News Releases - October, 2008

Teen-ager in juvenile detention center admits to starting massive fire in abandoned Village Square apartments in Chalmette last Jan; booked with arson Oct 31, 2008 - A teen-ager already in custody in the St. Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Center admits to starting a massive fire in the Village Square apartments in Chalmette last January, which destroyed three abandoned apartment complexes that held about 40 apartments, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. No one was injured in the smoky blaze that could be seen for miles but it took several hours of intense battling by St. Bernard Parish firefighters to extinguish it. The fire , last Jan. 6, spread from one apartment complex to three others, destroying three and damaging the fourth, St. Bernard Fire Chief Thomas Stone said. One man who was illegally living in an apartment in one of the affected complexes was booked with trespassing when he was seen leaving a building during the blaze. Sheriff Stephens said the teen-ager who admitted his involvement, who was 16 at the time of the fire and has turned 17, has been booked with arson. He is serving a two-year sentence in the St. Bernard Juvenile Detention Center after his conviction in several auto burglaries in the Spring of this year. Sheriff’s officials developed information the teen-ager, who can’t be identified by law because he is incarcerated in the juvenile system, was involved in the Village Square apartments fire. Under questioning the teen admitted starting the fire, Sheriff Stephens said, adding the boy said he and others were inside an abandoned apartment when he started it. No one else has been arrested. Fire Chief Stone said he welcomed the news of the arrest and thanked sheriff’s officials for their work, saying arson is a difficult crime to make an arrest in. Man booked with possession of stolen property for allegedly renovating girlfriend’s home with items from burglaries, including cabinets taken from walls Oct 29, 2008 - A Chalmette man has been booked with possession of stolen property for allegedly trying to renovate his girlfriend’s home with items taken in at least three burglaries, including $10,000 worth of cabinets removed from walls and carpeting cut from floors, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.   Jason Hartwick of Chalmtte, booked with possession of stolen property after he allegedly tried to renovate girlfriend’s home with items stolen in several St. Bernard Parish burglaries. Jason Hartwick, 29, 2401 Despeaux Drive, who said he bought the goods from others, has been released on bond from St. Bernard Parish Prison after his arrest on Oct. 22. The amount of bond wasn’t available. He could face additional stolen property counts as he investigation continues, authorities said. The sheriff said it is an unusual case because many of the items weren’t simply stolen from a home on Moss Lane in Violet but were removed after they had been installed, including the cabinets and carpeting. Other items recovered in the residence of Hartwick’s girlfriend – who wasn’t arrested and hadn’t moved in – were taken from two other burglaries and included appliances and a ceiling fan, the sheriff said. He said the stolen items were found in a home on Van Cleave Drive in the Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux. The victim was instrumental in finding out where the items had been taken to and supplying the address to authorities, Sheriff Stephens said. Several factors played into the victim learning the information. The owner of the stolen cabinets had them custom-made at a store, and on a hunch, decided to ask store officials to let him know if anyone came in looking for trim and other accessories to fit gaps if the custom-made items were being put into another kitchen, the sheriff said. A representative of the store called back to say someone had come in inquiring about further work for the same type cabinets, the victim reported to sheriff’s detectives. Also, the description of the person who made the inquiry and two children he had with him when he went into the store gave the victim reason to believe he may know what home his stolen items had been taken to, Sheriff Stephens said. Man surrenders in St. Bernard burglary ring investigation; another man was already in custody Oct 29, 2008 - A man wanted in connection with an investigation of a burglary ring surrendered to St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives on Wednesday, Oct. 29, after learning a warrant had been issued for his arrest, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Two men are now in custody in a case that could clear as many as 15 St. Bernard burglaries, most dating back to the period of Hurricane Gustav at the end of August, when nearly all parish residents evacuated for several days, authorites said. Paul Herkes, 29, who had been living in New Orleans, was booked with one count of burglary after he surrendered, Sheriff Stephens said. No bond has been set. Herkes, after his arrest, denied he committed a burglary but the sheriff said Herkes has been identified on a store security video tape in Jefferson Parish as allegedly using a stolen credit card that had been taken in a September burglary in St. Bernard Parish. The alleged main person in the burglary ring is Scott Rodrigue, 38, who had been living in Metairie but has ties to St. Bernard Parish, authorities said. Other arrests are expected, officials said. Rodrigue may be responsible, either as a burglar or as a “fence’’ buying items from other burglars, in as many as 15 break-ins in St. Bernard and others in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, Sheriff Stephens said. An investigation started in St. Bernard by detectives commanded by Col. John Doran led to the arrest of Rodrigue, who has previously served prison time for burglary. Rodrigue was arrested at his residence at 3120 N. Turnbull Drive in Metairie on Oct. 22, with the assistance of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office which secured a search warrant, and numerous items identified as stolen in burglaries in St. Bernard and the other three parishes were recovered, Sheriff Stephens said. A police-style bullet-proof vest, an Olympic-style bicycle allegedly stolen in New Orleans, a gun, electronics equipment, cameras, video games, jewelry, power tools and other items were found, authorities said. Rodrigue, being held in lieu of $107,500 bond in the Jefferson Parish, is booked there with felony possession of stolen items and with being a conicted felon illegally in possession of a weapon. He was also wanted on narcotics charges from St. Bernard. Sheriff Stephens said property stolen in at least five St. Bernard burglaries was recovered in the search. In Metairie. The investigation is continuing as detectives in Jefferson and St. Bernard sort out recovered property and try to identify items reported as stolen, Sheriff Stephens said. Burglary ring broken up: may be responsible for up to 15 in St. Bernard and others in three other parishes Shown are some of the items identified as stolen in St. Bernard Parish burglaries and which were recovered during the Oct. 22 arrest of Scott Rodrigue of Metairie, whose residence was searched after an investigation started in St. Bernard led to him. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO. Scott Rodrigue, arrested in Jefferson Parish, where property stolen in at least five St. Bernard burglaries was recovered Oct 28, 2008 - St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives have broken up a burglary ring believed responsible for up to 15 break-ins in the parish and others in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. An investigation that started in St. Bernard by detectives commanded by Col. John Doran led to the arrest of a man with ties to St. Bernard but who had been living in Metairie, the sheriff said. Scott Rodrigue, 38, who has served prison time for burglary, was arrested at his residence at 3120 N. Turnbull Drive in Metairie on Oct. 22, with the assistance of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office which secured a search warrant, and numerous items identified as stolen in burglaries in St. Bernard and the other three parishes were recovered, Sheriff Stephens said. A police-style bullet-proof vest, an Olympic-style bicycle allegedly stolen in New Orleans, electronics equipment, cameras, video games, jewelry, power tools and other items were found, authorities said. Rodrigue, being held in lieu of $107,500 bond in the Jefferson Parish Detention Center, is booked there with felony possession of stolen items. He was also wanted on narcotics charges from St. Bernard. Sheriff Stephens said property stolen in at least five St. Bernard burglaries was recovered and he said Rodrigue could be booked with as many as 15 burglaries in St. Bernard. Rodrigue was believed to be both a burglar and a “fence’’ for people selling items they stole, he said.   Paul Herkes is wanted in the same case on an arrest warrant for burglary in St. Bernard Parish Another man, Paul Herkes, 29, who has been living in New Orleans, is wanted in St. Bernard in the same case on an arrest warrant alleging burglary. “This type of investigation involving more than one parish highlights the benefits of law enforcement agencies working together,’’ said St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann. “We thank Jefferson Sheriff Newell Normand and his office for all their assistance.’’ The investigation is continuing as detectives in Jefferson and St. Bernard sort out recovered property and try to identify items they have reported as stolen, Sheriff Stephens said. More arrests are expected, Pohlmann said. Many of the burglaries occurred during the time of Hurricane Gustav, officials said. Third Annual Trick-or-Trunk Halloween Celebration Oct 27, 2008 - Thousands of youngsters and their families turned out for the third annual Trick-or-Trunk Halloween celebration held Saturday, Oct. 25 at Torres Park behind the parish Civic Center in Chalmette, with lines stretching down Jean Lafitte Parkway to Patricia Drive as parish residents and businesses gave out treats from the trunks of decorated vehicles. McGruff the Crime Dog and other Sheriff's Office representatives also took part in the event.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.     McGruff the Crime Dog, portrayed by Greer Cuccia of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, hands out treats to children at the Trick-or-Trunk Halloween celebration on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Torres Park in Chalmette. Thousands of children and their families attended. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO McGruff the Crime Dog tries to coax a child to pat her paw. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO     Sheriff's Deputy Brett Bowen hands a treat to a costumed girl at the Trick-or-Trunk celebration on Saturday, Oct. 25. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO   Motorcycle units now assigned to sheriff’s Traffic Division for increased enforcement; two now on streets and two more to follow       Sheriff's Deputies Brent Bourgeois, standing at left using a radar device to clock the speed of approaching motorists, and Mike Ingargiola, are assigned to the new motorcycle units the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office is using in its Traffic Division. The officers were at East St. Bernard Highway at Olivia Street in Meraux, an exit area from Trist Middle School. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO. Shown from behind the new motorcycles being used by the Sheriff's Office, a school bus turns left from Trist Middle School in Meraux onto East St. Bernard Highway as Sheriff's Deputies Mike Ingargiola, left, and Brent Bourgeois halt traffic on the highway.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.  Motorcycle Officer Brent Bourgeois writes a traffic citation.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO Oct 24, 2008 - Two motorcycle units have debuted on the streets of St. Bernard Parish as part of the Sheriff’s Office Traffic Division and two more will soon follow, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. “Their prime function will be traffic enforcement,’’ Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said of the new Harley-Davidson motorcycles being leased. “The No. 1 complaint we hear about is traffic-related, involving speeding,’’ Pohlmann said. Use of the motorcycles is aimed at better enforcement of traffic laws, he said. The units were put on the streets on Wednesday, Oct. 22 and were immediately used in school zones. St. Bernard Parish residents who are having problems with traffic violators in their neighborhoods can report it by calling the sheriff’s Traffic Hotline at 278-7677 55 narcotic tablets seized, 2 men arrested after report of possible drug deal being made Oct 22, 2008 - Responding to a resident’s report of suspicious-looking people possibly making a drug deal in Arabi, St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies seized 55 tablets of hydrocodone, a narcotic pain-reliever, and arrested two men, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. The sheriff said anyone seeing what they believe to be suspicious activity should quickly call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501, emphasizing such timely calls have been responsible for numerous arrests in recent months involving burglary, theft and narcotics. Kirk Brown, 31, 1015 Government St., Arabi, and Sammie May, 38, of Gulfport were both booked the night of Oct. 17 with possession of 55 Schedule III narcotics and are being held in lieu of bond in St. Bernard Parish Prison; Brown on $30,000 bond and May on bond of $27,500. The pills sell for about $5 each on the street, the sheriff said. Sheriff’s deputies found the men in a parked vehicle outside an apartment complex at 1015 Government St., in Arabi, next to the Orleans Parish line, the sheriff said. When ordered out of the vehicle, Brown, who had been in the driver’s seat, had 18 hydrocodone tablets in his left hand and he acknowledged he didn’t have a prescription for them, Sheriff Stephens said. He said after Brown agreed to a search of the vehicle, 37 more of the same type tablets were found on the front and back passenger side floor boards. Brown acknowledged to deputies he had just bought the pills and threw most of them down when deputies arrived, the sheriff said. May admitted he was in the vehicle when the pills were purchased and said he was aware Brown threw them on the floor to try to hide them as deputies arrived, the sheriff said. Early Voting in St. Bernard Parish   Oct 21, 2008 - A St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputy stands security outside the door of the parish voter registration office in Chalmette on Tuesday, Oct. 21, as a voter waits inside for her turn to cast a ballot on the first day of early voting for the Presidential election and other offices. St. Bernard Registrar of Voters Velma Bourg said early voting continues daily from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday, Oct. 28, except for Sunday, Oct. 26, when the office is closed. The voter registration office is in a trailer office immediately behind the parish government building at 8201 West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO. McGruff the Crime Dog to appear at Trick-or-Trunk in Torres Park at 2 p.m. Saturday; S.O. to  step up traffic enforcement at Halloween to protect trick-or-treaters Oct 21, 2008 - McGruff the Crime Dog, a favorite of children, symbol of the National Crime Prevention Center and whose motto is "Take a Bite Out of Crime,'' has for years been played in St. Bernard Parish by Greer Cuccia, a Sheriff's Office employee.   McGruff the Crime Dog and Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Crime Prevention for the St. Bernard Sheriff's Office, to appear at Saturday's Trick-or-trunk Halloween event at 2 p.m. in Torres Park in Chalmette. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.  McGruff and Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Crime Prevention and head of the Neighborhood Watch program for the department, will give out candy and other items to children on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Trick-or-Trunk Halloween event in Torres Park in Chalmette, sponsored by parish government and numerous parish businesses. Also, the Sheriff's Office, as usual for the Halloween period, will have increased presence for the protection of trick-or-treating children and adult party-goers, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. There will be stepped up DWI enforcement on highways and in neighborhoods and the emphasis will be on motorists slowing down and watching out for pedestrians, the sheriff said. The Sheriff’s Office will also be ready to respond to traffic problems caused by Halloween-related parties and other activities, he said. Halloween safety tips given by the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office through the National Crime Prevention Institute and the Los Angeles fire Department Oct 21, 2008 - The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office is releasing a list of tips for Halloween to help ensure a safe and happy time for children. They were compiled by the National Crime Prevention Institute and the Los Angeles Fire Department. In St. Bernard, because of the ongoing rebuilding process, there are things to watch for that are pertinent to our parish, said Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Crime Prevention for the Sheriff’s Office. “Children and their parents who are trick-or-treating should be especially careful in areas where there are vacant properties, where streets are under repair or where the lighting is bad,’’ Borchers said. Here is the list of safety tips... (Click here to read the rest of the story) Teen-ager who accidentally shot himself with stolen gun in September arrested for firing a stolen rifle (Updated) Oct 17, 2008 - A 16-year-old Chalmette boy who accidentally shot himself to the side of the head Sept. 16 with a gun he allegedly stole in a burglary that day, has been arrested for firing a stolen .22-rifle from a back window of his mother’s apartment and striking the exterior of three apartments in a complex and three houses, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. No one was injured in the incident that happened about 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16. The teen-ager was immediately arrested because sheriff’s deputies who were in the area on an unrelated matter heard several shots, saw him waving the rifle in the back 2nd-floor window of his residence, and went into his apartment.  The teen-ager, whose name can’t be released under state law because he is a minor, was placed in (Click here to read the rest of the story) 13 pounds of cocaine and $81,000 seized; 4 people including an employee of NOPD arrested in a Chalmette home after alert police work by National Guard and sheriff’s deputies Oct 16, 2008 - More than 13 pounds of cocaine and $81,000 in cash was seized in a Chalmette home and four people including an employee of the New Orleans Police Department were arrested on Wednesday, Oct. 15 after alert work by National Guard military police and    St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, right, Col. Chad Clark (at podium) and to his left Col. Pete Tufaro and members of the sheriff's Special Investigations Division stand behind a table displaying more than 13 pounds of cocaine, four AK-47 assault rifles, two handguns and more than $81,000 in cash and other items seized Wednesday, Oct. 15 in a raid of a Chalmette residence. Four people were arrested, including a civilian employee of the New Orleans Police Department who resigned after her arrest.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Military police noticed two men in an Arabi all-night convenience store twice buying large amounts of materials for making crack cocaine in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Oct. 14, the sheriff said. After their truck’s license plate came back as a rental the National Guardsmen called St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies to report the suspicious activity and two deputies searched the area until they found the truck with the same plate in a driveway at 8420 Valor Drive in Chalmette, the sheriff said. Members of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division maintained surveillance on the half-double residence for nearly a full day as occupants, as it turned out, went to Houston to pick up multiple pounds of cocaine and returned with it to the residence. The home was raided Wednesday morning. The cocaine had a street value of upwards of $600,000, authorities estimated, and said it was the largest cocaine seizure in St. Bernard in nearly 20 years. “This is outstanding work by military police officers and our sheriff’s deputies,’’ Sheriff’s Stephens said. “It’s also a tribute to cooperation between agencies.’’ The NOPD civilian employee, radio dispatcher Contrice Martin, 33, who lived at the Valor Drive residence where the cocaine and other items was found, resigned after her arrest. Sheriff Stephens said the men, who are from New Orleans and the West Bank, apparently had moved to Chalmette because St. Bernard is safer than New Orleans. The drugs involved were meant for sale in ... (Click here to read the rest of the story) Heroin worth $500 seized and man arrested in Arabi apartment; two children present  Oct 15, 2008 - About $500 worth of heroin was seized and a man was arrested in an Arabi apartment on Monday night, Oct. 13, when sheriff’s deputies were looking for the man in connection with an arrest warrant involving narcotics possession, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Jamie Tate, 25, who was allegedly staying at 1204 Tenebrach St., Apt. A, Arabi, was arrested at the residence, where a woman lives. Ten individually wrapped foils containing a substance that tested positive for heroin were found, along with a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Tate was booked with possession of the items as well as on an outstanding arrest warrant from New Orleans for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. A woman and two children, a 5-year-old girl and a 6-month-old boy, were in the home and two of the charges Tate was also booked with include possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile. “That’s dangerous,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. “Several children have died or become ill in the past few years in the New Orleans area after they ingested illegal drugs they found in their home.’’ The children involved in Tate’s arrest weren’t hurt, according to the sheriff. Deputies with the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division went to the residence acting on the arrest warrant, the sheriff said. He said a woman at the apartment denied knowing Tate but an officer saw a man look down from an upstairs window, then duck away.  Deputies then heard a loud noise upstairs and entered the apartment, with one finding Tate hiding under a bed, Sheriff Stephens said. The foils of heroin were spotted and afterward the woman resident acknowledged Tate stayed there. A search warrant was obtained from a judge and marijuana was found as well as a partially burned cigar containing vegetable matter. Tate is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $30,000 bond. Contractor guilty in eight counts of felony theft; ordered to pay $213,000 in restitution Oct 10, 2008 - Chalmette contractor Lyle Torres, arrested in July for allegedly stealing money given him to renovate storm-damaged homes, has pleaded guilty to eight counts of felony theft over $500 and has been ordered by a judge to make restitution of $213,000 as part of sentencing. Torres, 38, 45 East Carmack Drive, who had been jailed in Chalmette since his arrest, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Oct. 7 before state District Judge Kirk Vaughn. Vaughn sentenced him to 10-year sentences on each of the eight charges, as well as five years active probation, but agreed to suspend the imposition of sentencing on the condition that Torres makes full restitution of $213,000 to the victims over the five years of probation. Torres was sentenced to eight consecutive 10-year sentences, meaning he would face 80 years in prison if restitution isn’t made. Torres has been transferred to a prison in St. Tammany Parish, where he also faces a criminal charge involving contractor-related fraud. Probation and parole officials will work out details of how the payments would be made to victims. Other conditions imposed on Torres included receiving counseling for a gambling addiction and an order to refrain from gambling. Some of the criminal cases involved work Torres was paid to do but never started, and others involved Torres’ crews starting work but completing nothing, the sheriff said. Theft and fraud allegations against contractors involving storm-related renovations they were hired to perform continues to be a problem in St. Bernard more than three years after the hurricane. Five booked in two cases involving shotguns, one of which was fired into ground; 1 burglary arrest made Oct 8, 2008 - A total of five arrests were made in two incidents of confrontations involving shotguns, one of which was discharged into the ground but no one was injured, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Also, in a third incident, a man was arrested for allegedly breaking into a Meraux home. Two men and a woman were arrested Saturday, Oct. 4 after a fight in Meraux in which one man discharged a shotgun into the ground, the sheriff said. Joshua Starr, 23, 2401 Octavia St., Chalmette, and Cody Wait, 20, 2001 Munster Blvd., Apt. A, Meraux, were both booked with aggravated... (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Article) Three young N.O. men, including two teens, arrested in nine Chalmette vehicle burglaries (Updated!) Oct 6, 2008 - Because of an alert resident who reported a driver suspiciously stopping to let out passengers who would then return in a short period, St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies arrested three young New Orleans men who burglarized nine vehicles early Monday, Oct. 6, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. “This is an example of the difference residents can make in helping law enforcement do its job and helping their own neighborhood,’’ Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “If you see something that looks suspicious, don’t hesitate to call the Sheriff’s Office,’’ Pohlmann said. “You can stop crime and help victims get their property back.  And you may be protecting yourself from a future burglary or worse from the same people.’’ The Sheriff’s Office can be reached at (504) 271-2501. Sheriff’s deputies who investigated the call of the suspicious vehicle found a white Toyota being driven westbound on Genie Street approaching Palmisano Boulevard, with two passengers. Purses, a pill bottle, GPS devices and CDs were seen in the vehicle. Found in the trunk was a Glock 17 handgun stolen from a truck in a driveway in the 1300 block of Magistrate Street in Chalmette, authorities said. A bottle of prescription hydrocodone pills were stolen from a vehicle in the 3300 block of Riverland Drive, and there were also six purses, several GPS devices and assorted CDs. Sheriff’s detectives followed up on the arrests and determined that nine vehicles were burglarized.  All of the vehicles that were victimized were unlocked, with the arrested suspects allegedly going down several streets and checking doors. Pohlmann said this type of crime should serve as a reminder to residents not to make it easy for people to take their property by leaving vehicles unlocked, even outside their residence. Arrested were Vu Luu, 20, 5162 Willowbrook Drive; Danny Tran, 17, 5163 Willowbrook Drive; and Trung Tran, 4737 Coronado Drive, all in eastern New Orleans. They are all booked with burglary, illegal possession of hydrocodone, a Schedule 2 controlled dangerous substance; and possessing a firearm while possessing a controlled dangerous substance. All three are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison on bonds of $75,000. Armed robbery arrest made in Chalmette home invasion; 3 booked in $15,000 copper theft Oct 6, 2008 - A Violet man was booked with armed robbery in a Sept. 26 incident where three masked men with guns forced their way into a Chalmette residence demanding money and stole a resident’s purse containing $100 and her cell phone, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. No one was injured and sheriff’s detectives believe the home was targeted by the robbers rather than randomly attacked, the sheriff said. The case is still under investigation. A mask was found in a vehicle when Lennie Brown, 18, 2104 Colonial Boulevard, was stopped and arrested Wednesday, Oct. 1, the sheriff said. Brown, booked with armed robbery, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison on $100,000 bond. Sheriff’s detectives developed information on Brown after the home invasion in the 3500 block of Chalona Drive in Chalmette, the sheriff said, and are working leads on the other men. The three robbers all had guns and wore masks but one of the masks only partially covered the face of one man, Sheriff Stephens said. After Brown’s arrest, he was identified by a victim in a lineup from among others, the sheriff said. Also, three men have been booked with theft of $15,000 worth of copper wire from a Violet commercial trailer park, Sheriff Stephens said. The arrests were made by the Sheriff’s Street Crimes Unit. He said two of the arrested men lived at the trailer park at 5012 East Louisiana 46 in Violet where the thefts took place in August. Booked Sept. 29 with theft of copper wire were Brad Anglada, 28, 5012 East Louisiana 46, Lot 19; Jon Hogan, 31, 5012 East Louisiana 46, Lot 18; and Titus Cease, 19, 4 Coffee Drive, Chalmette. Anglada was released on bond Oct. 1 while Hogan is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison on $32,500 bond and Cease is being held on $25,000 bond. The sheriff said anyone seeing suspicious activity in their neighborhood should call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501. Forty eight tablets of the drug ecstasy found and Violet man arrested Oct 6, 2008 - A bag containing 48 tablets that tested positive for the drug MDMA, known as ecstasy, were seized and a Violet man arrested on Thursday, Oct. 2, Sheriff Jack Stephen s said. Jason Blaise, 19, 6417 Jules Brown St., is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond, booked with possession with intent to distribute ecstasy, resisting an officer, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and disturbing the peace. He also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for possession of a controlled dangerous substance. Blaise was among a group of young men who were seen throwing rocks at parked vehicles on a Violet street by members of the sheriff’s Street Crimes Unit the night of Oct. 2, the sheriff said. He said when officers got out to investigate, Blaise ran into an alley and an officer who chased him allegedly saw Blaise take off a jacket and throw it down. When caught, Blaise resisted, swinging his arms and feet at sheriff’s deputies who arrested him, the sheriff said. Inside a pocket of the jacket that was recovered was a plastic baggie containing 48 tablets which tested positive for MDMA, known as ecstasy, the sheriff said. Six others, including a juvenile, were booked with misdemeanor criminal mischief for the rock-throwing. Fire hydrant inspections begin Monday, Oct. 6 Oct 2, 2008 - The St. Bernard Parish Fire Department will begin fire hydrant inspections on Monday, Oct. 6. Throughout the parish, individual fire hydrants will be opened for about two minutes to record water pressure and flow readings. The inspections will be between 9 and 11 a.m. Monday through Friday. This is a necessary procedure performed twice a year to ensure all fire hydrants in the parish work properly. Residents may experience rusty water during this testing. Running water for five minutes should flush the rust and clear up the water. Source:  St. Bernard Parish Government Chalmette woman and her nephew booked in burglary of next-door neighbors; stolen blanket hung in window and spotted by victims Oct 1, 2008 - A Chalmette woman and her nephew were booked Wednesday, Oct. 1 with burglary of their neighbors in a half-double    St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies handcuff Lisa J. Smith and Troy Clouatre after stopping their vehicle on Paris Road on Wednesday, Oct. 1.They were both booked with simple burglary and possession of stolen property worth more than $5,000. residence after the victims spotted a stolen blanket hanging in a window being used to shield from view other stolen items in the room, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. “This is like something out of “World’s Stupidest Criminals,’’ Sheriff Stephens said. “But we’ll take any help we can get in solving a crime.’’ After the victims reported the burglary, sheriff’s detectives obtained a search warrant for the half-double where the blanket was hanging and numerous stolen items including electronics were found inside, the sheriff said. Detectives learned the names of the occupants and while still on the scene the woman and her nephew came by in a vehicle but drove away when they saw sheriff’s deputies, Sheriff Stephens said. They were stopped and arrested on nearby Paris Road, he said.     Troy Clouatre, booked with burglary and possession of stolen property in Chalmette, after a stolen blanket was spotted hanging in a room of his residence to shield from view other stolen items in the room Troy Clouatre, 35, and Lisa J. Smith, 47, both of 422 West Solidelle St., were booked with simple burglary and possession of more than $5,000 of stolen property, the sheriff said. Both are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison and will go before a judge to have bond set on Thursday, Oct. 2. An investigation is continuing into whether they are suspects in other burglaries, authorities said. The victims had been away for several weeks and returned on Oct. 1 to discover the burglary and noticed that a blanket of theirs, with designs of dogs on it, was hanging in a window of their next-door neighbors in a half-double residence, Sheriff Stephens said. He said it appeared the blanket was used to shield from view other stolen items in the room. Click Here to Return to the St. Bernard Sheriff Office Home Page