News Releases - November, 2008

Sheriff’s prison work program going strong; “Trustys’’ do community service including cutting grass and cleaning public areas    St. Bernard Parish prisoners, under the watch of Sheriff's Deputy Bryan Cadzow, work at the historic De La Ronde Ruins on the neutral ground of West St. Bernard Highway near Paris Road in Chalmette - the remaining pieces of a structure from the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO Nov 30, 2008 - When the annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony is held Dec. 7 at its park on Paris Road in Chalmette the grass will have been cut and the area cleaned by “trusty’’ prisoners from the St. Bernard Sheriff’s prison work program. Area children play at a community playground in Torres Park that was rebuilt earlier this year by parish residents, who were helped by a work crew of prisoners. And stages at some parish festivals are built by prison crews, just as thousands of sandbags for emergency rain events are bagged by prisoners. They also maintain the grounds of one of St. Bernard’s most historic sites, the De La Ronde Ruins in the West St. Bernard Highway neutral ground – which are the remains of a...  (Click Here to Read the Rest of the Story) Man arrested after he falls asleep at home and his two young sons are found outside by themselves ; obscenity arrest made in a bar Nov 30, 2008 - A Chalmette man was booked with child desertion after he fell asleep at home and his two sons, ages 3 and 2, managed to leave and were found outside by themselves, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Terry Thompson, 23, 4 Old Hickory, was arrested Monday, Nov. 24, after a neighbor woke him up after finding the boys playing alone in the front of the residence. Thompson told investigating sheriff’s deputies he fell asleep in the afternoon and didn’t know the boys had gotten out. Deputies found the children were dirty from playing in the grass in front of the residence and they had kitchen utensils including knives, forks and spoons they had brought out to the front yard. Thompson, who also had an unspecified outstanding warrant for his arrest out of New Orleans, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond. Sheriff Stephens said authorities take such incidents seriously because of the possibility of harm to children who are unsupervised. In this case the children’s residence was close to the heavily traveled West St. Bernard Highway. In an unrelated matter, a Meraux man was booked with obscenity at a Chalmette barroom after he allegedly climbed on the bar and exposed himself, the sheriff said. Craig Spadoni, 37, 2812 Myrtle Grove Drive, Lot 112, was arrested about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at a bar after sheriff’s deputies were called out on an obscenity complaint. Spadoni, who told deputies he had been intoxicated, allegedly got partially undressed, climbed on the bar, and exposed himself while dancing. He also then went outside to dance before coming back into the bar to get dressed. Spadoni, booked with obscenity and on an arrest warrant for allegedly making harassing phone calls in St. Bernard, is being held in Parish Prison in lieu of $65,000 bond. Local fishing show host dies in one-vehicle accident in eastern St. Bernard Parish              Courtesy, WDSU Nov 25, 2008 - Well-known Louisiana sportsman and local fishing show host Joseph “Barry” Brechtel Jr. died in a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning, Nov. 25, in eastern St. Bernard Parish. Louisiana State Police said Brechtel, 43, of Covington, was driving a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck eastbound on Florissant Highway near Pisces Place just after midnight when he veered to the right, over-corrected to the left, and went off the roadway into a utility pole. Brechtel was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, authorities said. He died at the scene. Brechtel hosted a weekly fishing show called "Team Big Fish,'' on WDSU-TV. He also co-ran a charter fishing service out of Hopedale in St. Bernard Parish, WDSU said. The investigation is continuing, State Police said, and toxicology results are pending. Man shot to death in Violet home; woman he lived with arrested after admitting shooting him; Claimed past physical abuse   Connie Reeb, 31, booked Monday, Nov. 24 with second-degree murder of Ralph Brossette. A bond of $250,000 was set on Tuesday, Nov. 25, by State District Judge Wayne Cresap. She is being held in the St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond. Nov 25, 2008 (Updated) - A Violet man was killed Monday, Nov. 24 and a woman he lived with  was arrested after saying she shot him as he slept, and also claimed there had been past physical abuse by him, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Ralph Brossette, 35, was shot just before 10:30 a.m. in a rented house at 2420 Meraux Lane in Violet and was pronounced dead at University Hospital in New Orleans. Connie Reeb, 31, who lived with Brossette for about six months, was booked later in the day with second-degree murder.  A bond of $250,000 was set on Tuesday, Nov. 25 by State District Judge Wayne Cresap.  Reeb is being held in the St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond. Reeb’s children, an 11-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, were transferred to the custody of the woman’s relatives who live in St. Bernard. Brossette, who has a lengthy criminal history, was found in bed after Reeb called to report a shooting. The woman initially told Sheriff’s detectives, commanded by Col. John Doran, that she walked into their bedroom from a bathroom and saw an unknown man shoot Brossette, then she fled.  But under questioning, Reeb said she shot Brossette in the head as he slept after he came home about 6:30 a.m. from a casino. She also claimed he had physically abused her and threatened her in the past and said she was afraid for her life.  There wasn’t any information available on whether Reeb had ever called the Sheriff’s Office to complai   The murder scene at 2420 Meraux Lane in Violet, where a man was shot to death on Monday, Nov. 24. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO. n of alleged domestic abuse. The sheriff said a revolver, with six spent casings inside, was recovered in the backyard. The killing was the fourth homicide of the year in St. Bernard Parish, two of which have involved domestic situations. Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, said, “Anyone who is in an abusive relationship should report the abuse it to the Sheriff’s Office and reach out for help from programs such as the Battered Women’s Shelter to try to prevent matters from escalating into worse situations. We will respond to any call for help.’         Two die, two injured in traffic accident in Violet on Nov. 21 Nov 24, 2008 - Donald Joseph, 49, of Violet, and a man whose name hasn’t been released were killed Friday night, Nov. 21, and two others were injured in a two-vehicle crash in the 6700 block of East St. Bernard Highway in Violet, near the W. Smith Elementary School. Joseph was heading west around 8:20 p.m. when his 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer virtually head-on, according to State Police Troop B, who are handling the case. Joseph was transported in critical condition to University Hospital, where he died. The driver of the Mercury was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. His name has not been released. Two passengers in the Mercury -- Omar Maldonado, 29, and Martin Barrientos-Guiterrez, 25 -- were taken to Tulane Medical Center and University Hospital to be treated for severe injuries, authorities said. Both were reported to be in critical condition. It was not immediately clear why Joseph crossed over the center line, State Police said. Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine whether either driver was impaired at the time of the crash. Speed has been ruled out as a cause. None of the victims was wearing a seat belt, State Police said. Sheriff’s Civil, Tax and other administrative offices to move Dec. 8 to Torres Plaza Bldg. at 8301 West Judge Perez Drive, Chalmette Nov 22, 2008 - The St. Bernard Parish Civil, Tax and other administrative offices will move Dec. 8 to the Sidney Torres Plaza Building at 8301 West Judge Perez in Chalmette, where the Regions Bank is located, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. There will be an entrance on the Jean Lafitte Parkway side of the building for the public to enter the administrative offices of the Sheriff’s Office. St. Bernard Parish property owners who just received tax bills that are due by Dec. 31 can pay them at the new administrative offices from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. The sheriff’s administrative offices, since Hurricane Katrina, have been in a compound of office trailers off the road to the Port of St. Bernard in Chalmette. Six people arrested in three cases involving the drugs PCP, heroin and crack cocaine Nov 22, 2008 - A total of six people were arrested Nov. 18-20 on three cases involving the drugs PCP – rarely seen in St. Bernard Parish – heroin and crack cocaine, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. All three cases were made by sheriff’s deputies from the Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark. Gerald Patterson Jr., 3, of Marrero, was initially arrested Nov. 18 for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.  But when Patterson was brought to the St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked and was searched, he attempted to destroy an unknown liquid in a small bottle by dumping the liquid on the floor. A small amount of the liquid was recovered inside the bottle and the liquid tested positive for the drug Phencyclidine, or PCP. A criminal history checked showed Patterson had been arrested in Jefferson Parish on a PCp charge last July. Patterson, then additionally booked in St. Bernard with possession of PCP and attempted introduction of contraband into the prison, is being held in lieu of bond set at $100,000. On Nov. 19, a search warrant was executed at 9106 Atreus Drive in Chalmette and two men and a woman were booked with possession with intent to distribute 15 rocks of crack cocaine, worth about $300 and possession with intent to distribute 11 small bags containing a total of about 1.3 ounces of marijuana, worth $220.  They were also booked with possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of three minor children. Arrested were Chad D. Thomas, 37; Remus Reed, 19; and Marguerite Reed, 31; all of 9106 Atreus Drive. Thomas and Remus Reed were being held in Parish prison in lieu of $140,000 bonds each while Marguerite Reed was released on bond Nov. 21. The amount of her bond wasn’t available. Also, on Nov. 20, Kendell Harris, 22, of New Orleans, and Lashonda K. Alveris, 21, of Harvey, were both booked with distribution of three dosage units of heroin and possession with intent to distribute three other dosage units of heroin, with the total amount worth $120. Harris is being held in Parish prison in lieu of $160,000 bond and Alveris is being held in lieu of bond of $100,000. Movie-filming to restrict traffic on West St. Bernard Highway on Monday, Nov. 24 Nov 22, 2008 - There will be some traffic restrictions on Monday, Nov. 24 on West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette due to movie-filming, according to officials of the Sheriff’s Office and parish government. The filming centers in the 8400 block of West St. Bernard Highway near Congressman Hebert Drive but traffic could be affected from Packenham Avenue to Jean Lafitte Parkway, officials said. Traffic could be affected off and on from about 7 a.m. to late in the afternoon. Sheriff’s Free Holiday Ride Home program offered for 25th straight year beginning day after Thanksgiving; was first program of its type in New Orleans area   St. Bernard Chief Sheriff's Deputy James Pohlmann, left, and Capt. Walter Dornan, head of the sheriff's Traffic Division, at a sign on Paris Road in Chalmette announcing the start of the 25th annual sheriff's free Holiday Ride Home program, which starts the day after Thanksgiving. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO Nov 21, 2008 - With an aim of stopping drinking-and-driving in St. Bernard Parish, the Sheriff’s free Holiday Ride Home program will be offered for the 25th straight year beginning the day after Thanksgiving, with residents able to get a ride home by the Sheriff’s Office if they have been drinking, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Non-residents can get a ride to a sheriff’s sub-station and make arrangements to be picked up. When Sheriff Stephens started the ride home program after taking office in 1984, it was the first of its type in the New Orleans area and has served as a means to reduce the number of inebriated motorists. “If someone has had too much to drink during the holidays we don’t want them trying to drive home,’’ and risk injuring themselves or an innocent party in an accident, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “We would much prefer they call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 and receive a free ride home, no questions asked.’’ “We will take them home from a party or a bar but they must stay home and we will not take anyone to a separate party or another bar,’’ Pohlmann said. Non-residents of St. Bernard who are visiting the parish can call the Sheriff’s Office and they will be picked up and taken to a sheriff’s sub-station where they can make arrangements to get a ride home to their parish, he said. Signs are being placed at the entrances of the parish to remind motorists of the free holiday ride home program. Also, the Sheriff’s Office will be working in conjunction with State Police to battle drunk driving, with extra patrols and checkpoints set up to specifically look for motorists who have been drinking, according to Capt. Walter Dornan, head of the traffic division for the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office. “It’s not worth the risk to drive if you have been drinking,’’ Dornan said. “Take advantage of the sheriff’s free ride home program.’’ Numerous shotguns and rifles seized; man and teen-ager booked with possession of stolen firearms and owners who have proof can check for missing guns   Some 16 rifles and shotguns recovered by St. Bernard Parish sheriff's detectives during arrest. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO Nov 21, 2008 - Numerous shotguns and rifles were seized at a residence by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and a 16-year-old boy who lives there and a man have been booked with possession of stolen property after three weapons were identified as taken in a burglary, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Sixteen weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle were recovered when a search warrant was served at the home of the teen-ager on Florissant Highway in eastern St. Bernard Parish on Nov. 14. Three of the found guns were linked to a burglary of a house several blocks away on Florissant Highway according to the detectives.  Booked with possession of stolen firearms were Kenneth King, 44, of Louisville, Ky., who has been living at Florissant as a commercial fisherman, and the 16-year-old whose name isn’t being released because he is a juvenile. King also was booked with contributing to the delinquency of the youth. Detectives, commanded by Col. John Doran, obtained the warrant based on information they received about the guns at the home of the minor. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been asked to run a trace on the weapons to determine where they came from. King, being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond, and the juvenile, who has been released on bond from the parish Juvenile Detention Center, maintained they found the weapons, authorities said. The amount of the bonds wasn’t available. Owners who are missing guns and have proof such as a receipt or can provide serial numbers can call the St. Bernard sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at (504) 278-7630 to try to identify a weapon, Sheriff Stephens said.  Missouri man living in St. Bernard Parish booked with sex and drug charges involving 15-year-old girl he brought from Missouri   Neil Scott Kramer, booked with sex and drug charges involving 15-year-old girl brought to St. Bernard from Missouri Nov 17, 2008 (Updated) - A 39-year-old Missouri man who has been living in St. Bernard Parish was booked with sex and drug charges involving a 15-year-old girl he brought to the parish from Missouri, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Neil Scott Kramer was arrested early Saturday morning, Nov. 15, after the juvenile contacted her mother in Missouri from a bar to tell her where she was.  St. Bernard Sheriff’s officials were alerted and the teen-ager was found in the bar, the sheriff said. Kramer was found in a nearby café. The girl has been sent back home by plane to her parents. Kramer, who is from Buffalo, Mo., allegedly had been doing contracting  work in St. Bernard Parish and was living at 2605 Packenham Road in Violet in eastern St. Bernard, is now in St. Bernard Parish Prison. He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond that was set by a judge on Monday, Nov. 17.  Kramer was booked with simple rape for allegedly having sex with the girl after he allegedly drugged her with ecstasy, carnal knowledge of a juvenile, possession of two tablets of the drug ecstasy and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Kramer and the girl had been sending text messages to  ......(Click here to read the rest of the article) 2008 Property Tax Notices Mailed November 14; Due by December 31, 2008 Nov 14, 2008 - In Accordance with Louisiana Law, The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office mailed today the 2008 Property Tax Notices via U.S. Mail. These notices were mailed to the address on file as provided to the St. Bernard Parish Tax Assessor’s Office.  You should receive these notices within the next few days.  The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office encourages you to pay your Property Taxes promptly and by December 31, 2008 to avoid any additional penalties and interest.  If you do receive a Tax Notice for property you no longer own, please notify our Civil Tax Office at 504-271-2504 during regular business hours – Monday to Friday – 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M.. If you have moved and have not received your 2008 Tax Bill, you will need to call both our offices with your new mailing address and the Tax Assessor’s Office with your permanent address change. The Tax Assessor’s phone number is 504-279-6379 for the permanent address change. Please call our offices with your new address so we can send you a copy of the Tax Bill.  The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office only maintains the address change for the current mailing. Your permanent address change must be made at the Assessor’s Office. Please remember that Property Taxes become delinquent on December 31, 2008 for the Tax Year 2008. Interest from December 31, 2008 will be charged at the rate of 1% Per Month or any Portion thereof, under Louisiana R.S. 47:2101. Five men arrested for theft of two dirt bikes and one all-terrain vehicle; Were taking them out of St. Bernard in a rental truck Nov 12, 2008 - In another case where a phone call about suspicious activity has led to arrests, five men who allegedly stole two dirt bikes and an all-terrain vehicle in Chalmette were caught trying to take them out of St. Bernard Parish in a rental truck, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. The arrests on Friday, Nov. 7 and recovery of the three stolen vehicles marked at least the 10th time in recent months in which arrests were made based on alert parish residents notifying the Sheriff’s Office when they saw what appeared to be something suspicious. Sheriff Stephens commended the quick action by someone who called the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 about 2 a.m. on Nov. 7 and reported seeing two men pushing a  ...(Click here to read the rest of the article) Judges, Sheriff’s officials say reopened Juvenile Detention Center is a crime deterrent; Gives teens a chance at rehabilitation Nov 9, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish judges who deal with youthful offenders and Sheriff Jack Stephens say the reopened juvenile detention center in Chalmette is proving to be both a crime deterrent and a place giving teen-agers a chance at rehabilitation. “Without a juvenile detention center it’s hard for young offenders to become a productive member of society and it’s easier to become a hardened criminal,’’ state District Judge Manny Fernandez of St. Bernard said. “”Our juvenile justice system requires a facility.”” Along with creating a crime deterrent by having a place to hold incorrigibles, Fernandez said, “You need a place for education and medical care.’’ The parish’s other state district judges, Chief Judge Jacques Sanborn, Wayne Cresap, Robert Buckley and Kirk Vaughn have all said the detention center, which opened in late July, has proven its value to help deter teen-age crime as well as be a place where offenders can try to readjust in an environment of attending school, getting counseling and receiving medical care. Judge Sanborn said its reopening “has been a major milestone for the ...(Click here to read the rest of the article) Chalmette mother arrested after child under age of three left alone in home while she was at work Nov 7, 2008 - A Chalmette mother was arrested on a charge of child desertion on Friday, Nov. 7 after her son, who is under the age of three, was left alone in their home while she was at work, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Nivia Fields, 25, who lives in the 2300 block of Plaza Drive in Chalmette, was arrested and her son, who will be three in December, was turned over to the care if an aunt.  Fields was also booked with possession of a small amount of marijuana found in plain sight in her home when sheriff’s deputies checked on the child after a caller said he had been left alone. Fields, who had gone to work at 5 a.m., said a woman she knew who spent the night at the residence was supposed to be watching the boy. The sheriff said the incident came to light after Fields’ 6-year-old daughter, who was standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus to take her to school, was crying and told someone she didn’t want to leave her baby brother at home alone. The Sheriff’s Office was called and the landlord of the rental where Fields lives opened the door for deputies to look for the boy, who was found in his bed. Fields was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison pending an appearance before a judge to have bond set. Administrative offices of St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office to be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11 for Veteran’s Day holiday Nov 7, 2008 - All administrative offices of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for the Veteran’s Day holiday. The offices will reopen on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Oyster boat captain and two crew members booked with theft of fuel Nov 6, 2008 - The captain of a St. Bernard Parish oyster boat and two crew members have been booked with felony theft of fuel from another boat in eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Booked with felony theft over $500 and with a separate charge of theft of fuel were the oyster boat captain, Roland Deroche, 38, 2307 Tiffany Court in the community of St. Bernard; and crew members Edward Zacharias, no age available, 2501 Hopedale Highway, Yscloskey; and Kenneth Simon, 22, 2020 E. Christie Drive, Poydras, all of St. Bernard Parish.  The arrests were made on Oct. 31 following an investigation that included a statement from Zacharias admitting his guilt and alleging Deroche had ordered crew members to siphon fuel from a boat in the fishing village of Yscloskey after tying up next to it.  A witness also acknowledged seeing Deroche’s boat tied up to the boat where the fuel was allegedly stolen but couldn’t see if a theft took place.  Zacharias also gave incriminating statements about stealing fuel from other boats and a dock on other occasions over a period of the past six months, but no other charges have been filed. Both Deroche and Simon have denied the theft charge. Deroche has been released from St. Bernard Parish Prison after posting a $100,000 surety bond. Zacharias, whose bond is set at $137,000, and Simon, who has a $100,000 bond, remain in jail. FEMA says Dec. 3 is deadline to register for assistance for Hurricane Gustav damage Nov 5, 2008 - The deadline to register for assistance for damage caused by Hurricane Gustav, which struck St. Bernard and other parishes   A dog sits in the passenger seat of a truck as St. Bernard Parish residents go through a check-point on Paris Road manned by St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies and National Guardsmen as they begin returning home on Wednesday, Sept. 3 on the first day a mandatory evacuation order was lifted for Hurricane Gustav, which struck St. Bernard and other parishes on Labor Day, Sept. 1. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO. on Labor Day, Sept. 1, has been extended to Dec. 3 of this year, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Individuals and Households Program.  Aid for eligible applicants may come in the form of temporary rental assistance or hotel stays and grants or loans to repair or replace damaged property and belongings. The federal assistance program will not cover all losses, but is designed to help people return to livable housing, FEMA said. St. Bernard Parish is among 53 Louisiana parishes designated for federal assistance to individuals and households. Residents can register for assistance by going online to www.fema.gov, or by calling FEMA at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or TTY 800-462-7585. Individuals who have already registered with FEMA, and have questions about their disaster assistance application, can call 1-888-294-2822. Those who register are asked to have pen and paper ready to take down their case number. The toll-free call takes about 20 minutes, and can be taken in any language, FEMA said. The call goes more quickly if residents have the following: Social Security number (including spouse’s) Address and zip code of the damaged property Directions to the damaged home or property Telephone numbers where FEMA can reach applicant Private insurance policy, if any Bank information to enable direct deposit Current mailing address The 53 parishes eligible for help with Hurricane Gustav losses include in this area St. Bernard, Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Tammany, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist and Tangipahoa. Man and woman booked with prostitution in Violet Nov 5, 2008 - A man and a woman were booked with prostitution on Tuesday night, Nov. 4, after sheriff’s deputies investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on a street in Violet, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Corey Campbell, 33, 2110 Bartolo Drive, Meraux, was parked on Stacie Driver in Violet about 9 p.m. and drove off when he saw a sheriff’s car but stopped on nearby Daniel Drive when he was pursued.  After deputies spoke with Campbell, it was determined he and the woman passenger, later identified as Cristal Strong, 24, of Tangipahoa Parish who has been living at 3211 Jupiter Drive in Chalmette, were going to have sex for money.  A deputy found $100 in cash in one of Campbell’s pants pockets, the sheriff said. Strong, who identified herself by another name, said she was a friend of Campbell, denied a prostitution act was about to take place, and also claimed not to have an arrest record. But when she and Campbell were taken to St. Bernard Parish Prison and she was fingerprinted and booked with prostitution, it was determined she had misrepresented her identity, the sheriff said. Her name is Cristal Strong and she was wanted for probation violation in Jefferson Parish. Campbell, also booked with prostitution, was being held in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond while Strong was being held in lieu of $40,000 bond.   Click Here to Return to the St. Bernard Sheriff Office Home Page