Dec 30, 2009 - The Civil Division of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, including property tax collection, will close at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 31 and reopen on Monday, Jan. 4. The offices are at 8301 West Judge Perez Drive on in the Sidney Torres Plaza/Regions Bank Building in Chalmette.

Property tax notices were mailed in November and taxes must be paid by Dec. 31, 2009, to avoid any additional penalties and interest.

Dec 29, 2009 - Bond has been set at $250,000 for a Violet man booked Dec. 23 with burglarizing a church and stealing some 65 Christmas presents for the needy.

Herman “Peter’’ Smiles, 45, 2505 St. Matthew’s Circle, which is near the burglarized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of the bond set on Monday, Dec. 28, by state District Judge Robert Buckley.

Smiles, who was on parole until 2013 for a previous burglary conviction for which he served time in prison, was arrested by St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives iat his home in the pre-dawn hours of Dec. 23. All 65 stolen presents, which had been unwrapped in the church and taken by the burglar, were recovered in garbage bags hidden under Smiles’ bed, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The gifts were returned to the church.

Smiles was booked with burglary of a religious building and parole violation. See arrest story

Dec 29, 2009 - More than two pounds of marijuana, with a street value of about $1,500, was seized in St. Bernard Parish and a Meraux man initially stopped for speeding was booked with possession with intent to distribute, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

The seizure of marijuana was among a number of recent arrests in St. Bernard Parish that included a woman arrested carrying 16 tabs of the rarely seen drug LSD; several men booked with attempted distribution of crack cocaine and a man caught in a vacant building who was stealing copper to sell, the sheriff said.

Donald Meyer Jr., 27, 3104 Bradbury Drive, was booked Dec. 16 on the marijuana charge by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division after he was spotted entering the parish at a high rate of speed.

Meyer cooperated with officers and a bag of marijuana was found in his trunk and another bag inside the vehicle, the sheriff said.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $26,000 bond.

Kayla Carronna, 21, 313 E. Josephine St., Chalmette, was booked Dec. 18 with possession with intent to distribute 16 tabs of LSD and introducing contraband into St. Bernard Parish Prison.

Agents of SID, which includes the Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit, were called to a restaurant where the woman had been asked to leave because she was intoxicated, the sheriff said. She was found in a taxi cab in the parking lot of the business and officers could see two syringes sticking up out of the top of her purse and she was taken into custody.

At the Parish Prison a search revealed Carronna had a piece of aluminum foil containing a small sheet of paper with six separate tabs which tested positive for the presence of LSD. After being booked into the jail she was seen trying to remove something she was hiding and it was found to be 10 more tabs of LSD, Sheriff Stephens said. No bond information was available.

Also, three men and a woman were arrested by agents of SID in three separately incidents for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, the sheriff said.

Farrell Williams, 20 and Tianna LeBlanc, 21, 3320 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, were both arrested recently in a vehicle in which about 21 grams, or three-quarters of an ounce, of crack cocaine was seized and they were both booked with possession with intent to distribute. He is being held in jail in lieu of $25,000 bond and she was released on $25,000 bond.

On Dec. 17,  Kevin “Big Boy”” Anderson, 23, 78 Shepard Court, Algiers, was booked with possession of 2.3 grams of crack worth $250. No bond information was available.

Jamarcus Seals, 26, 6722 Bundy Road, New Orleans, was booked Dec. 8 with possession with intent to distribute 21 pieces of crack cocaine worth more than $700. He was also booked with resisting an officer. No bond information was available.

Byron Diggs, no age available, was booked Dec. 17 with theft over $500, possession of burglary tools and trespassing after he was seen entering a vacant building in the 6700 block of St. Claude Ave. in Arabi, carrying a flashlight, and was caught trying to steal copper to sell, the sheriff said.

Diggs told patrol deputies who made the arrest that he had been living in the building because he had no other home and was stealing copper to sell for money. A box of copper pipes that had been cut as well as cut electrical wire was found. Bond information wasn’t available.

Dec 23, 2009 - The administrative departments of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, including property tax collection, will close Thursday and Friday, Dec. 24-25, and reopen Monday, Dec. 28.

Also, property tax notices were mailed in November and taxes must be paid by Dec. 31, 2009, to avoid any additional penalties and interest.

If anyone receives a tax notice for property they no longer own, please notify the sheriff’s Civil Tax Office at 504-271-2504 during regular business hours – Monday through Friday – 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.

The Tax Assessor’s number is 504-279-6379. The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office only maintains the address change for the current mailing. The Assessor’s Office keeps the permanent address.

Dec 23, 2009 - Some 65 Christmas presents for the needy stolen in the burglary of a Violet church were returned by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday, Dec. 23, after a 45-year-old Violet man - on parole for a previous burglary conviction - was booked with the Dec. 20 break-in, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Herman “Peter’’ Smiles, 2505 St. Matthew’s Circle, which is near the burglarized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet, was arrested at his home about 3 a.m. after sheriff’s detectives, who had been concentrating on the case since the burglary, acted on a tip, and found all of the stolen presents in a bedroom of the home Smiles shared with relatives. Detectives had been concentrating on the case since the burglary.

Smiles was booked with burglary of a religious building and parole violation. He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison and no bond has been set.

“It’s a good ending to a terrible incident,’’ Pohlmann said, saying it was “good police work’’ by sheriff’s detectives that broke the case. “I can’t say enough about our detectives, commanded by Chief of Detectives Col. John Doran. They ran down leads, with help from other departments of the Sheriff’s Office, until an arrest was made and virtually all stolen items were recovered.’’

Smiles, who served time in prison on an aggravated burglary conviction out of St. Bernard and has been on parole since 2006, confessed to the church burglary under questioning and said he did it in hopes of finding money to obtain illegal drugs, Pohlmann said,  adding he took the presents for possible sale on the streets.

“He broke in to look for money’’ after he had been smoking crack cocaine earlier that night, Pohlmann said, adding that investigators believed someone committing such a desperate act was likely a drug addict looking for a means to buy more drugs. “We’ve said before that if you could solve the drug problem you could solve the crime problem.’’

Smiles, who has had a number of arrests since the 1980s, described himself to sheriff’s detectives as having problems with both drugs and alcohol.

Smiles also said he acted alone, using a concrete stepping stone to break a window to enter the church about 2 a.m. and sat down for nearly an hour as he opened the presents that were under a statue of Jesus on a cross at the rear of the church, put them in garbage bags and made two trips to carry them to his home. Pohlmann said.

One present, directly under the cross, was left untouched by the burglar and some people had speculated afterward that maybe a last-minute feeling of guilt had overcome the culprit. But when asked why he had left it, Pohlmann said, Smiles replied he must not have seen it.

The suspect had a wound on his left hand, which matched up with the fact that blood was left on a floor and other areas in the church as the burglar entered through the broken window.

The presents, which were in five black garbage bags under Smiles’ bed, were returned to the church at 2621 Colonial Boulevard by the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff’s deputies, like numerous others in the New Orleans area who were outraged by the theft of presents for the needy and responded by donating to the church to replace the gifts, also brought cash donations and bicycles to the church on Dec. 23.

Our Lady of Lourdes Pastor John Arnone, who had said for days that church officials appreciated the public’s response to the burglary, said he had believed the break-in would be solved. “I was thrilled’’ about the arrest, Arnone said. “I knew it would happen. It was because of the work of the deputies that it happened.’’

The priest also said, “I still pray for conversion of that person"
 involved in the burglary. “It’s unfortunate when people go to these types of extremes because of addictions.’’ Our Lady of Lourdes Church, hard-hit by Hurricane Katrina like nearly every building in St. Bernard Parish, had only reopened in late November.

Detectives focused on another person of interest in the case who, when questioned early in the morning of Dec. 23 gave information that Smiles was the church burglary, Pohlmann said.

A consent to search was obtained at Smiles’ residence and detectives found all of the 65 missing presents – mostly clothing, shoes and toys - in his room.

He allegedly intended to sell some items and keep others. But selling the stolen items off so soon after the robbery would've been hard, Pohlmann said. Potential buyers would've been reluctant about becoming involved in such a high-profile case or possibly would've tipped police off that someone was in possession of items likely taken from Our Lady of Lourdes.

Members of Our Lady of Lourdes congregation had worked to identify needy children in their community then bought them Christmas presents, wrapped them and planned a giveaway.

After word spread of the crime, people from across the metropolitan area and as far as other states showered the church with new presents and cash donations. By Tuesday night, gifts were piled on the floor and the Boy Scouts in Metairie donated 15 bicycles. The Salvation Army also stuffed nylon crawfish bags with toys.

Our Lady of Lourdes, it turned out, amassed a mound of presents much larger than officials ever expected. The giveaway was to be held Wednesday night.

Dec 21, 2009 - St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said the department is seeking information on the identify of a burglar who vandalized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet on Dec. 19 or 20, stealing about 65 Christmas gifts intended for the needy and a cross.

He said the person apparently cut themselves on the window that was broken to enter the church at 2621 Colonial Blvd. because blood was found in several areas when the burglary was discovered by a church volunteer about 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Also, the culprit was probably a man because foot prints found outside the church are those of a Size 12 shoe.

Pohlmann said, “We take all crimes seriously but obviously we want to identify and arrest a low-life who would break into a church and then steal presents meant for the needy. It seems like a desperate act, possibly signaling it was fueled by the desire for money to obtain illegal drugs. Many of our property crimes are driven by that.’’

Anyone with information about the identity of the burglar is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111, which offers rewards for information leading to an arrest. Sheriff’s detectives were out looking for any possible witnesses and were placing signs on Monday, Dec. 21 asking for information and offering a reward through Crimestoppers.

A window was broken with a concrete stepping stone and the burglar apparently cut a hand entering it, Pohlmann said.

Bloody fingerprints were found on the side of the church’s Tabernacle and blood was also found on the floor and a door case behind the baptismal fountain.

About 65 gifts donated for the needy, including clothing and shoes, were stolen and empty boxes and bags were left behind. A cross was also stolen from the sacristy and other items in the church kitchen area were disturbed, Pohlmann said.

Audrealla Thomas, 27 aka Sizzlin'

Dec 21, 2009 - A woman wanted in an $8,000 cigarette heist in St. Bernard Parish who had been known only by the street name of “Sizzling,’’ has now been identified as Audrealla Thomas, 27, of Algiers, who has previously served prison time for theft in Texas, St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Thomas is now wanted for felony theft, along with John Glenn Tillman, 56, also of Algiers, whose name was learned a week ago. Both are at-large, Pohlmann said. One person arrested in connection with the Dec. 5 cigarette theft was Kevin Ventry, 41, of Algiers, known by his stage name of T.T. Tucker, a figure in the early rap music scene in New Orleans who appeared on CDs and videos in the early 1990s.

Ventry is being held in jail in New Orleans, where he was also wanted on a $10,000 burglary of cigarettes and a cigarette theft involving 30 cartons. He is also a suspect in similar crimes in St. Tammany Parish and other areas.

Ventry was arrested Monday, Dec. 14, in a coordinated effort by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and New Orleans police. He will be booked in St. Bernard with felony theft of the cigarettes from a storage room at Meraux Pit Lane store on East Judge Perez Drive in Meraux.

Tillman is also a suspect in a robbery in Baton Rouge and other crimes in the Hammond area, according to St. Bernard Chief of Detectives Col. John Doran.

Ventry, Thomas and Tillman are all seen on a store surveillance tape from Meraux Pit Lane.

A tip through Crimestoppers led authorities to the identity of Thomas, who may have taken part in a number of similar cigarette thefts in the New Orleans area, Pohlmann said. Anyone with information on her whereabouts or Tillman’s are asked to call the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward.

Nearly 200 cartons of premium cigarettes, worth about $8,000, and a case of premium whisky were stolen from the Meraux store’s storage area at night while the business was open.

Ventry, who appeared on CDs and videos in the early 1990s as T.T. Tucker.

Pohlmann said at the time of Ventry’s arrest that both men are “career criminals and are part of a ring that travels around the New Orleans area and steals cartons of cigarettes and sells them to small grocery stores for resale to the public.’’

Tillman has 41 felony arrests while Ventry has 16, he said.

After the surveillance video was shown on local television, a tip was received through Crimestoppers that T.T. Tucker was involved in the theft and the investigation went from there, Pohlmann said.

Authorities believe both Ventry and Tillman are drug abusers who have committed numerous thefts and other crimes to feed addictions, Pohlmann said.

Pohlmann complimented sheriff’s detectives for taking the initiative and working with New Orleans police to solve the case. “Maybe someone else would take theft of cigarettes as minor but we believe any felony is serious and our guys take it further until it’s solved,’’ Pohlmann said. “And in this case it led to people involved in numerous crimes.’’

Dec 21, 2009 - St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said the department is seeking information on the identify of a burglar who vandalized Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Violet on Dec. 19 or 20, stealing about 65 Christmas gifts intended for the needy and a cross.

He said the person apparently cut themselves on the window that was broken to enter the church at 2621 Colonial Blvd. because blood was found in several areas when the burglary was discovered by a church volunteer about 10:45 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Also, the culprit was probably a man because foot prints found outside the church are those of a Size 12 shoe.

Pohlmann said, “We take all crimes seriously but obviously we want to identify and arrest a low-life who would break into a church and then steal presents meant for the needy. It seems like a desperate act, possibly signaling it was fueled by the desire for money to obtain illegal drugs. Many of our property crimes are driven by that.’’

Anyone with information about the identity of the burglar is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111, which offers rewards for information leading to an arrest. Sheriff’s detectives were out looking for any possible witnesses and were placing signs on Monday, Dec. 21 asking for information and offering a reward through Crimestoppers.

A window was broken with a concrete stepping stone and the burglar apparently cut a hand entering it, Pohlmann said.

Bloody fingerprints were found on the side of the church’s Tabernacle and blood was also found on the floor and a door case behind the baptismal fountain.

About 65 gifts donated for the needy, including clothing and shoes, were stolen and empty boxes and bags were left behind. A cross was also stolen from the sacristy and other items in the church kitchen area were disturbed, Pohlmann said.

Dec 18, 2009 - St. Bernard Sheriff’s detectives arrested a man Friday, Dec. 18, who tried to scam and then robbed an 80-year-old victim in a Chalmette store parking lot a week earlier, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Thomas Price, 32, of Chalmette, who has served prison time on a drug conviction, was arrested at a house after authorities received a tip when a photo from a store surveillance video was shown in the media.

Price was booked with simple robbery, crime against a person over age 65 and probation violation and was placed in St. Bernard Parish without bond, pending an appearance before a judge.

In the incident on Friday, Dec. 11, a man pretended an 80-year Chalmette resident struck his foot while backing up a vehicle in a store parking lot in the 1900 block of East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. He asked for money from the elderly man and stole about $30 from the victim’s hand when the victim took the money from his wallet while talking to the younger person, Pohlmann said.

A witness who saw what happened followed the robber as he ran away but lost sight of him.

The robber had been in the store and apparently shoplifted several items before leaving, according to a store surveillance tape.

The victim said he was backing up his car when he heard a thud and the younger man came up to his driver’s side window and said the vehicle had run over his foot, then said he would forget about it if the older man gave him some money.

The victim first told the man to call the Sheriff’s Office but eventually took out some cash from his wallet and asked what it would take to settle the situation. The younger man grabbed the cash, about $30, and ran.

Two witnesses said they saw the younger man slap the side of the victim’s car, pretending he had been hit, then approach the driver, Pohlmann said.

Dec 17, 2009 - Sheriff’s officials are trying to identify a man wearing a distinctive oversize flannel jacket/shirt who tried to scam and then robbed an 80-year-old victim in a Chalmette store parking lot, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The man who is being sought for simple robbery and crime against a person over age 65 pretended the elderly man’s vehicle struck his foot, then he asked for money and stole about $30 from the victim’s hand when the victim took the money from his wallet while talking to the younger person, Pohlmann said.

A witness who saw what happened followed the robber as he ran away but lost sight of him.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 504-271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111.
The robber, wearing an oversized red and black flannel top and khaki pants, is described as a white male, about 6-0, with brown hair, brown goatee and a black tattoo on his neck, Pohlmann said.

The incident happened just after noon on Friday, Dec. 11, in the parking lot of a store in the 1900 block of East Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette.

The wanted person had been in the store and apparently shoplifted several items before leaving, according to a store surveillance tape.

The victim said he was backing up his vehicle when he heard a thud on his car and the younger man came up to his driver’s side window and said the vehicle had run over his foot, then said he would forget about it if the older man gave him some money.

The victim said he told the man to call the Sheriff’s Office but the man said he thought the driver would leave if he did. The victim took out some cash from his wallet and asked what it would take to settle the situation but the younger man grabbed the cash, about $30, and ran.

Two witnesses said they saw the younger man slap the side of the victim’s car, pretending he had been hit, then approach the driver, Pohlmann said.

Kevin Ventry, 41 also known as T.T. Tucker

Dec 16, 2009 - A figure in the early New Orleans rap music scene has been arrested in an $8,000 heist of cigarettes in St. Bernard Parish and a $10,000 burglary involving cigarettes and other crimes in New Orleans, St. Bernard Parish Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kevin Ventry, 41, of Algiers, known by his stage name of T.T. Tucker, was arrested Monday, Dec. 14, in a coordinated effort by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and New Orleans police. Ventry is jailed in New Orleans on warrants involving burglary and theft and will be booked in St. Bernard with felony theft, Pohlmann said. He said that in New Orleans, Ventry was involved in a burglary in which $10,000 worth of cartons of cigarettes were stolen in a 2008 burglary and a separate theft involving 30 cartons of cigarettes.

John Glenn Tillman, 56,  also of Algiers, has been identified as a second man with Ventry in the Dec. 5 theft from a storage area at Meraux Pit Lane, 3225 E. Judge Perez Drive, Meraux, in St. Bernard Parish and in the New Orleans crimes, Pohlmann said. Tillman faces the same felony theft count in St. Bernard and burglary and theft charges in New Orleans, Pohlmann said.

Tillman is also a suspect in a robbery in Baton Rouge and other crimes in the Hammond area, according to St. Bernard Chief of Detectives Col. John Doran.

A third person, a woman known only by a street name,Sizzlin’, is also sought in the St. Bernard Parish heist but she hasn’t been further identified, Pohlmann said. She is seen on a store surveillance tape with the two men and is wearing a distinctive New Orleans Saints jacket.

Nearly 200 cartons of premium cigarettes, worth about $8,000, and a case of premium whisky were stolen from the Meraux store’s storage area at night while the business was open. A store surveillance system recorded that three people were involved. They escaped in a late model Nissan Titan, described as a gray extended cab pickup truck.

Ventry, who appeared on CDs and videos in the early 1990s as T.T. Tucker, was one of the original artists in the early rap music scene in New Orleans, St. Bernard sheriff’s officials said.

“Both men are career criminals,’’ Pohlmann said. Tillman has 41 felony arrests while Ventry has 16, he said. “We believe they are part of a larger ring that travels around this area and pulls crimes involving theft of cartons of cigarettes for re-sale to stores,’’ Pohlmann said.

After the surveillance video was shown on local television, a tip was received through Crimestoppers that T.T. Tucker was involved in the theft and the investigation went from there, Pohlmann said.

Authorities believe both Ventry and Tillman are drug abusers who have committed numerous thefts and other crimes to feed addictions, Pohlmann said.

Pohlmann complimented sheriff’s detectives for taking the initiative and working with New Orleans police to solve the case. “Maybe someone else would take theft of cigarettes as minor but we believe any felony is serious and our guys take it further until it’s solved,’’ Pohlmann said. “And in this case it led to people involved in numerous crimes,’’

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Tillman (below left) or know the identity of the woman known as Sizzlin’ (below right) are asked to call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward. 

Dec 15, 2009 - An autopsy concluded an elderly Violet man who was found dead in street flooding caused by rainstorms on Saturday, Dec. 12, died of natural causes, according to St. Bernard Parish Coroner Dr. Bryan Bertucci.
 
Initially it was unclear whether the 73-year-old died of a medical problem or fell and drowned.

An autopsy conducted Monday, Dec. 14 confirmed the man died after heart complications, Bertucci said.

The incident happened on Livaccari Drive near Claiborne Street in Violet, after a vehicle in which the man was a passenger with his wife and a daughter stalled in water during the rain storm just before 6:30 p.m.

The three got out to see about the problem and while the wife, the daughter and a neighbor tended to the vehicle, the man began walking toward their home, according to a Sheriff’s Office report. At some point, family members saw he was on the ground and they called for help.

Emergency medical personnel worked on the victim at the scene but he was unresponsive. Bertucci was notified, arrived and the man was pronounced dead.

Dec 13, 2009 - The rain storm of Saturday, Dec. 12, may have been responsible for the death of an elderly Violet man found dead near his home after his family’s vehicle stalled on his flooded street, St. Bernard Parish officials said.

An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death of the 73-year-old man whose body was found in water by his family just before 6:30 p.m., Coroner Dr. Bryan Bertucci said.

The victim may have died of a medical problem or fell and drowned, Bertucci said.

The man’s name hasn’t been released pending the autopsy finding.

The incident happened on Livaccari Drive near Claiborne Street in Violet, after a vehicle in which the man was a passenger with his wife and a daughter stalled in water during the rain storm, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The vehicle was near the family’s home and the three got out to see about the problem.

At some point, family members saw the man was down on the ground in the water and called for help.

Emergency medical personnel worked on the victim at the scene but he was unresponsive. Bertucci was notified, arrived and the man was pronounced dead.

Maj. Ronnie Martin of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office (below left) escorts Dominique Brown, 21, from her home in Violet early Thursday, Dec. 10, after she was arrested on a warrant charging crack-cocaine sale, part of a round-up of 28 alleged drug-dealers carried out in St. Bernard Parish. Also, Wayne Bienemy, 53, of Violet, is shown (above left) being placed in a van to be taken to the St. Bernard Parish Prison after his arrest for alleged sale of crack cocaine. Also (above rigth),sheriff’s officials, from left, Capt. Ricky Jackson, Col. Chad Clark, Col. Pete Tufaro and Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann are shown checking a list of suspects in Violet.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS

Dec 10, 2009 - pre-dawn round-up Thursday, Dec. 10, of alleged drug-dealers wanted by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office netted 18 arrests of 28 people wanted on 34 charges in a nearly one-year investigation dubbed Operation New Year. Two others who weren’t wanted in the operation were arrested at the home of one suspect, who is their brother, when more than four grams of cocaine and a stolen gun were found.

The operation, which began in January 2009, targeted street sales and mid-level sales of illegal narcotics, mostly crack cocaine, but also heroin and marijuana, according to Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann and Col. Chad Clark, commander of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, including the Narcotics Unit and Street Crimes Unit, which handled the investigation.

With assistance from an undercover operative, agents of the SID were
able to identify 28 defendants, many having multiple charges including theft of funds to distribution of cocaine and heroin. The defendants, who were either arrested or are still wanted on warrants of arrest, have a combined criminal history of 115 felony arrests and 26 previous convictions. All drug-buys were video-taped by the Sheriff’s Office.

Ten of the 28 defendants were arrested in the raid Dec. 10, six of the 28 were already in jail because they had been arrested on unrelated drug charges prior to the raid and two others surrendered later after learning of the pending charges, officials said. That leaves 10 at-large but their warrants of arrest remain in effect and they will be arrested as they are located.

Two people, a brother and sister of wanted suspect Timmery Barthelemy, 30, 2808 Stacie Drive, Violet, were booked after more than four grams of cocaine and a stolen gun were found at the residence while law enforcement officers were looking for Barthelemy, who hasn’t been arrested.

In the raid on houses and apartments where the suspects were believed t to be residing the Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Louisiana State Police, and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Someone convicted of selling crack cocaine or heroin can face penalties of five to 30 years in prison.

Sheriff Jack A. Stephens has always stressed the importance of trying to stop street-level drug-dealing as a means of preventing bloodshed in turf wars.

“We truly believe the work our narcotics enforcement officers do to stop drug sales is the reason you don’t see the level of violence in St. Bernard Parish you do elsewhere,’’ Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said of the drug raids.

Clark said the investigation was called Operation New Year because, “These 28 defendants can make their New Year resolutions in jail. Ours will be to continue arresting drug-dealers and if you get caught dealing drugs in St. Bernard you will go to jail because we have zero tolerance.’’

“After making the 34 cases with 28 defendants the office of the Honorable District Attorney for the Parish of St. Bernard Jack Rowley was consulted concerning this matter.,’’ Clark said. “The cases were then presented to the judges of 34th Judicial District Court in St. Bernard Parish who found cause, signing arrest warrants for the 28 defendants.”

Those arrested in the round-up or have surrendered and were booked with distributing drugs were:

• Rhodesia J. Track, 31, 411 E. Liberaux St., Chalmette
• Nathaniel Bennett, 25, 2808 Stacie Dr., Violet
• Troy S. Douglas Jr., 22, 8531 Valor Dr., Chalmette
• Edward Williams, 46, 2901 Angelique Dr., Violet,
• Tremaine Duplessis, 27, 3212 Stacie Dr., Violet,
• Cornell Young, 32, 2320 Bartolo Dr., Meraux,
• Barry S. Smiles Jr., 50, 2516 Caluda Lane, Violet
• Remus Reed, 20, 2716 Guerra Dr., Violet
• Ronald Hudson Jr., 28, 2425 St. Matthew Circle, Violet
• Ternell Bienemy, 28, 2209 Guerra Dr., Violet
• Wayne Bienemy B/M 53, 2300 Guerra Dr. Violet
• James Williams, 22, 3213 Ashley Dr., Violet
• Dernard Bienemy, 26, 6516 Jules Brown St., Violet
• Broderick U. Parker, 22, 2822 Stacie Dr., Violet
• Dominique Brown, 21, 2912 Guerra Dr., Violet
• Pernell J. Young Jr., 28, 2520 Walkers Lane, Meraux
• Alyssa E. Amie, 20, 3020 Lloyds Ave., Chalmette
• Ronnie Campbell, 22, 2608 Angelique Dr. Apt. C, Violet

Not wanted on warrants but arrested when found at the home of suspect Timmery Barthelemy were his brother, Justin Barthelemy, 23, and sister, Trimaine Barthelemy, 28, both of 2808 Stacie Drive, Violet, on charges of possession with intent to distribute more than four grams of crack cocaine, possession of a stolen gun, illegal possession of a weapon while in possession of controlled dangerous substances and resisting arrest.

Those still at-large and wanted on arrest warrants are:

Quincy Johnson, 33, 2434 Caluda Lane, Violet; Larry Hill, 28, Tyler, Tx; Timmery J. Barthelemy, 30, 2808 Stacie Dr., Violet; Jacobey Bienemy, 29, 2301 Guerra Dr., Violet; Paul H. Matlock III, 33, 3610 Jackson Blvd. Apt. A, Chalmette; Glennard Garnett, 26, 2109 Centanni Dr., Violet; Quentin P. Blaise, 21, 2420 Paul Dr., Meraux; Dr.; Quantis Q. Charles, 17, 2913 Shannon Dr.,Violet; Kentrel Richard, 22, 4 Victorian Ct., Violet; Jarrell Johnson, 20, 6429 Louis Elam St., Violet.

Jolie Bonvillian

Dec 9, 2009 - A Violet woman who was an insurance agent in St. Bernard Parish has been arrested by State Police for an alleged $2.9 million theft and fraud scheme involving hundreds of charges including three counts of theft, 85 counts of insurance fraud, 339 counts of bank fraud and 424 counts of forgery.

Jolie R. Bonvillian, 40, a licensed insurance agent in St. Bernard Parish since 1993, was booked Tuesday night, Dec. 8, into the St. Bernard Parish Prison. She is being held in lieu of bond set at $200,000

St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives originally handled the investigation of the case, which was turned over to State Police detectives.

Troopers from the State Police Insurance Fraud/Auto Theft Unit investigated the complaint from Progressive Insurance Company concerning an unusually large number of commercial auto policies being generated by Bonvillian.
The probe revealed Bonvillian generated 85 fraudulent commercial auto polices utilizing bogus policyholder names, international drivers license information and vehicle information. The Progressive commercial auto policies were created to facilitate 339 fraudulent premium finance agreements. During the investigation, troopers also learned Bonvillian had allegedly misappropriated insurance premium cash payments made to her for existing legitimate insurance policies.
As well as her arrest, Bonvillian was served with a Cease and Desist Order by the Louisiana Department of Insurance Officials, requiring her to terminate all activity in the business of insurance.

Dec 7, 2009 - With kids in one hand, bags in the other, people shopping during the heightened excitement and stress of holiday activities can be inviting targets for crime and should remember to pay attention to their surroundings in and outside of stores, St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

He also reminded parents to be cautious about their children’s activities in the upcoming winter school break, just as they should be when students are out of school in the summer and might be less supervised than when schools are in session.

Pohlmann said whether St. Bernard residents are in the parish or elsewhere during the holidays as they shop for gifts or for food for get-togethers, they should take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of theft or robbery as they go about their activities.

“It’s possible someone you don’t know may be watching to take advantage of people distracted while busily rushing from place to place,’’ Pohlmann said.

Here are some tips for having a safe holiday time, Pohlmann said:
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• People should pay attention to where they park while shopping and, at night, do so only in areas that are well lit, and then lock all doors. Once inside a store, men should protect their wallets from pickpockets and women should remember not to leave their purses unattended in shopping carts. Always keep purses closed in crowds and don’t set them down on counters or floors where someone could remove items.

• Always escort children to a restroom because minors could be photographed, molested or even abducted from public restrooms. If shopping in a large store or mall establish a meeting place in case parents and children become separated. If possible, all parties should have cell phones to contact one another. Tell children in advance that if you become separated from them they should go only to a store clerk or security officer for help, and not to a stranger who doesn’t work in the store.

• When leaving a store for a vehicle, scan the parking lot for any suspicious activities or people standing in a group in one area or sitting in a vehicle watching patrons leave. If it’s dark and you feel uncomfortable, ask a store security officer to escort you. If walking alone, leave from a door nearest your parked vehicle, have your vehicle keys in hand and, once inside, lock the doors before leaving your parking space.

Pohlmann said when children are out of school for winter break, parents need to be proactive and know where they are expected to be and how they can be reached. Today, cell phones are the best method of directly checking in with teen-age minors who are away from their parents but if they are going to another teen-ager’s home parents should insist on knowing the telephone number of an adult who will be there.

It’s always good for parents to know the home address of registered sex offenders who live near their family, Pohlmann said.

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office participates in OffenderWatch, which has a listing of all registered sex offenders who aren’t incarcerated and are living in the parish. Parents can check for this listing at the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Web site at www.sbso.org, Pohlmann said.

He added, “We do our best to regularly check and verify that registered sex offenders live where they tell us, so our residents can visit our Web site to see who and where an offender is living within their neighborhood.’’ Residents should click on the link that says “locate registered sex offenders” and follow the instructions to check their neighborhood and sign up to receive e-mail alerts about any change of address, Pohlmann said.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, at left, is shown talking to students, next to him is Col, Chad Clark, who heads the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division which coordinated the seminar .Also shown, a student stands to address others during a discussion on the truth about use of drugs. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTOS.

Dec 6, 20009 - The idea was for the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to have a conversation with high school students about illegal drugs.

Over several class periods a total of about 400 students at Chalmette High recently heard from a reformed drug addict who discussed life prior to his arrest, had a chance to ask questions of sheriff’s officials who conducted the seminars and many of the teens took the floor to talk about what were called “lies about drugs.’’

A chilling moment came when a student from one class described to others a surreal experience in her life when her father – addicted to drugs – took his life in front of her family members.

Afterward, Charles Cassar, a veteran St. Bernard public school system administrator who serves as Safe and Drug-Free Schools Coordinator, said the event had been special for those who took part, offering students a chance to connect with a real discussion about life and the reality of drugs, rather than simply hear an anti-drug lecture.

“It was a real eye-opener,’’ Cassar said, thanking the Sheriff’s Office for putting together the seminars, adding it was the first of its type at the high school.

“The kids seemed to realize the officers were interested in entering into a real conversation, not just a presentation to them’ Cassar said.

“They seemed interested and they seemed to leave there connected to the message’’ that they had to make the right decisions for themselves because their future success in life would hinge on it, Cassar said.

“We hope to do this on a regular basis,’’ Cassar said. “It was a great beginning.’’

The discussions were led by Col. Chad Clark and Maj. Ronnie Martin of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, which includes the Narcotics Uni9t and Street Crimes Unit.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann also addressed students.

A message of drug education in the schools is an effort to reach children at an impressionable age so they have a means of making the right decisions for themselves, Clark said.

“We are tired to dealing with drug overdoes and seeing young people die,’’ Clark told students. “What we are trying to do is get you to think.’’

In St. Bernard, numerous people died of drug overdoses in the years immediately before Hurricane Katrina – often from mixing easily obtainable prescription pills. But the Sheriff’s Office has taken proactive steps to fight drug abuse, including the efforts of Sheriff Jack Stephens in leading the call for a statewide prescription drug monitoring board to track by computer the dispensing of narcotics so people couldn’t go to various doctors to get prescription drugs.

Pohlmann asked students to realize, “the choices you make (involving drug use) will impact the rest of your life.’’

An ex drug user and dealer who was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office, served time in prison, and is now in school and speaking to groups about the dangers of drugs, said that before his arrest, “I was just a corpse with a heartbeat.’’ He said, “If I wouldn’t have gotten arrested I’d probably be dead.’’
As part of the discussion called “the truth about drugs,’’ groups of students were presented statements about standard defenses for using drugs, such as they foster creativity, or help people have fun or give them energy. The students were asked to illustrate how such statements are actually lies.

One teen-ager said drugs don’t provide energy and actually leave users tired and sluggish, like a hangover. Another student said people using drugs may think they are being clever and getting inspiration from drugs. But, he said, “It makes you do stupid things. You sit there laughing over nothing.’’

Dec 4, 2009 - A Kenner man has been booked with trying to distribute heroin worth $100 and crack cocaine worth $200 in a traffic stop in Chalmette, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said.

Charles Arbuthnot, 23, 21210 Idaho St., is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $125,000 after he was recently arrested. He is booked with possession with intent to distribute 4/10 of a gram of heroin and more than two grams of crack cocaine.

He was also booked on traffic offenses and resisting an officer during the arrest, in which he attempted to drive away after being told to exit his vehicle and tossed out the driver side window several plastic baggies containing drugs which later tested positive for the presence of heroin and cocaine, Sheriff Stephens said. Also, another piece of crack cocaine was found on him when he was taken to the Parish Prison, the sheriff said.

Agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division, headed by Col. Chad Clark, made the arrest after Arbuthnot disregarded a stop sign and was observed speeding, the sheriff said.

Dec 3, 2009 - On a stage at Lynn Oaks School on Dec. 3, eight fifth-graders sang, performed skits and spoke about why they wouldn’t use drugs and what they learned from the St. Bernard sheriff’s D.A.R.E. anti-drug program held in the school during the fall semester.

It was part of the first graduation ceremony for the D.A.R.E., or Drug Awareness Resistance Education program, in St. Bernard Parish public and private schools, which was re-started this year for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The program lasts 10 weeks, with one hour of instruction a week. Graduation ceremonies will also be held soon at Davies Elementary, Rowley alternative school and Andrew Jackson Elementary.

“I couldn’t wait for D.A.R.E. to come back,’’ said Kim Duplantier, principal at Lynn Oaks, a private school in eastern St. Bernard. “It’s so important to talk with kids about violence, drugs, alcohol and tobacco. It’s about making the correct choices in their lives.’’

Duplantier said she found the program offered by the Sheriff’s Office through Lt. Lisa Jackson, supervisor of the program, and instructor Sheriff’s Dep. Darrin Miller, to be “very age appropriate and inter-active with the children. It was wonderful.’’

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, second in command to Sheriff Jack Stephens; Maj. Mark Poche, head of Field Operations under which the D.A.R.E. program falls; as well as Jackson and Miller took part in the graduation.

Pohlmann said, “The Sheriff’s Office is proud to have brought back the D.A.R.E. program to a new generation of youngsters in St. Bernard schools. It’s important we try to reach them at an impressionable age’’ before they begin making wrong decisions that hurt their chances for success in life.

The D.A.R.E. program is built on a message of building self-confidence and self-respect in children as a means of helping them withstand the pressure to use drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
 
Poche, addressing the school’s student body, teachers and parents who came for the graduation ceremony, said young people need guidance about the choices they should make. “Parents talk to your children and children don’t be afraid to talk to your parents and grandparents,’’ Poche said. “One of the worst things parents can do is not listen to your children. They want to talk to you.’’

“We teach them about peer pressure and bullies at school,” Jackson said. “We tell them they have to have confidence in themselves and respond to situations in a confident manner. It’s not just saying “No, no, no’’ to using drugs. You have to explain why. Show what the effects can be. It’s about decision-making.’’

“I’ve worked with kids in the juvenile center when they were already in (the criminal) system,’’ Miller said. “I wanted to do this (D.A.R.E.) so I can work with them before they get in the system and maybe we can prevent them from ending up there.’’

Both he and Jackson underwent training sessions to teach the D.A.R.E. program, which like other types of teaching has guide books to develop lesson plans.

One fifth-grader who went through the D.A.R.E. program at Lynn Oaks said on stage he has made up his mind he will never use drugs. “Drugs can make you lose your family,’’ he said, because they may not want to be around you.

Dec 2, 2009 - St. Bernard Parish residents living in Meraux and the eastern edge of Chalmette shouldn’t get nervous if they hear an alarm system going off several times at the Murphy USA oil refinery in Meraux between noon and 1 p.m. and 6-7 p.m. on both Thursday and Friday, Dec. 3-4, sheriff’s officials said.

The Sheriff’s Office said the plant will be testing its new alarm system several times between those hours on both days as part of training, according to Carl Zornes, an official of Murphy Oil.

Dec 1, 2009 - Sheriff Jack A. Stephens announces the debut of the new St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Web site, using the same address at www.sbso.org.

“We hope you will find it informative, easy to use and visually attractive,’’ Sheriff Stephens said.

The site is designed with several functions in mind, he said. “It will give readers both breaking news and feature articles and photos about the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office, who are devoted to the suppression of crime in this parish and to helping residents, especially our young people.’’

The sheriff also said “the site will provide highlighted mention of upcoming events involving the Sheriff’s Office that we believe are important to the public.’’

There is also basic information about each department and how to contact the Sheriff’s Office or the nonprofit group Crimestoppers to provide tips to solve crimes.

Another important feature of the Web site, the sheriff said, is an easy-to-use parish sex offender registry, enabling residents to search for the presence of registered sex offenders in proximity to their homes, place of work, schools and day cares. This information is provided in a form residents can use at any time via OffenderWatch, the nation’s leading sex offender registration and notification program.

The Sheriff’s Office Web site also allows users to print employment applications and forms for obtaining occupational licenses and permits from the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Stephens said.

“We are open to comments and suggestions about improvement to the Web site,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. Readers can send E-mail correspondence to Steve Cannizaro, director of public information for the Sheriff’s Office and responsible for Web site content. His address is scannizaro@sbso.org.