Crime update 11.12.07

Two down...

...and how many more to go?: Lt. Eddie Selby's detectives hauled in one of the teenage robbers last Friday, just one day after beefing up daylight patrols in the Marigny Triangle to curb the rash of robberies by juveniles there. Only Marshan Bowden, charged with first-degree robbery and simple robbery, is not a juvenile. (He must have forgotten he had a birthday just 12 days before the crime he's charged with. Welcome to the big time little man!)

Bowden, 17, is charged in the first of several robberies, armed and otherwise, by black kids that have terrorized the Triangle for the past month. On 10.12.07 at 5:30 p.m. at Frenchmen and Burgundy streets, one of 3 punks punched a 24-year-old white guy who lives in the 3700 block of Dauphine Street in the mouth, knocking him off his bicycle. Another of the hoodlums took the bike and rode off. The young thugs were described as wearing white shirts and khaki pants--the uniform of McDonogh 35 High School.

Two days later on 10.14.07 at 2 p.m. at the same location, a gang of 5 or 6 black boys--one on a bicycle--approached a group of white women walking to a house tour were accosted. The punk on the bicycle grabbed the purse of a 30-year-old white woman who lives in the 2100 block of N. Rampart Street. The victim pursued the kid on the bike up Touro Street and retrieved her purse when its strap broke and it fell from the crook's grasp. Again, the robber was described as wearing a white muscle shirt and khaki pants.

Detectives also hauled in a 15-year-old juvenile. Other kids involved in the other robberies are believed to be the 12- and 13-year-old younger brothers of the older punks who live outside the Triangle. Bowden lived on Frenchmen Street, just across St. Claude Avenue, not far from the crime scene. Police have their eyes on 4 juveniles and are surveilling their residences in the same neighborhood to monitor their comings and goings.

Now 11-year-olds?: We have more details on an armed robbery that happened last Tuesday (11.6.07) morning about 8:20 a.m. in the Triangle. A 29-year-old white woman who lives in the 900 block of Dauphine Street was robbed just as she was about to enter her car which was parked in the 1400 block of Dauphine, just off Esplanade Avenue.

The victim turned to see a black kid pointing a chrome .22-cal. semi-automatic pistol at her and demanding "Gimme your purse!" She thought he was kidding, but he reiterated: "Gimme your f*****g purse!" and began waving the gun in a more menancing manner. She refused and began screaming to alert the neighbors to call 911.

A second black youth came around from the back of the car and grabbed the woman's purse; in the ensuing tug-of-war, the contents of the purse spilled to the ground. The 2 young punks fled up Kerlerec Street with the victim and 2 neighbors--one reported armed with a shotgun--in pursuit. The victim managed to retrieve her ID, credit cards, $50 cash and a check for $2,700; the thieves made off with the purse which still contained a pepper grinder, manicure set, and contact lens case.

The victim described one of her assailants as "a kid, not even a teenager," and estimated his age as 11 years old. He was 5'3" tall, slim with a medium complexion, a short, tight afro haircut, and wore a light-colored, possibly white, T-shirt and jeans. The other perpetrator was described as 15 years old, 5'7" to 5'8"tall, very thin, wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and a red baseball cap.

Reporting streetlights out: Ambushed by queries about burned-out streetlights at last month's NONPAC meeting, Mary Cunningham of Councilman James Carter's office launched a preemptive strike at this month's meeting. Before the meeting got rolling, she outlined he procedure for reporting streetlight problems:

• Call the city at 658-2299;
• Give the exact location of the light, preferably the street address it is in front of, the pole number, and the nearest cross street;
• You will be given a reference number for future inquiries about the same problem;
  
• The Department of Public Works will send out someone to inspect the problem and repairs should be completed in 6-8 weeks.)

Or you can call her in Carter's office at 658-1030. She said she had already reported 14 problem streetlights in the French Quarter in the past week.

Fighting auto theft: Auto thefts in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD/Warehouse District) were down the past week, though they've already topped 300 for the year. And the way some of the thefts occur continues to boggle the mind.

"One car was taken by the girlfriend--now ex-girlfriend--of a guy here and being used by the new boyfriend in Alabama," said Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District.

And many "thefts" are reported by tourists exiting a bar too inebriated to find their vehicle. "I guess that's a blessing in disguise--if you're that drunk you shouldn't be finding your car," the captain said.

Capt. Hosli invited Peter Perrien, a former NOPD officer now with the LoJack Corp., to the NONPAC meeting to talk about ways to thwart auto thieves. He explained that a car thief armed only with a screwdriver could steal most any car in a matter of minutes; and within an hour and half of stealing it, the thief could change the VIN numbers to deter identifying it.

Calling 911 if you see someone lurking suspiciously around cars in your neighborhood is the first defense. He cautioned also to be aware of tow trucks without a company insignia on the door--they are often used to steal a car under the guise of a tow job.

Among the things you can do (as outlined in a pamphlet he made available):

Use common sense:

• Never leave leave a spare key in or on your vehicle;
• Close and lock all windows and doors;
• Park in a well-lit area;
• When at home, keep your vehicle in your garage;
• Don't leave valuables in your vehicle, especially where they can be seen;
• Never, ever leave the area while your car is running.

Use a theft deterrent device that add a layer of protection that may deter some thieves:

• An audible device like an alarm may be enough to scare off the amateur thief or make the professional choose another target;
• A visible device like a steering wheel lock (such as The Club), theft deterrent decal or window etching.

Use a vehicle immobilizer:

• Install a smart key or fuel cut-off device;
• A kill switch or starter, ignition and fuel disabler.

Use a vehicle recovery system: If your vehicle is desirable enough, the pros can outsmart just about any theft deterrent, systems like the LoJack Stolen Vehicle Recovery System can help authorities track down and recover your vehicle if it's stolen.

LoJack is a small wireless transmitter that, when your car is reported stolen, is activated and immediately indicates the location of the vehicle. Perhaps a little pricey at $695, it's a one-time fee and it stays with the vehicle for life. There are also LoJack devices for motorcycles, construction equipment and laptop computers. Capt. Hosli reported solving a recent case by tracking a laptop equipped with LoJack.

For more information, you can contact Peter Perrien at pperrien@lojack.com.

Speaking of hot cars: You might have noticed the annual parade of Ferraris through the French Quarter was not as noisy as usual this year. Capt. Hosli interspersed a patrol car between every 3 Ferraris to slow them down. In past years, their parade through the Quarter often resembled a European road race, with the cars revving their high-powered engines and accelerating rapidly; this year, the slowed-down cars were over-heating.

***

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Crime update 11.06.07

Reign of terror...

Black boys terrorizing Marigny Triangle: It just keeps getting worse. Teenage thugs struck twice Monday afternoon within 15 minutes of each other. Both times their attempted robberies were thwarted. The first time because the would-be victim spoke Spanish and they didn't (hell, most of them don't even speak English well). The second time because a birthday boy with gift cash pinned to his shirt laughed in their faces.

• In the first case, a 51-year-old white woman standing outside her home in the 1800 block of Burgundy at 4 p.m. when was accosted by 2 black boys, believed to be 12 to 15 years of age. One of the kids, holding a gray semi-automatic handgun, demanded her purse. She said something in Spanish and walked into her house. The perplexed robbers began talking to each other about not understanding Spanish, then fled up Kerlerec Street empty-handed.
  

The kid with the gun was described as 5'4" tall, weighing 110 pounds, wearing a black T-shirt and black pants. His accomplice was only described as wearing a white shirt and brown pants.

• In the second case, a white couple, a guy celebrating his 28th birthday and his 34-year-old girlfriend, who live in the 1300 block of Decatur Street, were standing in the intersection of Esplanade Avenue and Chartres Street about 4:15 p.m. when they were approached by 2 black boys. One pulled out a small black semi-automatic handgun and demanded the man "Give me the money on your shirt!," referring to the dollar bills friends had pinned to his shirt as a birthday gift. His girlfriend thought it was a joke and mocked the would-be robber by asking "Are you even 21 years old?" The flustered kid took the magazine out of his gun to prove "This is a real f*****g gun!" The victims began to laugh and the perpetrators fled up Esplanade, again empty-handed.
  

The perpetrators were thought to be 15 years old, both dressed in black shirts and dark-colored shorts, with short twist-style haircuts.

• A 51-year-old white Metairie woman was not as lucky Saturday night. She was walking with 2 female friends to her car in the 1400 block of Dauphine Street at about 8:30 p.m. when 2 black kids coming from Esplanade Avenue confronted them. One of the perpetrators pulled a black semi-automatic handgun and demanded "Give me your purse! I've got a gun! I will shoot!" She surrendered her purse containing $50, credit cards, and her cellphone. The robbers fled up Dauphine into the depths of the Marigny.
  

One punk was described as 16 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 120 pounds, with a dark complexion and no facial hair, wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt and dark jeans. The other was about 17 years old, 5'10" tall, 145 pounds.

• A NOcrimeline subscriber reported there was another robbery this morning in front of 1426 Dauphine St. at 8:20 a.m. (The police report on that is not yet available.) A neighbor pursued the black boys down Kerelec Street but lost sight of them around St. Anthony Street. She said the boys looked to be 12 or 13 years old, wearing baggy pants and hooded sweatshirts.

Now the GOOD news: Lt. Eddie Selby, head of the 8th District Investigative Unit, is back on the job and starting tomorrow he's going to begin spinning a web to ensnare these teenage thugs who've become increasingly bold in the last few weeks in robbing the Triangle.

After lengthy meetings yesterday and today with Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, Lt. Selby decided to expand his anti-robbery task force that's been so successful in the Lower French Quarter and Triangle after the rash of armed robberies last July. At least 8 more officers will go out as early as 3 p.m., on foot, in cars, and on scooters to ring the Triangle. "Let them come to us" when they try to flee, he says.

"We have a good idea who they are," he says, and plans surveillance of a house where they think they're coming from.

The pussy-footing courts--afraid of traumatizing the juveniles (sounds like "Dear Officer Krupke" from West Side Story)--won't let the police get pictures of the punks for a photo line up to show the victims without probable cause. Might be a good time to tighten the noose of curfew laws. Is that "probable cause" enough for you?

Et tu, DA?: Before you get carried away celebrating the exit of District Attorney Eddie Jordan, the new DA may not be much of an improvement. Keva Landrum-Johnson, who took over for Jordan, was his chief of screening who reviewed arrests and determined whether charges should be brought. But get this: Less than a month before becoming DA, she cut loose a suspect the victim had positively identified as the man who attempted to rob him in the French Quarter in September.

No reason was given why she refused to prosecute the charge of attempted armed robbery against Charles J. Bush Jr. on 10.03.07. So this guy, whose last known address was in the 1500 block of Conti Street (that's right, it's in the Iberville Project) is on the loose, along with his accomplice who was never caught.

The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. on 9.02.07 when 2 black men sitting on the steps at 1030 Burgundy St. stopped a 39-year-old white man who lives in the 900 block of Gov. Nicholls Street and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him. The victim exclaimed "I don't have anything," emptying his pockets to show them he had only credit cards on him. The would-be robbers ordered him down on the ground and fled on foot down Burgundy, turning onto Ursulines Avenue going toward N. Rampart Street.

This case was notable for its tremendous amount of citizen involvement in alerting police to the suspects. A man sitting on his porch in the 1100 block of Burgundy Street called 911 when he saw two black men acting suspiciously by following solitary pedestrians up and down the block. A couple out walking their dog had also noticed the suspicious duo and flagged down the police car that was dispatched.

About 45 minutes later, police apprehended a man just 5 blocks away on N. Rampart who fit the description the victim gave: 5'7" tall, weighing 150 pounds, dark complexion, wearing a long red shirt, a red cap, long black denim shorts, black and white hi-top shoes. The victim was taken to that scene and, according to the police report, "immediately and positively identified" Bush as one of the men who held him up.

So, go figure why the new DA in her old capacity put a guy back on the street after the victim was so sure he had been robbed by him. Kind of hard to miss a guy in a red shirt. It would be a good question to ask her when she's coronated as Jordan's heir.

Murder suspect caught or not?: The NOPD reported a suspect has been arrested in the brutal beating of a beloved French Quarter icon, Jon Newlin, and the murder of a neighbor. Cleveland Moore, a friend of Newlin's, who occasionally stayed with Newlin at his home in the 700 block of Marigny Street but disappeared after the crime, was reportedly arrested 10.26.07.

Newlin who clerked at a bookstore on Chartres Street in the French Quarter, had a legion of fans. Said one, " Everyone in the Quarter loved to shop at Librarie Bookstore just to listen to him talk about books--I think he has read everything ever written and remembers it all even now!"

However, considering the way the NOPD public information officers mucked up their report, it's hard to tell if they have a suspect in custody or not.

Their press release starts off, "Members of the New Orleans Police Department arrested 41-year-old Cleveland Moore in connection with the Nov. 15, 2005, murder of Joyce Rader that occurred in the 700 block of Marigny Street." Then the last paragraph says, "Today shortly after 10 a.m. Tallahassee Sheriff's Department apprehended Moore in Tallahassee Florida and booked him for First Degree Murder." It's doubtful the NOPD's jurisdiction extends to Florida; and it's not the sheriff's department in Florida is Leon County, not "Tallahassee." Website checks of both Leon County and OPP here do not show Moore as an inmate. So where is he? (And we were incredulous at Jordan's claims he couldn't get straight information from the cops.)

Maybe now there's hope NOPD homicide detectives will also solve the murders of Helen Hill and Robin Malta, two other Marigny's residents with French Quarter connections. If the public relations officers don't get involved.

Auto thefts, of course: Auto thefts continue to abound in the 8th District, but there's no reason to make it too easy on the thieves.

A patron of Harrah's Casino turned his car over to the gambling den's valet on 10.28.07 . When he returned a few hours later, he was told his silver-colored 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee had been taken by "an unknown black male." Looks like they get you coming or going.

A driver parked his car in the 1900 block of Dauphine Street and left it running with the keys in the ignition while he went inside. In less than a minute, he heard the engine revving and went outside just in time to see his green 1997 Ford Mustang being driven away.

Burglaries in close proximity: Burglaries in the 8th District are generally random, but 2 in the past week occurred a block from each other with a similar M.O.s.

The first, on 10.28.07 occurred in the 1700 block of N. Rampart Street. At about 7 p.m., a resident reported hearing noise coming from her roommate's room, but knew her roommate wasn't home. When police arrived, they discovered the bathroom window in the roommate's room was open and the burglar bars had been removed. Missing was a laptop computer and external hard drive.

The second occurred nearly a week later in the 1700 block of Burgundy Street. A resident left his apartment at about 3 p.m. on 11.02.07 and returned the next day about noon. He noticed a window open. Missing were two 6-string guitars, a BC Rico and a Ibanez.

Not so fun Halloween: A 24-year-old black woman, walking with her 19-year-old white female friend, in the 1000 block of Burgundy Street at 11:30 p.m. Halloween night, was robbed of her purse containing both of their property. A black man came up behind them and grabbed the purse, the victim released her grip on it to avoid being injured. He fled down Burgundy toward Esplanade Avenue.

The thief was described as 35 to 45 years old, 5'7" tall, 160 pounds, unshaven with a goatee, unkempt short bushy hair, gold upper teeth, wearing a light colored shirt and dark pants. Best guess is that wasn't a costume, so keep an eye out for him.

A waste of beer: A would-be thief allegedly threw his cup of breakfast beer in the face of a 66-year-old man walking in the 800 block of Toulouse Street at 9:30 a.m. last Tuesday (10.30.07) and tried to snatch his wallet. He failed and the old man pursued him until police arrived and apprehended the beer-bereft bandit.

Arrested and charged for attempted simple robbery was Daniel Eaton, a 47-year-old white man. (We'd show you his picture, but for some reason Sheriff Gusman never seems to have pictures of white suspects. Hmmm, curious.)

NONPAC's new home: The monthly meeting of NONPAC (New Orleans Neighborhood Policing Anti-Crime Council) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. will be held again at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse St. (at Burgundy Street) in the Renoir Room.

This looks to be the new regular meeting place since The Omni Royal Orleans has claimed to be short on space the past 2 months and has been less than hospitable in recent months.

NONPAC is a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with the commanders of the 8th District and voice your concerns. It would be a good time to ask Capt. Hosli what he's going to do about these teenage punks who are running amuck in the Quarter and Triangle.

***

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 10.29.07

Just when you thought...

Robberies resume: I was just thinking the other day how long it had been since there was an armed robbery in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD). I even looked back in my files to finally find one on 9.23.07 in the CBD; the last one in the Quarter was 9.18.07. I should have been knocking wood.

Now the kids have got guns in the Marigny: Last Thursday, 2 white female tourists from Nevada, one 24 and the other 26 years old, where held up at gunpoint by 4 black boys ranging in age from 14 to 16 years old. The women were walking on Frenchmen Street about 7:45 p.m. As they turned on to St. Claude Avenue, the gang came up behind them.

One punk pointed a small silver-plated semi-automatic pistol at the older woman and demanded her purse. Another thug pointed a similar pistol at the younger woman's head and demanded her purse. Both women complied. The gang fled across St. Claude Avenue.

The 2 gunmen were both described as wearing dark blue hooded sweatshirts, blue baseball caps, and blue jeans. One boy is about 5'4" tall, weighing 120 pounds; the other is 5'11" talk, weighing 170 pounds. The other 2 perpetrators were described as wearing white T-shirts and blue jeans, 5'5" tall, weighing 140 pounds.

On Saturday afternoon--in broad daylight--a 30-year-old waitress walking home at 4 p.m. from her job at Wasabi Sushi & Bar at Burgundy and Frenchmen streets was held up block from home at Dauphine and Frenchmen streets.

Her assailant pointed a gray semi-automatic handgun at her and demanded her purse. She dropped the purse, he picked it up and fled up Frenchmen and across St. Claude Avenue.

The thief was described as a black boy, 14 years of age, 5'3" tall, weighing 130 pounds, medium afro hair, wearing green long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.

Bars knocked over: A gunman held up the Rawhide Lounge, 740 Burgundy St., on Thursday at about 3:20 a.m. when the bar was deserted and about to close.

The robber pointed a silver-plated semi-automatic handgun at the bartender and jumped over the bar , demanding money. The thief told the bartender, "Don't be stupid" and opened the cash register himself and took an undisclosed amount of money. He then took $920 from the bartender's back pocket.

The crook was described as a black man, about 5'8" tall, weighing 160 pounds, dressed all in black including a stocking over his head, a jacket and jeans, a baseball cap, and white shoes. He was armed with a silver-plated semi-automatic handgun.

This morning--at the exact time and only a block away from Thursday's bar robbery--a lone robber held up the Ninth Circle bar, 700 N. Rampart St.

He handed the bartender a note and asked him if he knew where the address on the note was. The bartender read the note, which said: "Don't scream. I'll shoot. Just fill up the bag." the bartender looked up and saw the thief pointing a silver-plated semi-automatic pistol at him. The bartender emptied the cash register of about $1,000 and put it in the black satin bag the robber was holding. The crook fled down Rampart Street.

The perpetrator was described as a black man, 25 to 30 years old, 5'6" tall, wearing a white baseball cap, a white T-shirt and dark pants.

Beware of gutter punks: Two white guys--described by the victim as "gutter punks"--attacked a 22-year-old black man on Saturday, 10.20.07, at 2:30 a.m. while he was walking on Esplanade Avenue at Chartres Street.

One of the gutter punks pulled a knife and stabbed the victim on the right fore arm. The victim, who lives in the 600 block of N. Rampart Street, was taken to Tulane Hospital where he was treated and released.

One suspect was described as 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, black hair, wearing a black shirt and a black jacket with numerous patches on it, and had piercings in his nose, lip and eyebrow. The second suspect had blond hair and a thin build.

Pursesnatching: A 25-year-old local woman who was walking to her car at St. Peter and Decatur streets on Sunday, 10.21.07, at 12:30 a.m. had her purse snatched. She felt a tug on her arm from behind. When she turned around she saw a black man running away and hopping into a car.

Nearly 300 auto thefts: As Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District reported at the last NONPAC meeting, his district is plagued by auto thefts. As of last Wednesday, there had been 359 auto thefts reported in the 8th District (French Quarter, CBD, Marigny Triangle) so far this year. But 77 of these have been "unfounded"--someone forgets where they parked their car so thinks it's been stolen, a drunk comes out of a bar and can't find his car, an illegally-parked car has been towed, etc. That leaves 282 that were actually stolen--about one a day!

We're still trying to get a handle on the auto thefts and where and when they're occurring. The worst area in the French Quarter seems to be Burgundy and Dauphine streets from Conti Street to Toulouse Street--a concentrated 2-block area!

Burglar goes bye-bye: The burglar who was so fond of Decatur Street businesses last summer is going away for awhile. Peter J. Burke, 29, was sentenced by District Judge Frank Marullo on 9.18.07 to 4 years at hard labor on 5 counts of burglary.

Burke was arrested for a rash of burglaries that plagued Decatur Street businesses during the month of May. Burke had such a fondness for one particular business--Cajun Party at 907 Decatur St.--that detectives set up surveillance on the building about 1 a.m. on 5.18.07 and by 2 a.m. observed Burke attempting to enter the building. The arrested him and charged him with 4 burglaries there and one attempt.

Pray for Eddie: Keep Lt. Eddie Selby in your prayers. He had to go under the knife recently at EJGH and is recuperating now. But, as you can imagine, he's chomping at the bit to get back on the job. He's missed--not only by us, but by Capt. Hosli too.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 10.20.07

Be careful out there...

More on teen gang: Others have had encounters with that teen gang that NOcrimeline reported was terrorizing the Marigny Triangle last weekend.

Just before the gang attacked a group of women at Frenchmen and Burgundy streets and snatched one of their purses, another woman and her husband encountered the gang of 5 or 6 black boys in the 1900 block of N. Rampart Street at about 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

According to the NOcrimeline subscriber's email: "They were walking down the middle of the street, carrying a 2x4 and other lumber. They were twirling this lumber, and when it looked like they were about to hit a car, my boyfriend who was outside yelled at them. At which point, they started to approach him while screaming they were going to '**** him up.' "

The man grabbed his cellphone and told them he was calling 911, and they fled. The couple was surprised when "we actually had a cop car come," though they were less than thrilled when the officers "seemed less than concerned." (If you encounter officers like this, get their badge numbers or, at least, car number, and let Capt. Hosli know at 658-6080.)

In another incident about 6 weeks ago, according to another NOcrimeline subscriber, a gang--this time numbering about 10 and matching the description of the punks in last weekend's episodes--accosted her husband while he was on his bike at Bourbon and Ursulines Streets in the French Quarter at about 8:30 p.m.

They pursued him while he searched for a public place that was open where he could stop and call the police. When he got to the Golden Lantern at Royal and Barracks Street he called 911 and then chased after the kids.

"He found them all gathered one block away, laughing, pumping their arms, simply relishing in their latest hurrah," his wife wrote. He again called 911 to report the gang's location, but no police car showed up. He called 911 again and again, trying to update the operator on the gang's movement and location, but no police car ever responded. Walking home, he flagged down a State Police car but the troopers were less than concerned about his ordeal and drove off in the opposite direction.

Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, is going to sic his undercover cops on this gang which is giving a bad name to those who wear McDonogh 35's white and khaki.

The gang has been described as 5 to 10 high school age black boys wearing white shirts and khaki pants. Capt. Hosli believes the young thugs are from the 5th District.

"The problem is that since they are juveniles they can't locate any photos to do a line up," he says. "We are well aware of the problem--it's not fallen on deaf ears."

Keep your guard up! They may be just teenage punks now, but they're the hoodlums of tomorrow unless something changes. Chief Riley was quoted this week that the crime problem begins with the kids and their parents failure to supervise them. So how about rounding up these terrorists and have a sit-down with their parents?

Rape on the rise: The French Quarter, which rarely has reported rapes and only 2 reported through August, experienced 3 in 10 days this month.

Because sex crimes are turned over immediately by 8th District cops to the sex crime squad, details are scant. But it appears the 3 latest cases involve tourists, at least as victims, and not local residents.

A rape on 10.7.07 was reported at 9 p.m. at 135 St. Charles St., location of the Royal St. Charles Hotel. Two rapes were reported at 8:50 a.m. and 9:53 a.m. on 10.16.07 at 1630 Canal St., the Day's Inn, and at 400 Bourbon St., the Old Absinthe House Bar.

While perhaps a tourist thing, it does taint the reputation of the city--particularly while the police chiefs are convening.

Maybe crime pays: No more had Capt. Hosli announced that the 8th District has been plagued with 300 car thefts (not to mention nearly as many break-ins) so far this year, than DA Eddie Jordan's office bargained away charges against a multiple offender and a judge set the perp free.

In July, 8th District cops arrived on the scene of a car burglary in progress in the 900 block of Poydras Street. They found a Chevy Trail Blazer with the passenger-side window broken out and a black man fitting the description a witness reported crawling out of the rear door of the vehicle with items from in it. When officers searched the perp's pockets, they found a checkbook and credit card taken from another vehicle that had been broken into in the 500 block of Julia Street earlier in the evening.

They booked Ernest Arceneaux, 42, with one count each of simple burglary and criminal damage under $500 and two counts of possession of stolen property. By the time his case wended its way through the court last Thursday (10.18.07) the 5 charges had been reduced to one: theft of goods under $300. Arceneaux pled guilty and the judge let him walk with a 90-day suspended sentence and 90 days INACTIVE probation. Oh, and the judge fined him--now get this--$200 for victim restitution. Didn't they originally say the car was damaged to a tune of $500 and that the value of goods stolen was $300? Maybe crime pays after all.

Back in 1995, this same crook pled guilty to pursesnatching and was given a 10-year sentence as a second-time offender. In 2003, the suspect pled guilty to simple burglary when the DA agreed not to charge him as a multiple offender; he was sentenced to 5 years in prison. Why didn't the DA go after him as a multiple offender and put him away for good? Maybe it would help cut down on all the car break-ins we have in the French Quarter.

GO VOTE: There's still time today to go vote--the polls are open until 8 p.m. Remember, who we voted for--or failed to vote for--is why Eddie Jordan is DA today...and why Warren Riley is running the NOPD instead of sheriff running OPP.

***

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.

Thom Kahler

Crime update 10.16.07

Watch out for these punks!

Dangerous corner: A gang of black kids hanging out at Frenchmen and Burgundy streets in the Marigny Triangle may be responsible for 2 robberies in broad daylight in 2 days.

On Friday, 10.12.07, at 5:30 p.m. one of the 3 punks punched a 24-year-old white guy who lives in the 3700 block of Dauphine in the mouth, knocking him off his bicycle. Another of the hoodlums took the bike and rode off. The young thugs were described as wearing white shirts and khaki pants--the uniform of McDonogh 35 High School.

On Sunday, 10.14.07, at 2 p.m. a gang of 5 or 6 black boys--one on a bicycle--approached a group of white women walking to a house tour were accosted. The punk on the bicycle grabbed the purse of a 30-year-old white woman who lives in the 2100 block of N. Rampart Street. The victim pursued the kid on the bike up Touro Street and retrieved her purse when its strap broke and it fell from the crook's grasp. Again, the robber was described as wearing a white muscle shirt and khaki pants.

If you see groups of black boys in white shirts and khaki pants hanging out on this corner--Frenchmen and Burgundy--or anywhere in your neighborhood, assume they're the bad guys and call the NOPD--first 911 and then the 8th District at 658-6080. Perhaps some 8th District cops will start patrolling the area more heavily now that these punks have tasted crime.

Notes from NONPAC: Unlike last month's no-shows at the monthly meeting of NONPAC ( New Orleans Neighborhood Policing Anti-Crime Council), about 3 dozen citizens showed up Thursday night to show they cared about crime in the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle and CBD.

"Biggest thing" in crime: While recalling how few crimes have occurred recently in the 8th District, Capt. Edwin Hosli conceded "the biggest thing now" is auto thefts. So far this year there have been approximately 300 in the 8th alone (there were 10 last week and 13 so far this week through Friday). Some arrests have been made, but we've been unable to get information on those yet.

NOcrimeline is going to start listing the location and date of auto thefts in the district to try to give citizens a warning of where cars are most likely to be stolen from. Thank Ofc. Brian Shubert, who supplies all our other crime reports, for his extra effort in compiling this information--particularly since the NOPD hasn't yet fixed his computer.

Not Utopia, but...: The suspect in the knife attack on 5 patrons of the Utopia Night Club was released from OPP last week. A magistrate reduced the charges against Ray Boudreaux, a former Tulane football player, from attempted first-degree murder to one count of aggravated assault and 4 of aggravated battery and lowered his bail from a half-million bucks to $225,000 which his family posted as a personal surety bond.

Capt. Hosli said the incident 9.16.07 at the Bourbon Street club "may have sparked something good." In this case, a fight in the club spilled out onto Bourbon Street where the stabbings took place. "The days of pushing the problem out into the street is over," Hosli asserted.

He and some of his officers have met with the Utopia bar owner and owners of some other establishments and have worked out "how they are going to handle incidents in the bar and when they are going to call us," Hosli said.

***

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com.


Thom Kahler