News Releases - June, 2008

Sheriff’s deputies continue to make arrests based on timely calls about suspicious actions Jun 23, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies are continuing to make arrests based on timely calls by individuals who see suspicious activity, including a June 23 arrest of two people allegedly attempting to steal copper wire from a house, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Anyone seeing something that seems suspicious, such as strange vehicles backed up to residences or strangers in a neighborhood loitering near a house or appearing to enter or exit residences, should call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501, Stephens said. Arrests in at least five different criminal cases have been made in recent weeks based on calls by residents who saw something they thought odd, the sheriff said. “That is the kind of help that is invaluable to the Sheriff’s Office,’’ the sheriff said. “It helps protect neighborhoods.’’ In the latest such arrest, a couple from Narco were booked with attempted theft of building materials including copper wire and with criminal trespassing on June 23. It was reported they were seen leaving a residence on Gallo Drive in Chalmette and their vehicle was backed into a driveway with its doors open, Sheriff Stephens said. George C. Allnet IV, 35, and Rebecca Berns, 34, are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds of $20,000 each. Two men who know the owner of the residence reported they saw the couple exit the house, questioned them about why they were inside,  and didn’t get satisfactory answers before the couple drove away, the sheriff said. When sheriff’s deputies arrived they observed damage to two doors, including pry marks on one and broken panes of glass near the other,  on the side of the residence where the couple had left, the sheriff said. Also, Stephens said several types of copper wire were found by deputies to be bundled up near one of the doors. A description was broadcast of the couple’s vehicle and the two were soon stopped by sheriff’s deputies, the sheriff said. Allnet was seen by deputies ducking down in the rear interior of the vehicle and was ordered to sit up and show his hands. Both were then booked at Parish Prison. Man booked with child desertion when young sons leave home after he falls asleep   Jun 18, 2008 - A Chalmette man who acknowledged falling asleep after having a few alcoholic drinks was booked with child desertion when his two sons, ages 2 and 4, left home and wandered outside, with one being found in a nearby street, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.   Shane Baker, 30, 317 E. Solidelle St., was released on bond a day after after he was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison on June 18.   A resident on nearby LaPlace Drive reported finding the children about 7 p.m., with one in the middle of the street in front of his home and the other in his backyard, the sheriff said.   The man walked the brothers home and found the front door of their home partially open, the sheriff said. The father was asleep on a sofa and couldn’t be awakened, the witness told investigating deputies.   When deputies were called they shook Shane Baker awake and he qdmitted he had a few alcoholic beverages, fell asleep, and didn’t know the 2-year-old and 4-year-old had gotten outside, Sheriff Stephens said.   The children’s mother was at a meeting while he was with them in the home, the father said.   Shane Baker was arrested and the boys were placed in the custody of a neighbor until the mother could get home, the sheriff said.   Click Here to Return to the St. Bernard Sheriff Office Home Page