Women targeted again

Shades of the past: Reminiscent of attacks last year by a gang of black boys on bicycles in the Marigny Triangle, a revival of that mayhem was quickly nipped in the bud Wednesday evening (11.26.08) when 8th District cops arrested 2 black boys for robbing 2 white women at gunpoint.

• In the first robbery, at 5:50 p.m. in the 700 block of Kerlerec Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets), a woman was accosted by 4 black boys, 2 of whom pulled her from her bicycle while the other 2 tried to grab her purse from the bicycle's basket. When she grabbed her purse back, one of the punks pulled a pistol and the victim fled on foot. The boys fled toward N. Rampart Street.

• In the second incident at 6:35 p.m. in the 1800 block of Burgundy Street (between St. Anthony and Pauger streets), a woman on foot was accosted by 4 black boys on bicycles, one of whom pulled a pistol and demanded her purse while another one grabbed her purse from her shoulder. The 4 punks then rode up St. Anthony toward St. Claude Avenue.

A short time later, cops apprehended 2 of the punks, each of whom was positively identified by both victims. Because they are only 15 and 16 years old, police refuse to release their names. Two others are still at large and could strike again at any time.

Sounds like it's time for a public spanking in Jackson Square.

Tourist trapped: A black dude, obviously not from around here, was apparently so drunk when he left a Bourbon Street club early Tuesday morning (11.25.08) around 4:45 a.m. that he didn't realize he'd been shot when he first heard gunshots while on the way to his car.

He and his friend looked around but did not see anyone. But then he felt a burning sensation in his leg and realized he was bleeding. His friend drove him to a hospital in Jefferson Parish.

When he reported the incident to the NOPD, he said he knew how to get back to his car, but he doesn't remember what street it was on. After questioning by 8th District detectives, they concluded the shooting occurred in the 900 block of Bienville Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) but where unable to locate the scene of the crime.

We concluded the guy was a tourist and drunk because no one from around here in their right mind would be walking in that neighborhood at that hour, unarmed.

Better late than never: When the police issue an arrest warrant after identifying a suspect in a crime, they don't always remember to report the actual arrest when they apprehend the guy. We found such a case in our files while researching another case this past week.

It seems 8th District cops arrested Duane Lawless, then 33, just days after issuing a warrant for his arrest in the armed robbery at 7:15 p.m. on 12.17.07 in the 900 block of Frenchmen Street. The victims, 2 white men, one 52, the other 47, were walking to their home in the 2000 block of N. Rampart Street just around the corner, when they were stopped by 2 black men who asked for directions before pulling handguns and taking the victims' wallets, a cellphone, and a set of keys.

The warrant was issued for Lawless, now 34, after he was observed on video surveillance trying to use one of the stolen credit cards at a Walgreen's store. He was positively identified from a photo lineup by one of the victims.

Lawless, whose last known address was 2110 N. Rocheblave St., has numerous previous arrests for robbery and drug offenses. He is 5'10" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with a small twist hairdo, and was wearing a gray sweatshirt at the time of this robbery.

There is no indication that his accomplice, who was not identified, and is described as about 25 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 160 pounds, and wearing all black and a knit cap, has been apprehended.

Lawless, arrested on 12.21.07, is still sitting in OPP in lieu of $200,000 for 2 armed robberies. His next court date is 12.08.08.

No wonder they break into cars: A black guy, Corey W. Robertson, 30, pled guilty to burglary last week after being arrested 5.1.08 for breaking into a car in the 1000 block of St. Philip Street in the middle of the afternoon.

He was sentenced to 2 years in prison by Criminial District Court Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson, the former DA, who suspended the sentence and put him on probation.

Robertson spent only 2 weeks in jail because Magistrate Anthony Russo him out on his own recognizance on 5.15.08.

Just kidding: A jury in Criminal District Court apparently believed Ervin Marshall was just kidding when it found him not guilty of attempted robbery last week.

Marshall, then 35, was arrested after an incident 12.18.07 at N. Rampart and Toulouse streets. The victim, celebrating his 42nd birthday, said he was followed by a black man when he exited a bar. He said the man stepped in front of him as he crossed the street, stuck his hand inside his waistband and said "I know you got that money--give it up!" When the victim, who lives in the 2200 block of Orleans Avenue, grabbed his cellphone instead to call 911, the would-be robber said he was just joking and fled down Toulouse on foot.

Marshall, now 36, spent nearly a year in OPP awaiting for the wheels of justice to slowly grind to a conclusion.

No such thing as a "minor" crime: The Metropolitan Crime Commission, and others, have argued that the NOPD spends too much time on what it calls "minor" crimes. But last week, Uptown in the 2nd District, officers on at least 2 occasions proved there's no such thing as a minor crime.

During a routine traffic stop, officers discovered the driver had 2 outstanding arrest warrants out on him: one for an attempted murder that happened only a week or so before. They also found the fugitive had a .40-calibre handgun and a 9mm handgun, both fully loaded, hidden in his car.

A few days later, officers who had been aggressively patrolling the Hollygrove neighborhood following a number of shootings, stopped another driver on a traffic violation and arrested him for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

If you pay attention to the "minor" problems, you often solve the major ones. Think that might work in the French Quarter?

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

Thom Kahler