A man who took a picture holding stacks of banknotes with a Santa in the Mall of Louisiana has been arrested on a warrant from the State of Texas.
A selection of photos circulated on social media shows the man holding a stack of banknotes and posing with another individual, who appears to be holding a handgun, alongside a disapproving Santa inside the mall on Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge.
The man, who is believed to be 29-year-old Almonzo Paul, was apprehended last week on charges of aggravated assault and parole violation, and will be extradited to Texas according to the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD).
His friend, who was pictured with the weapon, has not yet been identified.
A selection of photos circulated on social media shows a man holding a stack of banknotes posing with another individual who is holding what appears to be a handgun, alongside a disapproving Santa inside the mall on Bluebonnet Boulevard, Baton Rouge.
The man pictured right, who is believed to be 29-year-old Almonzo Paul, was apprehended on charges of aggravated assault and parole violation.
Gene Satern, the Senior General Manager of the Mall of Louisiana, said mall management is aware of the photographs but refused to comment on the incident.
'The incident is currently under investigation with BRPD and I'm not allowed to release any information while under an active investigation,' he said.
The two individuals pictured in the photos took to Instagram to share the snaps on December 13, with the man who was arrested also sharing a video of the pair walking through the mall throwing cash.
The photos were met with incredulity and anger from the local community, with many taking to the mall's Facebook page to question how mall security failed to prevent the men from entering the no-gun-zone.
'How in the world would you allow something like this to even take place in the middle of your mall,' one user posted.
'I thought the mall was supposed to be family oriented???'
The two individuals pictured in the photos took to Instagram to share the snaps on December 13, with the man who was arrested also sharing a video of the pair walking through the mall throwing cash.
The Baton Rouge Police Department said it was first notified about the incident after the photos circulated on social media on Dec 13. The arrest was made days later
The mall has not permitted guns to be carried inside for several years and the restrictions are clearly signposted.
Baton Rouge police say the man wanted on a warrant from Texas is being held in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison until he can be extradited to that state on charges of aggravated assault as well as a parole violation.
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