Generator donated to mobile HIV/AIDS testing site after theft leads to brief closure

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The Baton Rouge Aids Society has a new generator for its mobile testing unit after someone stole the previous generator.

The owner of Louisiana Generators in the Ponchatoula area drove a brand new generator to the Baton Rouge Aids Society after the unit was forced to halt providing free HIV testing.

The generator was reportedly taken from the mobile unit, which was parked at 4560 North Blvd. The organization was founded in 1998 and provided testing since its inception. A member of the organization said the generator has been at that location for 10 years before being stolen.

“It’s like taking from the church,” Rev. A.J. Johnson, CEO/founder of the Baton Rouge AIDS Society, said about the theft. “We need the generator to produce the electricity to maintain a level of temperature and lighting needed to provide testing throughout our community.”

An investigation into the theft remains ongoing and community members with information that can lead to an arrest are urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (225) 344-7867 (STOP).

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