Crime update 5.24.07

Cops and Robbers

They've got their guns out again: The bad boys are running lose again, robbing three people in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle in the last 3 days. Again, these are expurgated accounts, since Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the NOPD's 8th District, continues to censor the victim's name, address, age, sex and race (more on that later) from the police reports made available to us:

• Bienville and Clinton streets, Sunday, 5.20.07, about 2 a.m., a black man coming out of a bar said he was robbed by another black man who took $80 in cash from him and 2 silver chains, one valued at $4,000 and the other at $8,500. The report is so abbreviated it doesn't list a description of the perpetrator.

• 1917 Burgundy St., Monday, 5.21.07, at about 8:30 p.m. the victim, a deliveryman for China Wall restaurant, was making a delivery when he was approached by a black male, who pointed a dark handgun at him and stated, "Give me all the money". The victim complied and handed the perpetrator $5. A witness, who was awaiting the food delivery, came out of his residence and asked the perpetrator what he was doing. He heard the perpetrator ask the victim for money to eat. The perpetrator then looked at the witness and fled on Burgundy towards Pauger Street. The witness noticed the deliveryman was visibly upset and asked him what happened. The deliveryman, who spoke very little English, stated,"He had a gun, he took my money".

The perpetrator was described as a black male, 5'8" tall, athletic build, 19-25 years of age, short hair, dark skin.

A canvass of the area by police located a camera attached to the house at North Rampart and Pauger streets. A follow up revealed it was not working at the time of the incident. Duh? Great crime prevention.

• 700 block of Dumaine Street, Monday, 5.21.07, about 10 p.m. the victim was walking home when a black male on a mountain bike wearing all dark-colored clothing stopped along side of him and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him and ordered the victim to empty his pockets. The victim took out less then $20 and some credit cards from his pockets and dropped them to the ground. The perpetrator picked up the money and told the victim to pick up his credit cards. The perpetrator rode off towards Rampart Street. The victim walked on home and called the police.

St. Mary's Church (?) purse snatching: There's conflicting information about this case: Lt. Eddie Selby reported a purse snatching at Ursulines and Chartres streets on Tuesday, 5.23.07, at about 1 p.m. Detective Elizabet Garcia's report said the incident occurred just after noon while the victim was walking in the vicinity of Gov. Nicholls and Chartres streets. Citizens on the scene reported a man had grabbed a woman's purse while she was standing on the steps of St. Mary's Church in the 1100 block of Chartres, which is between Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines.

Based on eyewitness accounts, police stopped a suspect in the 1100 block of St. Bernard Avenue, about 8 blocks from the scene of the crime, about 15 minutes later. One witness positively identified him as the perpetrator, but because the victim hadn't reported the crime, the suspect was released. When the victim reported the robbery 2 hours later, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Stephen J. Butler, a 39-year-old black man whose last known address is 1019 Kerlerec St., on a charge of simple robbery and he was booked into Central Lockup a little after 2 a.m. on Wednesday, 5.23.07.

How rumors get started: A subscriber asked, " What's this I hear about assaults and robbery on females around the NOAC area? The truth is there was a lone purse snatching reported at Iberville and Burgundy streets, around the corner from the New Orleans Athletic Club on 5.12.07 at about 8 a.m. A 57-year-old white woman was walking from her home in the French Quarter to NOAC, which she does 2 to 4 times a week, when she was accosted from the rear by a black man who grabbed her purse and pushed her to the ground. He fled on Iberville toward Rampart Street. He was described as 25-30 years old, about 5'6"-5'8", approximately 165-185 pounds, short hair and clean appearance, wearing a black shirt and pants.

This is the only purse snatching reported recently in that area, but it is a neighborhood with perpetual problems and bears watching if you must walk in that area.

Pickpockets on the prowl: Black women, perhaps working in a team, are targeting late night denizens of the street, who may or may not be tourists (if only we had information on the victims!), offering sexual favors. Nothing particularly amazing in that, but here's how they operate: in one case, the woman perpetrator hollered at a guy near the casino and followed him into his hotel, where she grabbed his privates--while extracting his wallet from his pants. Another woman was even smoother as she approached a guy in the 300 block of Royal Street and offered her favors, which he declined. But when he got back to his hotel, he realized his wallet was missing.

Both of the women were black, one was described as age unknown, about 5'4" tall, weighing 100 pounds, wearing a light green tank top and blue jean skirt, and a blue "do" rag on her head. The other was estimated to be 32 years old, 5'4" tall, 130 pounds, wearing a red T-shirt, shorts, and white tennis shoes. Police are pretty sure they aren't dealing with college coeds, considering one of the perps reportedly shouted to her female accomplices, "he doesn't not want to" when the victim declined her advances.

Auto thefts abound: There were 13 more auto thefts last week, with most in the CBD or Upper Quarter. On top of that, there were 18 car break-ins. What's going to deter that? A good reason to show up at NONPAC meetings (second Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Royal Orleans) and query Captain Hosli.

Speaking of which: One disgruntled NOcrimeline subscriber, responding to my exhortation to attend NONPAC meetings, wrote:

"I have been going to the meeting month after month. I'm tired of hearing the same thing each month. I feel like the police are giving us the same old standard lip service. We complain about the same thing each month and get the same old response, yet nothing changes in the neighborhood. Sure, police react when called on 911, but you'd think that if they continue to be called out to the same corner for the same problems on a regular basis they might just make that one of the places the officers would patrol regularly. But they don't!

"I have done my part by showing up to make my complaints known. And the police respond. They should do their part by doing what they say they will do to address/correct the issues. But they don't! Sure ,Lt. Selby gave us his cell number to call him. But I feel that if I come to the meeting to address issues and he tells me this will be taken care of, then I shouldn't have to nag him by making calls at all hours.

"Sorry, I don't have time to waste and I'm just discouraged with the results."

Another subscriber feels the meetings are held too early:

"I would like to offer one suggestion about the NONPAC meetings. I would very much like to attend the meetings, but I do not leave my office until 5:30 p.m., sometimes 6 p.m. I am sure there are others out there who would also like to attend, but 5:30 is too early to be practical, especially for those of us that work out of the French Quarter, or who work past 5 p.m. Would it be possible to set the meetings for 6 or 6:30?

What subscribers think about details on victims: Several subscribers weighed in on Capt. Hosli's censorship of information about victims from the police reports the 8th District releases to NOcrimeline. Here's what they had to say:

• "I can understand not using the victim's name, but I agree with you that male or female, how old, what race, and whether a tourist or local makes a difference in how we evaluate the risk of certain crimes happening to us."

• "I think it is just as important as the descriptions of the criminals, i.e. whether a female was walking alone or with a group, whether couples, loners, or the elderly seem to be the targets of the criminal du jour, and as in Gregg & Belinda's (the Hubers) case, whether the targets are white women. It helps us to know that information, and I think most victims would not care if their descriptions and names were revealed (as you said, it makes it more human and in many cases advises friends and neighbors who may not know, and can offer aid to their friends). Perhaps Capt. Hosli should add that question to the report form: if it's okay to reveal their name in a crime email."
  

• "Stripping the name and addresses is fine, but the sex, gender and age is important, relevant data. This sort of data is what helps my girlfriend and I formulate safety policies for given streets and times. For example, if we know single women are targeted, but a women and man together are not, then we will modifier our behavior accordingly."

Still would like the input of other subscribers to let Capt. Hosli know what you think about the expurgated police reports with no information on victims, where they live, their age, their sex or race.

***

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 5.19.07

Some reports, some arrests...

Capt. Hosli reporting: Nothing in our last update (5.9.07) should have implied a lack of willingness on the part of the NOPD's 8th District to give information--it merely reflected our frustration in getting crime reports in a timely fashion. As Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th, reported at the NONPAC meeting on 5.10.07, "the procedure has been worked out--now we've got to get all our people on the same page."

Lt. Eddie Selby, commander of the 8th's investigative unit, has routinely been calling NOcrimeline when his guys have collared a criminal, filling in details even before a report has been filed. Can't get any faster service than that.

Your emails to the Captain saying you wanted information on crimes reported to NOcrimeline were effective. What I didn't realize was they all went to his Blackberry--and he was still fielding calls at home until 2 a.m. "I got THE message," Capt. Hosli conceded.

The Captain told the meager audience (more on that later) at NONPAC, "My goal is to be as transparent as possible and give out all that I can." However, he added, "Not victims' names--that's sensitive."

Early on, Capt. Hosli and I agreed NOcrimeline wouldn't use the names of victims. (In the couple of cases we did, the names were obtained from other sources and used with the victim's permission.) But the Captain has been redacting the names from the reports we get, along with the address, sex, race and age of the victims. "I don't even read that information on the reports I get--they're all the same to me," he explained to me. I'd argue that it might be well being that egalitarian in his approach to solving crime, but knowing whether the victim was male or female, how old, what race, and whether a tourist or local, makes the victim a real person--not just a statistic reported to the FBI. In the tight-knit neighborhood that is the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle, where everyone seems to know everyone else, information on victims does creep out--albeit sometimes inaccurately. The lack of information from official sources is a breeding ground for rumors. Let me know what you think.

Where were you? Once again, the crowd--hard to call it that--at the monthly NONPAC (New Orleans Neighborhood Policing Anti-Crime Council ) meeting 5.10.07 was only about two dozen citizens. It seems like it takes a major crime wave to bring residents of the 8th District out in force to question what is being done about the latest affront to public safety. I must admit in the past I've been discouraged from attending by just hearing a recitation of statistics from the current commanding captain. But Capt. Hosli and his staff seem to be genuinely concerned about your complaints and try to come up with answers to your queries. If nothing else, it's a good opportunity to be face-to-face with the guys you expect to keep your neighborhood safe. And to show you really care about safety issues in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle.

NONPAC meetings are the second Thursday of every month at 5:30 p.m. at the Omni Royal Orleans, 621 St. Louis St.

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Lt. Selby and his men and women of law enforcement have been hauling bad boys off the street at a pretty good clip in the past 10 days or so--faster, in fact, than I can write them all down. They've arrested:

• Malcolm Patton, a 27-year-old black man whose last known address was 1512 St. Anthony St., may not have seen all this trouble coming when he allegedly tried to rob the DejaVu Bar at 400 Dauphine St. on 5.10.07 at about 8:30 a.m. He supposedly handed the woman tending bar a note which said, "I have a gun, give me your money". The bartender told the subject "get the f*** out of here, there are cops all over." He left empty-handed and fled down Conti Street, where in the 1000 block he attempted to take the purse of a 68-year-old woman who was going to work at the Wax Museum. She screamed and a man who was parking his car came to her aid, wrestling Patton to the ground where Patton allegedly bit the citizen on the finger. Patton was finally subdued with the help of a second man who helped hold Patton until the police arrived.

Patton, described by Capt. Hosli as "a crackhead", was taken to University Hospital, where he received treatment for a fractured sinus and cuts and scrapes; doctors there confirmed he was a known HIV patient. According to the Detective Jerusha Hillman, Patton "repeatedly apologized for committing the crimes" and stated "he was forced to do these crimes by two unknown black men who are harassing him constantly. Patton stated the people who told him to do these crimes, beat him with a pipe and pistol whipped him to make him do it." The detective observed no marks on Patton.

Patton was charged with attempted armed robbery, simple battery, purse snatching, crimes against a victim over 65, and intentional exposure to AIDS. He is being held on $97,500 bond, awaiting a hearing on 5.25.07.

• Odell Flagg, a 17-year-old black man whose last known address was 1408 Hancock St., Gretna, was charged with simple robbery on 5.14.07. The victim and a friend were walking in the 600 block of Conti Street by the Hotel Monteleone garage about 11:55 a.m. when two black men came up behind them. One grabbed her clutch purse containing about $25 and the duo fled. After a description of the perpetrators was broadcast, officers in just moments spotted men matching the description in the 100 block of North Peters Street. Flagg was apprehended but his accomplice eluded capture.

Flagg is being held on $15,000 bond, awaiting a hearing on 7.14.07.

• Jason J. Ruiz, a 24-year-old white man, was charged with simple battery and aggravated assault. The police report is incomplete, but according to Lt. Selby officers arrested Ruiz and confiscated a gun after shots were fired into the air at Julia and S. Peters streets about 2 a.m. on 5.13.07.

• Peter J. Burke, a 29-year-old white man, was arrested Saturday (5.18.07) and charged with four counts of business burglary. His arrest may solve the rash of burglaries that have plagued Decatur Street businesses this month. According to Lt. Selby, detectives set up surveillance on a Decatur Street building about 1 a.m. Saturday and by 2 p.m. observed Burke attempting to enter the building. He said efforts will be made to link Burke with other business burglaries in the 8th District.

His bond was set at $200,000 pending a hearing 7.17.07.

• A warrant has been issued for Joshua Williams, a black male born 11.16.84, in connection with an armed robbery in the 1000 block of Conti Street "two or three weeks ago," according to Lt. Selby.

Where's your car? Auto thefts are soaring in the 8th District with 28 in the last 2 weeks and a total of 42 since the beginning of April. On top of that, there have been 15 car break-ins since 5.6.07. While a good number of the thefts occur in the CBD and closer to Canal Street in the Upper Quarter, there's been an increase in them in the more residential Lower Quarter.

It's probably one of the hardest crimes to defense against. Capt. Hosli didn't respond to a query with any thoughts he might have on preventing your car from being stolen. At least one officer suggested using something like The Club, a bar that locks across your steering wheel. It's not impervious to theft, but if thieves see it there they might think you're serious about security and look for an easier target.

If your car is stolen, don't wait for the police to find it, suggests one of our readers who has had her car stolen. She says, "Don't wait and think someone is out there looking for your stolen car, the police do not have time--it is best to go and look for yourself if you really want the car back."

She says: "The favorite dumping spots for stolen cars after they have been stripped are: 1) in the area between St. Bernard at Rampart and St. Roch, one block away from the river paralleling Rampart. (I think it is called St. Claude at that point); 2) across the Industrial Canal and the first and second streets from the canal and to the left of St. Claude."

Not all cars reported stolen are. Every commander of the 8th I've talked with over the years has lamented the number of drunks who report their cars stolen when they can't find them after emerging from a watering hole. Capt. Hosli at the last NONPAC meeting told of security cameras showing one owner who reported his car stolen driving it out of a parking lot. "We'll arrest him when we find him," he stated.

Re: Huber robbery: The defendant in the brutal robbery of Gregg and Belinda Huber pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Thursday (5.17.07). Ronald J. Martin, 30, was charged with second-degree battery and 2 counts of aggravated armed robbery on 3.13.07 for the robbery 2.28.07 at Gov. Nicholls and Burgundy streets. He is being held on $425,000 bond. His accomplice who was driving the vehicle used in the robbery is still at large.

***

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 5.9.07

What IS happening?

Unfortunately there's a question mark behind that phrase. It's been like pulling teeth to get reports about crimes in the French Quarter and the Marigny Triangle this past week.

Finally, late Tuesday afternoon (5.8.07) we received reports of two armed robberies that happened almost a week earlier! We never did reports on two cases of aggravated battery, though we were told those were actually simple battery--the only difference, I guess, is whether you get hit with a weapon ("aggravated") or fists ("simple").

The idea behind NOcrimeline was that Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the NOPD's 8th District, and his staff would inform the residents of his district as soon as possible when a crime occurred so they'd be more vigilant and take precautions to keep themselves safe. If this is important to you--as one of nearly 400 subscribers to NOcrimeline--make it a point to show up at Thursday (5.10.07) evening's NONPAC meeting at 5:30 p.m . at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel, 621 St. Louis St.

Let Capt. Hosli know these crime reports are important to you. If you can't make the meeting, perhaps email him at EHosli@cityofno.com.

Robbery suspect arrested: 8th District officers did arrest one suspect in connection with 2 of the 3 armed robberies in the area this past week, one at Annunciation and Poeyfarre streets in the CBD on Sunday (4.29.07) at 4:25 a.m. and the other at Royal and Gov. Nicholls streets in the Quarter on Tuesday (5.1.07) at 3:19 a.m.

James Allen, 19, is being held on $325,000 bond for 2 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, one count each of attempted 2nd-degree murder, felon with a firearm, and probation violation. It looks like he decided to go big time this time--a year ago he pled guilty to possession of crack cocaine and got 3 years probation. He'll go to court July 3 to see if there's enough evidence against him to prosecute him for these major-league offenses.

The other robbery this past week was actually only an attempt, but the victim was knifed. The victim was walking in the 700 block of Conti Street about 12:45 a.m. when he was accosted by a black male in his early 20s, approximately 6' tall, weighing 160 lbs. The victim refused to give up his wallet and the perpetrator pulled a knife and the two began to fight. The victim was slashed on his right forearm and the perpetrator fled. The victim recovered the contents of his wallet which had scattered on the sidewalk and sought treatment at the hospital for his wound.

No charges in batteries: The two battery cases which were apparently changed from "aggravated" to "simple" occurred on Wednesday (5.2.07) at 3 a.m. at 1100 Decatur St. and on Friday (5.4.07) at 12:30 a.m. at 701 Royal St. The 8th District couldn't supply any further information nor any reports on those cases.

On top of that: Besides the armed robberies, the pace of auto thefts has picked up dramatically--jumping from 5 the week before to 11 this week, plus a few auto break-ins thrown in. Go back and read Quality-of-Life Officer Roger Jones' rules for protecting your car that we published on Wednesday (5.2.07).

Business burglaries seem to be on the bound too. There were 4 last week and 5 this week, including 3 in the Quarter.

Confusion abounds: Even the Big City Daily has problems getting straight information from the NOPD. The Times-Picayune had two reports of crime in the Quarter in its Police Reports on Saturday (5.5.07) that have confusing information. One was a stabbing in the 300 block of Royal Street on Wednesday (5.2.07) at 3:15 a.m. but staffers at the 8th District station could find no such report.

The other item was a robbery said to have occurred at Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets on Tuesday (5.1.07) at 3:19 a.m. The date and time match the robbery at Royal and Gov. Nicholls streets in the police report. However, even in the text of that report, the victim reported been accosted by the perpetrator at Chartres and Gov. Nicholls streets. So somewhere in that 3-block stretch the crime likely occurred.

It's scary to know that accurate information is so difficult to come by. How can you protect yourself if you don't know what IS really happening?

***

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 5.2.07

Quiet, except for auto thefts...

With 14 auto thefts and another 5 auto break-ins in the last two weeks in the CBD, French Quarter and Marigny Triangle, the NOPD's 8th District Quality-of-Life Officer, Roger Jones Jr., has put together what he calls "Officer Roger's Rules: The Holy Trinity to safe parking and vehicle safety."

In his own words:

"Hello good citizens. I have put together these three simple and very helpful tips that might ensure you to having a vehicle to come back to as well as intact whenever going out at anytime of the day or night.

Rule One: I see this one a lot. Now most folks spend a lot of money and time in preparation of going out. That is why it behooves me to ponder why they choose to chintz out on paying to park in a reputable and safe parking area. On average some people may spend a least about $300 on a night onto town but when it comes to paying to park they turn into Ebenezer Scrooge. So what do they do? Park in a desolate, secluded and unlit area in a bad neighborhood or they pay some guy named Smokey (with only 3 teeth I his mouth) to park on property that is not even his to begin with (and some even give him the keys). And they wondered why their vehicle was now permanently air conditioned or just simply did a David Copperfield. I also call this one the priceless rule:

Filling up your car or truck to go out: $65
Cool clothes to make you look like the coolest thing since top model: $ 450
Dinner, movie and entertainment: $250

Being too cheap to pay $10-$25 at a reputable parking lot or garage...priceless.

Folks! Before you got out, find out what type of area you are going out to so you can know the safest and well-lit area to park if you choose to park on the street. Also, check the Internet for established and reputable parking areas near where you are going. Follow these rules and you will always find your car the way you left it.

Rule Two: This one I like to call the herd-of-cattle-going-over-the-cliff. If some of you have ever watched this you may ask the question: If the cow in front goes over the cliff, then why do the cattle behind them continue and do the same thing, knowing full well that they are going to their deaths. Maybe it is because they are dumb animals that cannot think two seconds in front of them. That is why we humans who can think and reason are at the top of the food chain (or least that is what they tell us in school). My point to all this is very simple: Just because the guy in front of you parked illegally or is parking his car near a demilitarized zone means that you have to do the same thing. Keep in mind the person in front of you may also think that a peanut and mayonnaise sandwich is a delicious meal. That perfect parking spot that no one else has seemed to have parked probably is vacant for a reason. If it looks to good to be true then it probably is (either unsafe or illegal). Remember, all that glitters is not gold.

Rule Three: Now we all know that by law your vehicle is considered to be an extension of your home, but people let's not take it so literally! Your vehicle's dashboard is just a dashboard, not a dresser top or makeshift jewelry box. Don't leave your bling or any other items of value in plain view for all to see. With technology comes responsibility. Lap tops, portable DVD and CD players--your front seat is not your entertainment center. Before you exit your vehicle put your toys away, either underneath your seat or in your trunk. Now folks, keep this in mind, if you are going to do this in an area where there are about thousand eyes watching you from outside where you are parking then all this is futile. Do this in an area where there are as few spectators as possible.

And there you have it guys and gals. It's not rocket science, nor is it Einstein's Theory of Relativity. It's just good old fashion common sense. Learn it, love it, and live it!"

Again, thanks to Ofc. Roger Jones Jr. for this. He may be reached at the 8th District station, 658-6080, on his cellphone, 201-1520, or by email at NOpolice29@yahoo.com.

***

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