search warrants for the apartment and Petty’s vehicle which yielded 20 grams of marijuana, 100 tablets of Tapentadol, two handguns, one of which had been reported stolen, a tactical rifle with an obliterated serial number and an ammunition casing catcher attachment.