La. Audi worker foils test-drive theft

An Audi New Orleans employee stopped a potentially armed man from allegedly stealing a vehicle during a test drive.

Reginald Vaughn, 39, posed as a customer interested in purchasing a vehicle from the dealership in Metairie, La., at about 11 a.m. July 30, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office told nola.com. Here's what the publication said happened after Vaughn picked a vehicle to try out and an employee accompanied him.

During the drive, Vaughn stopped the car, began reaching toward his waistband and allegedly told the employee, "This is where you get out or I will shoot you."

The employee, believing Vaughn was going to pull out a gun, grabbed onto his arms and held them down as Vaughn started accelerating. After a brief scuffle, the employee was able to stop the car, and the two began trading punches.

When the employee shouted to a nearby witness for help, Vaughn jumped out of the vehicle. Police found and arrested him at a nearby urgent care after another witness saw him run inside. It wasn't clear whether he was in possession of a gun.

Vaughn was charged with first-degree robbery, and bail was set at $200,000. At the time of his arrest, he was on probation after pleading guilty to trying to break into vehicles at the New Orleans airport.

Audi New Orleans declined a request for comment from Automotive News.