Crime update 4.28.07

Well, it's been a quiet week in...

...you know how the rest of it goes. But it has been a quiet week, crimewise, in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle, particularly compared to the chaos of last week when all hell broke loose. There have been a couple of car thefts and a couple of car break-ins, but no major attacks on residents of our neighborhoods.

LeRichelieu suspect apprehended: The big news, however, is that the NOPD did arrest a suspect in the robbery 4.18.07 at LeRichelieu Hotel. Tyrone J. Barnes was arrested Tuesday evening, 4.24.07, and booked for simple robbery and second-degree battery.

According to the NOPD report, a California man and his wife were standing on the front porch of the hotel at about 6 a.m. waiting for a cab to take them to the airport. The perpetrator approached the man from behind and applied a neck hold with one arm. He stuck his other hand in the victim's pocket. The victim resisted and their struggle carried them through the front entrance of the hotel into the lobby where they fell to the floor. The victim and his wife were yelling for help as the perpetrator was attempting to pull free. The victim, however, was holding the perpetrator's hand in his pocket to prevent him from taking his money. In an attempt to break free, the perpetrator began to bite the victim. A hotel employee pulled the perpetrator off of the victim. As he was pulled away, the perpetrator held on to approximately $250 from the victim's pocket. He
retained possession of the money and fled. The victim sustained severe bite wounds to his back and both arms. But in fleeing, the perpetrator dropped his own wallet containing his driver's license.

Based on the information in the wallet and a positive identification of the suspect from a photograph, the 8th District NOPD issued a warrant for the arrest of Barnes, a 40-year-old black man, 5'10", 150 pounds, whose last known address is 4212 Van Ave. in New Orleans. He had previous arrests for armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, theft, and possession of stolen property. He's being held at Central Lockup on $35,000 bond. His show-cause hearing is scheduled in court on 6.25.07 .

Other robbery not related: Some suspicion that an earlier robbery near the Maison Dupuy hotel at Burgundy and Toulouse on 4.15.07 at 5:15 a.m. proved untrue, though both perpetrators were originally described as black males having braided hair, about the same age, height and weight.

The victim in this case was a friend of the daughter of Betty & Bill Norris visiting from out of town--yes, those Norrises, who themselves have TWICE been victims of robberies this year in the Quarter. He was walking on Burgundy toward Canal when the perpetrator came up along side of him and struck him, knocking him to the ground and then took his wallet. The wallet contained the victim's ID, about $150 in cash, and credit/debit cards.

An 8th District detective is reviewing the hotel's security tapes and is checking into a business where the debit card was used after the robbery.

The perpetrator is described as a black male, about 40 years old, 5'10", 150 pounds, hair in braids, clean-shaven and dark skin, who was wearing a dark hooded sweat shirt and dark pants.

(If there's any good news in this, Betty says it is this: "One really nice thing that happened is the taxi cab that saw (the victim) walking back to his car...asked (the victim) if he needed a ride. (The victim) said he didn't have any money because he just got robbed. The taxi driver told him to get in anyway. (The victim) was so upset he couldn't remember the cross street on Burgundy where he had parked his car. The taxi drove him around until they found it. (The victim)'s going to get me his name and phone number so we can send this good citizen some business.")

Speaking of good citizens: The suspect chased down by a good citizen after Bill Norris was robbed in his driveway on 3.31.07 has been charged in a number of other robberies. There are now 24--count 'em 24--charges against Gary Lindsey for everything from armed robbery and pursesnatching to aggravated assault. He's got so many bonds slapped on him that he's not likely to leave jail before his first court hearing 6.1.07. If he's convicted, that's a lot of crimes solved with one act of courage by a citizen.

Crime on your block?: We're always interested in getting reports from residents of the Quarter and Triangle who have information about a crime in their neighborhoods. While we're working out the bugs of getting crime reports routinely and regularly from the 8th District, it helps if we have advance knowledge of incidents that we can ask the officers there about.

***

Please forward this message to anyone interested in the safety of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. To be added to our mailing list, send your name and email address to: NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 4.19.07

Then all hell broke loose...

It had been quiet, too quiet: Sounds like the beginning of a cheap detective novel, but it was all too real beginning this past Tuesday. Officers in the 8th District were marveling how quiet it had been crimewise in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle since Easter. Then Tuesday (4.17.07) there was a pursesnatching, an attempted carjacking, and 2 aggravated battery cases. That was just Tuesday; then Wednesday (4.18.07) came. There was a simple robbery at a Lower Quarter hotel in the early morning, then what was first reported as an armed robbery in the Marigny Triangle in the afternoon, turned out not to be.

Tuesday, 4.17.07:

Girls gone wild: 2 separate crimes Tuesday afternoon a half-hour apart on Burgundy Street are believed to be the work of 2 teenage girls.

At 2:30 p.m. at Burgundy and Orleans streets, a 41-year-old woman was approached from behind by 2 black girls who grabbed her bag containing $1,800 worth of cancer medication, her hospital paperwork, state ID card and Medicare health card, but no cash. The victim and a friend followed the thieves to the parking lot of the Best Western motel on North Rampart Street. The crooks had fled, but 8th District detectives are examining video surveillance tape from the motel which is believed to have images of the perpetrators.

At 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Burgundy Street, a woman driver who had parked her car and was talking on her cellphone was accosted by 2 black girls. One of the girls opened the driver's-side door and asked to use the victim's cellphone. When the woman refused, the other girl brandishing a wooden board demanded the woman's car keys. Refused again, the other girl tried pulling the woman from her car. As the victim attempted to close her car door and escape, one of the girls reached in and sprayed the victim with mace. Both perpetrators then fled down Burgundy Street toward Bienville Street.

In both cases, the descriptions of the perpetrators were similar. They were described as young black females, approximately 16-17 years old. One was described as about 5'4" and heavyset; the other was about 5'7" and slender. In the first incident the skinny girl had short red hair, possibly a wig, and in the second incident she was described as having long curly extensions; the fat girl's hair in the first incident was described as long and multi-colored. In both incidents, the skinny girl was described as wearing a red/black or red T-shirt and dark pants or blue jeans. The fat girl in one incident was said to be wearing a red/white shirt with a knee-length skirt; in the second incident she was said to be wearing a yellow shirt with black pants.

No good deed goes unpunished: A Baton Rouge man became a victim early Tuesday morning when he was attacked by a man whom he had given $1 about 45 minutes earlier. The 22-year-old white man was first approached by a black man on Bourbon Street about 5 a.m. who asked him for money. The man gave him a dollar. About 5:45 a.m., the same black man approached him again in the 800 block of Iberville Street and again asked for money. When the man refused this time, the black man became enraged and began striking the victim with a brick. The victim suffered a possible broken nose and left hand.

The perpetrator was described as about 45 years old, 5'10", 160 pounds, dark complexion, good teeth but unshaven and unkempt appearance, wearing a dark baseball cap.

Slashed, but kept cash: An employee leaving Irene's Cuisine about 11:45 p.m. Tuesday was slashed by a knife-wielding assailant. The man, 32, was walking down St. Philip Street toward Royal Street when he first noticed a black man following him. At Royal Street, the stalker asked him for a cigarette. When he told him he did not have one, the black man pulled a knife from his pants pocket and told the victim to empty his pockets and give him his money. The victim refused and the attacker swung his knife at the victim, cutting him on his upper left arm.

The attacker, who fled on foot toward Esplanade Avenue, was described as about 30 years old with a short afro and beard, wearing black pants and a navy-blue shirt.

Wednesday, 4.18.07:

Robber at LeRichelieu Hotel: A warrant has been issued for a suspect in the robbery of a California man at LeRichelieu Hotel on Wednesday at 6 a.m.

According to the police report by Detective D. DeJean: "The victim and his wife were standing on the front porch of the (hotel) waiting for a cab to take them to the airport. The perpetrator approached the victim from the rear and applied a neck hold with one arm. He stuck his other hand in the victim's pocket. The victim resisted and their struggle carried them through the front entrance of the hotel into the lobby where they fell to the floor. The victim and his wife were yelling for help and now the perpetrator was attempting to pull free. The victim, however, was holding his (the perpetrator's) hand in his pocket to prevent him from taking his money.

"In an attempt to break free, the perpetrator began to bite the victim. A hotel employee pulled the perpetrator from the victim. As he was pulled away, the perpetrator held on to approximately $250 from the victim's pocket. He retained possession of the money and fled...The victim sustained severe bite wounds to his back and both arms."

In fleeing, the robber dropped his own wallet with his driver's license in it. Based on that and a positive identification of the suspect from a photograph, the 8th District NOPD issued a warrant for the arrest of:

• Tyrone J. Barnes, a 40-year-old black man, 5'10", 150 pounds;
• Last known address is 4212 Van Ave. in New Orleans;
  
• Previously arrested for armed robbery, possession of a firearm by a felon, theft, and possession of stolen property;
• Wearing multi-colored jersey, dark pants, braided ponytail.
  

The suspect is still at large. NOPD officers are investigating whether he might be linked to two robberies on the Saturday before Easter (4.7.07) since they occurred about the same time of day.

Lesson learned: Many say--many on the campus of Virginia Tech--that early warning about the first shootings might have prevented more mayhem later. That is the principle behind NOcrimeline--to provide information about crimes as early as possible so residents of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle can take any precautions they deem necessary to protect themselves later.

For timely information--like that above--you should thank Capt. Edwin Hosli, 8th District NOPD commander, and Lt. Eddie Selby, commander of the district investigative unit, along with Sgt. Theresa D. Meunier. When this information began breaking yesterday, I was called several times with updates. Lt. Selby even offered to send a police car to pick me up and bring me down to the station at Royal and Conti streets to discuss the information and get printed reports (I declined and walked for the exercise). That kind of cooperation is vital in helping keep residents of the Quarter and Triangle safe.

Another lesson: At least 2 women on the Virginia Tech campus complained a couple of years ago about creepy behavior by the guy who went on to massacre so many. But when police apprehended him, they declined to press charges.

Case in point: This past week 2 of our subscribers reported crimes they heard about to NOcrimeline. One involved a tourist who was robbed last Saturday night and was going to go to the police station and report it; the 8th District NOPD have no record of it. The other involved a bartender who was badly beaten and cut during a robbery early Monday morning, but he declined to report it because he feared getting in trouble himself with the NOPD (outstanding warrant, maybe?)

If you don't report crimes, the NOPD can do nothing about them. If you don't report them, the perpetrators are still stalking the Quarter and Triangle looking for their next victims.

***

Please forward this message to anyone interested in safety in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. To be added to our mailing list, send your name and email address to: NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 4.13.07

Notes from NONPAC

Highlights of the 8th District NONPAC meeting 4/12: Perhaps because crime in the French Quarter and the Marigny Triangle has been on the quiet side for most of the past month, only about 2 dozen residents turned out for last night's meeting. Just because crime has not been rampant recently is no reason to let your guard down--citizen attendance at these monthly meetings signals your interest in keeping your neighborhood safe and your support for the 8th District officers who are trying to do that.

Lt. Ed Selby, subbing for Capt. Edwin Hosli, along with the assistance of Quality-of-Life Officer Roger Jones, fielded these concerns:

Where are the cops?: One citizen questioned why she saw 9 officers (NOPD and State Police) congregating on one corner one evening on Bourbon Street. "Why aren't they on my block patrolling?" she wanted to know.

Lt. Selby said that shouldn't be happening because Capt. Hosli has a rule that there are to be 2 officers per block on the "Bourbon Promenade" (the glittery stretch of the street devoted to nightlife) in the evening. He said he would raise the issue with the captain and the head of the State Police contingent in the Quarter.

He noted that the district's 108 officers were "stretched thin" (though the 8th District showed the biggest decrease in crime in the past 4 weeks of all the city's NOPD districts).

Deploying officers on scooters, he said, should improve patrolling in the Quarter and Triangle , though only 10 are in operation due to a lack of funds (any philanthropists out there?). Scooters slowly patrolling neighborhoods gives the officers the ability to scan the scene around them and to make contact with residents, unlike officers in cars--which the lieutenant and residents alike--criticized for driving around with windows up and often on a cellphone. "I think it ought to be against the law for an officer to be driving while on a cellphone," Lt. Selby added.

Regarding complaints from citizens who said some officers seem indifferent to their requests for assistance, Lt. Selby suggested getting the officer's badge number or his car number and report it to the district's Public Integrity Officer, Lt. D.J. Albert, noting that citizens didn't have to give their name to lodge a complaint.

The district doesn't have enough officers or cars to patrol regularly, Lt. Selby said. "They have to go where the calls are." But he pointed out, "We do tell an officer who has to write a report, to park his car in an area where there's been trouble and write the report in his car--that gives us visibility there."

When it was noted that the latest rash of armed robberies were committed by perpetrators in illegally parked cars with temporary tags, Lt. Selby told residents who noted something suspicious to "call and let the police check it out." Then he went further and gave the audience his cellphone number--234-8072--and told them to "call me if see something that makes you uncomfortable." He joked "I wouldn't be crazy about a call at 2 a.m.--but I guess I could always put in for overtime."

Can you hear me now?: Voices clamored complaints about the noise level on Bourbon Street. "I work in the Quarter and I'm trapped in it with the noise--and it's getting worse," one woman stammered with emotion. Others echoed the ongoing problem that has vexed neighbors for years.

Ofc. Jones noted that the NOPD's enforcement efforts are hampered by a restraining order that prevents the police from shutting down a noisy establishment. The dispute centers around "what is too loud?" and the lack of equipment to measure decibel levels emanating from the clubs. Laws are on the books which prevent clubs from placing speakers outside an establishment or directing speakers toward the street from less than 8 feet away (one officer supposedly has been known to disconnect the wires from speakers found in violation).

Ofc. Jones said citizens can file noise complaints with the city health department by obtaining a form from Room IW04 at City Hall; he said he would soon have forms available at the 8th District station at Royal and Conti streets. He urged residents to call him on his cellphone at 201-1520 if they had an urgent complaint.

NOcrimeline noted: Lt. Selby noted that the 8th District is the only NOPD district with a conduit to its constituents like NOcrimeline. "We hope we've started a trend here--we wish all districts could put out information so eloquently."

Capt. Hosli and his staff have begun supplying timely reports as crimes occur so residents of the district have current information that can help them avoid becoming a victim.

The monthly NONPAC (New Orleans Neighborhood Policing Anti-Crime Council) meetings are held the SECOND Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel, 621 St. Louis St.

***

Please forward this message to anyone interested in the safety of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. To be added to our mailing list, send your NAME and email address to: NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 4.10.07

Holiday mayhem

Busy Easter weekend: According to Sgt. Teri Meunier of the 8th District, these incidents kept the NOPD busy over the holiday weekend:

Robber $5.05 richer: A robber struck twice Saturday (3/7/07) morning, the first time at 6 a.m. in the 200 block of Burgundy Street and the other at 9:50 a.m. in the 900 block of Dauphine Street. Both victims were white males who work in the Quarter. Neither was seriously harmed.

In both cases, the men were on foot when grabbed by an unknown black male. In one case, the victim was pushed against his car and in the second, against a wall. He was given two $1 bills and a nickel by the first victim and took three $1 bills from the second victim's front pants pocket.

The same perpetrator is suspected in both robberies. He is described by the NOPD as:

• black male,
• 25-30 years old,
• tall,
• wearing blue jeans

(As a precaution, Sgt. Meunier suggests it might be wise to carry a few loose $1 bills just to placate a robber in a situation like this. Some folks carry a "throw"--a wad of blank paper wrapped by a real dollar bill or two and secured by a money clip--to throw on the ground in the case of a robbery to divert the robber.)

Purse snatching in parking garage: A couple returning to their parked car in the Wyndham Hotel parking garage at 3 a.m. Sunday (4/8/07) was accosted by a black female, 20-23 years old, who ran up and grabbed the woman's purse from her arm. The perpetrator then got into a gold 4-door vehicle and yelled to the driver (no description) to "drive!"

Battery by the river: A Gentilly area couple with two children were walking along the river on Sunday (4/8/07) just before 3 p.m . when an assailant jumped from the bushes and attacked them with an iron rod. He struck both parents and one of the children, who sustained minor bruises. Harbor Police and aquarium security personnel apprehended Roland Buckley, who appears to be a homeless person. He was charged with 3 counts of aggravated battery.

Gunshots, what gunshots?: Confusion still abounds over gunshots reported heard around 10 p.m. on 3/28/07 near Burgundy and Esplanade. Capt. Edwin Hosli of the 8th District has said he was told by NOPD personnel the noise came from a movie being filmed in that area.

But now another resident of the area says this is what she heard happened:

"A friend of mine and his acquaintance were walking down Burgundy. About a block in front of them, they saw what appeared to be a drug deal gone bad and one person was shot twice in the arm but not seriously injured. They asked the victim if he wanted them to call 911 or take him to the hospital. He declined, saying 'no cops', and took off before police arrived.

"This happened on 3/28/07, around 9 p.m. My friend related what he saw to the police, but apparently since they saw no victim, they filed no report."

Capt. Hosli's response to that second-hand report: "I find it hard to believe that the incident they described took place and I was not informed," pointing out, "If someone goes to any of the area hospitals with any type of gunshot or stab wound we are notified."

So, make believe or real life? If you see anyone with bandages on their arm, you might ask them what happened.

NONPAC meeting Thursday: For the latest on crime fighting in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle attend the NOPD 8th District's monthly NONPAC (New Orleans Neighborhood Policing Anti-Crime Council) this Thursday (4/12) at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel, 621 St. Louis St. (Same location the SECOND Thursday of every month.)

It will give you a chance to grill Capt. Hosli, the commander of the 8th District, and his lieutenants on crime problems in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle.

Be sure to come early--last month's meeting was filled to overflowing and had to be moved to the largest conference room in the Omni Royal. Your attendance will signal support for him and his officers as they try to solve our crime problems.

***

You are free to forward this message to anyone interested in the safety of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. To be added to our mailing list, send your name and email address to: NOcrimeline@gmail.com.

As always, your comments and suggests are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 4.7.07

Details on Norris robbery

Details on Norris robbery: Bond totaling $617,500 has been set for Gary Lindsey in the armed robbery 3/31/07 of Bill Norris at his home in the 1000 block of St. Philip Street. (Normally, we don't use the name of a victim unless it is general knowledge or the victim or family identifies him. Bill was identified as the victim by his son, Will.)

Lindsey, 38, whose last known address is 2925 St. Ann St., is charged with 15 offenses ranging from armed robbery with a firearm to assault and battery to numerous purse snatchings. A "show cause" hearing to determine if there's enough evidence to try him will be held 6/1/07 at 9 a.m. in Magistrate Court Section M1.

Will Norris and a neighbor identified as William Sullivan are credited for the apprehension of the alleged perpetrator who is suspected in as many as 20 similar robberies in the last two weeks. (Wouldn't it be nice if Crimestoppers awarded one of its $5,000 rewards retroactively to Sullivan for being instrumental in putting an end to this crime spree.)

Unlike the Times-Picayune's bungled story, here's what happened, according to the NOPD report:

"The son of the victim chased after the perpetrator and observed him getting into a black Mitsubishi Eclipse, 2 door, with a temp tag (which was parked at the intersection of St. Philip and Burgundy streets). The son flagged down a citizen and asked him to follow the vehicle. The Good Samaritan followed the perpetrator and called 911. He advised the dispatcher that he was behind the vehicle and gave each location
until NOPD units could flood the area.

"NOPD units followed the vehicle and attempted to stop the driver near the Lowe's on Elysian Fields. The driver refused to stop and led officers on a brief chase. The driver jumped out of the vehicle while it was still running in the area of Benefit and Touro streets. Officer Desmond Pratt and his partner Miquel Aubert chased the perpetrator on foot and apprehended him as he attempted to escape over a fence."

And all because two citizens chose to get involved.

What you can do: Once again, bold efforts by citizens led to the arrest of a perpetrator in a horrendous French Quarter crime. Similarly, the accurate description given by the Hubers after they were viciously mugged a month earlier aided in the apprehension of a suspect in their case and another case.

Bill's wife, Betty, who along with Bill were also victims of an armed robbery in January, points out that in both cases the perpetrators' cars were illegally parked close to an intersections and both cars had temporary paper tags. That highlights the need to be alert for things that are out of place, to be suspicious of unusual situations. Not every illegally parked car nor every car with temporary tags harbors thugs, but watch for them and if they look out of place in your neighborhood, call the police at 821-2222.

Unlike regular license plates with their easy-to-remember combination of 3 letters and 3 digits, these paper tags with 10 (?) digits and usually pasted in a rear tinted window are almost impossible to read or remember--a helpful disguise for a car being used in a crime. The police might do well to check cars with temporary tags, usually used on a car when it is sold. They'd have probable cause to stop them based on the number of cars with temporary tags used in recent robberies. And it's a rare used car that doesn't have some mechanical defect that has yet to be repaired, which would also give the police probable cause. Never know what or who they might find in that car.

Heard gunshots?: Reports of gunfire around 10 p.m. on 3/28/07 near Burgundy and Esplanade followed by 10 or so police cars swarming the area had neighbors alarmed. Turns out, according to 8th District Capt. Edwin Hosli, the commotion was all for the sake of a movie being filmed in the area. In a neighborhood already jittery from such things, it would be nice if the NOPD would alert residents to phony film incidents that shouldn't trigger alarm.

(Speaking of which, doesn't it strike you as curious that the head of the Homicide Division would be out protecting Brad Pitt's pitutti while he's making a movie, when in the meanwhile the murderer of Helen Hill is still running loose? Hopefully things will get better--he's since been replaced by Capt. Kevin Anderson, former commander of the 8th District.)

Scooters stuck: The 8th District has trained 8 more officers to patrol on scooters, but efforts to get more of them rolling is hampered by budget constraints. Perhaps there's a group (like NOLAAgainstCrime or Cops8 which have raised funds in the past to aid the 8th District) which could take the lead and help Capt. Hosli get the additional dollars he needs to put more scooters out on the streets of the Quarter and Marigny. You can call him at 658-6080.

Dog park alert: Following complaints that "gutter punks" hanging out in Cabrini Park were sleeping there, destroying property, and intimidating residents, Capt. Hosli says, "I will notify the platoons to increase the patrols in the park."

Let's hear from you: More often than not, the information we've used here has come from residents of the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle when they've noticed crimes or situations that threaten the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Let us know what you observe--it may help prevent a crime or remedy a bad situation.

***

Please feel free to forward this message to anyone interested in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. To be added to our mailing list, send your email address to: NOcrimeline@gmail.com .

As always, your comments and suggests are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 3.31.07

Robber arrested...

Armed robber arrested: A suspect has been arrested in a bold armed robbery at noon on Saturday, 3.31.07. According to the NOPD and the victim's family, the robbery occurred as the victim and his wife were returning home from voting at the polls to the 1000 block of St. Philip Street. After the victim backed his car into the driveway and before the electronic gate fully closed, the perpetrator grabbed the gate and forced his way inside. He grabbed the victim, forced him to the ground at knife-point and took his wallet. The victim's screams alerted his wife, who was already in the house, and his grown son, both of whom came to the door and scared the perpetrator off with their shouts. The perpetrator got in his car and fled toward Burgundy Street. A neighbor, alerted by the victim's family's shouts, followed the perpetrator into the Ninth Ward where NOPD officers apprehended the suspect.

According to the 8th District, the captive--who was positively identified by the victim--is also suspected of similar robberies in several other NOPD districts. He is in custody and is being investigated in connection with the other robberies.

Ironically--or coincidentally--the victim and his wife were also the victims of an armed robbery in January at Bourbon and Gov. Nicholls streets. The perpetrators in that robbery and several other incidents in the French Quarter were later arrested.

How this robbery could have been avoided is hard to imagine. But it does highlight the importance of being vigilant at any time of the day at any place you are, no matter how safe it might otherwise seem.

***

As always, your comments and suggests are welcome.

Thom Kahler