Crime update 8.23.07

The heat is on...

It's hard to tell whether it's the record-breaking temperatures or the heated-up undercover patrols in recent weeks, but crime has been virtually non-existent in the 8th District. Yeah, there have been a couple of minor (if there's such a thing) robberies up around Canal Street near the CBD, but nothing to worry the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle neighborhoods. Even the auto thieves have slacked off dramatically, though car break-ins are still a pain.

Shot down and charged up: The guy who thought he could out draw the NOPD got out of the hospital Tuesday and was arrested and then charged yesterday with 2 counts of armed robbery with a firearm.

Vincent Beverly, 18, who was shot on Chartres Street by a member of the vaunted undercover patrol on 8.2.07 was charged with robbing 2 Mississippi men on 7.23.07 in the 1400 block of Royal Street and robbing a Times-Picayune editor on 7.28.07 in the 1200 block of Bourbon Street. Beverly, whose last known address was 6001 Downman Rd., was also charged for aggravated assault with a firearm and simple battery for his confrontation with the 2 NOPD officers. He is being held on $107,500 bond pending a preliminary hearing 9.5.07 in magistrate court.

The suspect reportedly will be paralyzed for life from the single gunshot wound. And with his legal future clouded as well, it seems like it was a pretty stupid way to make a couple of hundred bucks--the amount the robberies netted.

Be on the look out: The NOPD has issued an arrest warrant for a guy who apparently likes to work close to home. Christopher Hoard, 18, whose last known address is 308 Burgundy St., is wanted for the armed robbery 8.6.07 of 2 Baton Rouge men in the 200 block of Burgundy. Hoard is a black man, 5'9" tall, weighing 165 pounds, possibly with dreadlocks.

"What we have here...": A failure to communicate seems to have merchants in the 900 block of Royal Street stirred up and the NOPD feeling unjustly accused of failing to respond.

What we know is this: On Sunday morning, 8.12.07, a man attempted to rape a high school junior working as a clerk in Sabai Jewelry, 924 Royal St. An art gallery owner named Mr. Smith walked by, saw the attack and thwarted it. He called 911 at 10:21 a.m. while he pursued the perpetrator who turned down St. Philip Street toward N. Rampart Street.

Where it gets murky: According to Lt. Reginald A. Jacque of the 8th District, police units were in the area within 5 minutes. But by that time the perpetrator had fled into Treme, according to Mr. Smith. The cops on the scene "could not locate Mr. Smith who was on the move and hung-up on the complaint (911) operator. Police were further kept out of the loop because the address of the original incident was never given."

Units from both the 8th and 1st District (across Rampart) scoured the area for a perpetrator described as a black man, light complexion, approximately 48 years old, bald headed, and gold teeth. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

Further complicating the investigation is the victim's apparent lack of cooperation with the police. The store owner said the girl was starting school the next day but that he would tell her that the police needed to talk to her to get information they needed to do an investigation.

Lesson to be learned: When you report a crime, stay on the phone with 911 for as long as it takes and no matter how dumb or repetitious the operator's questions sound. I've had my own problems with 911 in the past, but I've usually been surprised at how quickly help has come. And follow up with a call to the 8th District station (658-6080) to make sure the police have all the information they need from you.

Huh? : If you go to the NOPD's website and look at its phone directory, it lists Capt. Edwin Hosli as the commander of the 7th District and Capt. Kevin Anderson as the commander of the 8th. The directory is not outdated; it lists the captain who replaced Hosli as commander of the 2nd District. Hosli, who's never commanded the 7th, assures us "I'm not going anywhere." And Anderson's not coming back here.

What's disturbing is this: If Big Chief Warren Riley can't keep track of his commanders, how can he fight crime? If he doesn't know where his top brass is, how in hell will he ever find where the bad guys are? You can argue, well, it wasn't Riley himself who made the mistake. Probably true enough, but it was done by someone whom he counts on to help fight crime. If they can't do this simple task correctly, what confidence do you have that they could, oh say, solve the murders of Helen Hill or Robin Malta or Chris Roberts? Every one seems to want Eddie Jordan's scalp to solve the crime problem. Perhaps they need to look at the other culprits in the mix.

And we're glad too: Jimmy Delery, who lives in the 2nd District where Capt. Hosli and his sidekick, Lt. Eddie Selby, came from, says he "can tell you in no uncertain terms the two Eddies are some of the best and most professional cops in this city. We miss Hosli and Selby. I just hope Riley realizes want kind of good police officers they are!" We hope so too--and that he knows where they are.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler