Suspicious minds

Chasing the truth: NOcrimeline always welcomes information from its subscribers. It sometimes is ahead of the official reports and sometimes it provides details the NOPD is unwilling to. But to be useful, it has to be accurate.

It seems like I've spent all week bugging Maj. Hosli about crimes people think happened and about rumors they've heard here and there. To the 8th District commander's credit, he has dutifully and patiently tracked every one of them down to give the facts as he can find them.

It began a couple of weeks ago with a NOcrimeline subscriber's query about what he called "the brutal beating and robbery (the assailant used a lead pipe repeatedly and with much damage even after Kevin [the victim] was unconscious)" which he said happened in the 900 block of Conti Street on 4.24.08 around 11 p.m.

"The mugger got off with his wallet, money and keys and left him in a pool of blood in the street," he added. He reported his friend was due to undergo surgery 4.28.08 at University Hospital to try to make bone repairs.

I checked the police reports that the 8th District sends out and found no crime like that reported for 4.24.08, but that there was one a similar one on 4.26.08; I asked was he sure of the date?

His response: "It is verifiable that Kev is in the hospital. Could there NOT be a police report when an ambulance scrapes a body off the street and rushes him to the ER?"

In those cases, says Maj. Hosli, EMS and the hospital usually notify the NOPD.

Now Kevin's friend says, "When the ETs asked the policeman about a report of the mugging, the cop said (according to Kev), 'We don't need a report...he was in a fight'. Kevin is now doing a police report (by email) refuting that."

This was too much for Maj. Hosli. He noted that, if the victim was beaten "unconscious," there must be witnesses who told him the assailant continued to beat him after he was knocked out. So Maj. Hosli sent a detective to the hospital on Thursday (5.7.08) to see if he could find the "victim"; he couldn't.

"I welcome "Kevin" to make a report," Maj. Hosli replied. "I just sent one of my detectives to University Hospital to check on Charles "Kevin" Lenhart. Unless he is also using a different name, he has not been in the hospital in the last couple of months."

So what is our "informant" trying to pull? Trying to manufacture "proof" the police are not reporting all the crime in the French Quarter? If you know Charles "Kevin" Lenhart as well as our "informant" thinks he does, or if you have information about this incident, contact Maj. Hosli at Ehosli@cityofno.com. I think Maj. Hosli has bent over backwards to try to get to the bottom of this effort to malign his crime reporting.

Another rumor: Another NOcrimeline subscriber says she heard from 2 different sources that the kid who was arrested for all those robberies was actually 9 years old, rather than 14. Asked were she heard that, she replied:

"My husband was chatting with a Guardian Angel at the post office across from the Blacksmith Shop...The Guardian Angel told my husband to be careful while walking around the Lower Quarter...that the bad guys are younger than we might think. Husband responded that he was aware of the 14-year-olds carrying guns, and the Guardian Angel told him 'younger than that–how about 9 years old?'

"The other source, an acquaintance of mine, mentioned in passing that she overheard 2 cops speaking on the subject of the 9-year-old caught for the robbery on Burgundy Street."

She speculated that the police might have lied about the kid's age because there would be public outrage if the robber was as young as 9 (there's enough outrage over 14).

Maj. Hosli delved into it and replied: "His date of birth is 9.20.93. 14 years old. It appears your source gave you bad information," adding rather emphatically, "The truth is that if he would have been 9 years old, I would have reported him as being 9 years old."

I believe him. I also believe the source heard what she heard. Does this mean the Guardian Angels, who tout their close relationship with the NOPD's 8th District, are trying to be self-important with supposedly "exclusive" information they've picked up from god-knows-where? And what about those cops? More rent-a-cops (like in the infamous Vietnamese cop incident) spouting off?

They fought the law, the law won: 8th District officers several suspects for robberies and assaults this past week:

• Rodney Jones, 42, (pictured) black male, 5'10" tall, weighs 160 pounds: Charged with simple robbery in an assault on a white man on Wednesday (5.7.08) at 10:05 p.m. in the 1100 block of Bourbon Street.

• Kardell Smith,19, a black male, 5'11" tall, weighs 160 pounds: Charged with aggravated assault after an altercation with a white man and a black man, bouncers at a business at 227 Bourbon St. on Tuesday (5.6.08) at 1:20 a.m. Smith allegedly pulled a gun and pointed it at the bouncers when they followed him to the 100 block of Bourbon Street. Smith, though a defendant in a cocaine drug trial that's been dragging through the court since 2006, managed to make $15,000 bond and walk out of OPP in this case.

• Kenric Wilson, 21, a black male, 5'10" tall, weighing 170 pounds: is wanted on a warrant charging him with the robbery of a white woman last Saturday (5.3.08) at 4:15 a.m. at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann streets.

Auto thieves caught: Contrary to popular belief, the NOPD does, every once in a while, catch thieves who break into cars. Arrested recently and charged with simple burglary and damage to state property were:

• Floyd Tyuse, 25, (pictured top) black male, 6' tall, 160 pounds. Arrested by 8th District Officers Brandon Ludwig and Billy Tregle for auto burglary at Burgundy and Conti streets on Thursday (5.8.08). He's being held in OPP in lieu of a $30,000 bond.

This dude didn't know when he had it good. He was just released a month ago when the DA decided not to prosecute him and his girlfriend for armed robbery with a firearm. Maybe they can make this stick.

• Corey Robertson, 29, (pictured bottom) black male, 5'11" tall, weighing 175 pounds. Arrested by 8th District officers for simple burglary and damage to state property in the 1000 block of St. Philip Street on 5.1.08. He is being held on $10,500 bond.
  

Graffiti arrest: Likewise, it's rare the police are able to catch up with graffiti artists, but the damage they've been doing in the last month or so in the Lower Quarter is significant. But credit a NOcrimeline subscriber with spotting some spraypainting scofflaws last Saturday night (5.3.08) shortly after 11 p.m., which led to an arrest.

"My wife and I were walking, turning the corner onto Dauphine Street from Gov. Nicholls Street when we spotted 2 young white guys huddled by the gate at 1137 Dauphine," he reported. "We thought they were either urinating or lighting up a joint, turns out they had tagged the gate.

"They proceeded to walk down Dauphine, stopping to tag a campaign poster near Cabrini Park, we followed them and called 911 to report the incident. They turned right onto Esplanade Avenue and hung out with the crowd at Port O'Call for a few minutes. They began to walk towards Bourbon Street when I flagged down a patrol car and reported the incident to the officer, another patrol car was on the corner of Bourbon and Esplanade and stopped the 2 while the first cruiser stopped to assist.

"Turned out the 2 were from out of town, one was 22, the other underage. In addition to the black marking pen found on the one that we identified as the artist, the police also recovered a bag of marijuana and the 2 were taken away."

8th District officers did arrest Dustin R. Sanders, 22, for possession of marijuana and apparently gave him a municipal summons for the graffiti. He managed to skedaddle out of OPP on the $500 bond for pot, but the graffiti charge means he'll probably get a slap on the wrist at best. (If he was charged under state law, he could be fined up to $500 and given 6 months in jail. Under the city code, the fine is a minimum of $100 and a maximum of $500 plus community service, or up to 3 months in jail.)

The good citizen who reported this laments: "Sadly, their writing is nothing like the others in the neighborhood, so overall this arrest will probably have little to no impact, but I suppose every little bit helps. No telling what all they did the night before we spotted them."

Vigilance always helps.

Disorder in the court: Jerome J. Dominick's case on burglary charges from late last year have been bouncing around the court for months now. The case took another bounce Thursday (5.8.08) when Dominick, 24, decided he didn't like what he was hearing in court and got up and left.

According to the court clerk's minutes: "The defendant, Jerome J. Dominick, failed to remain in court for this case. (The) victim stated in court that he is being harassed by (the) defendant. A protective order could not be issued because (the) defendant left the courtroom before this case was called."

Judge Laurie A. White issued a warrant for his arrest; he'll be held without bond when apprehended. He had been out of OPP, free on his own recognizance, thanks to Judge Julian Parker.

Height of chutzpah: In the middle of JazzFest we got this email:

"Can you give me the top 10 places where stolen vehicles end up, post Katrina? My truck was taken Sunday at Bayou Road and N. Broad Street. I was actually very illegally parked and didn't realize it, but the city did not tow my vehicle! I don't what to make of it, but it's definitely been stolen and yet it was parked facing the wrong direction and in a fire zone! Could a tow truck operator be stealing illegally parked cars? (I've called every tow company and no one has it.) Anyway, I wanted to scan the streets myself as the truck was not fully insured."

I'm still trying to figure out how he's so sure his car wasn't towed by the city if it was as illegally parked as he says. Obviously, he hasn't made a police report. Okay, dude, here's what you do: start obeying the laws yourself--and get that piece of junk insured.

How about this?: It would be a shame to let Jim Bernazzani get away after being ousted by the FBI as agent in charge here because he had aspirations to run for mayor in a couple of years, although it turns out he wouldn't meet the residency requirements in 2010. So how about district attorney this year?

True, we've already got a couple of big names running already whose last names end in vowels, but Bernazzani's background might withstand scrutiny a little better. Leon Cannizzaro is indebted to 2 convicted felons with close ties to former mayor Marc Morial after his last run for office. Ralph Capitelli is linked with organized gambling figures.

Or, if Mayor Nagin really was committed to making New Orleans safe again--and had any testicular fortitude--he could appoint Bernazzani as Police Superintendent. Big Chief Warren Riley, bless his soul, is probably good to his mama but he's just not up to the task of ridding the city of crime.

(Word on the street is he wants to hang on to the job until October when he'll have 3 years in as chief and can retire at his full salary. I think the city council would be more than happy to accelerate that if they thought it would get a tough chief with new ideas to reduce crime in the city.)

As seen on TV: Frustrated by the rising crime rate in the French Quarter, Joshua Clark, better known as an author and editor, has launched a campaign called QuarterSafe. At the heart of the movement is an effort to get every residence in the Quarter to install its own video surveillance camera.

"For 10 bucks and a few minutes of work, you can help drastically curb the daily robberies and assaults on our French Quarter streets," Clark says. "A simple $10 video camera security system for your home can be used with your existing PC. Our goal is to build a reliable network of functioning security cameras in order to both deter and catch criminals who dare to enter the Quarter."

For complete details, go to the NOcrimeline webpage for the link to QuarterSafe in the top right corner.

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

Thom Kahler

Wanted...

Can you believe it?: I was just about to reassure--for the umpteenth time--a NOcrimeline subscriber that the 8th District is, indeed, reporting all major crimes occurring in its bailiwick. Then I sit down to watch the 5 o'clock news and hear there's a warrant out for the little dude who walked free last month in the murder of a popular musician--this time for a shooting Sunday morning (5.4.08) at the corner of Canal and St. Charles streets.

Hmmm, I don't recall reading about a shooting in the report the 8th District sent out at 2:37 p.m. Monday afternoon (5.5.08). But after the story was all over the 5 and 6 o'clock news, here comes another email from the 8th District at 6:50 p.m. reporting that a warrant had been issued for David Bonds, 18, the suspect in Sunday's here-to-fore unpublicized shooting. Maybe we aren't getting all the news from the 8th District, after all.

The white victim (the police refuse to give his age) and a group of friends got into an argument with Bonds and his entourage (that's French, I think, for "gang") at about 5:35 a.m., according to the 8th District's belated report. Bonds allegedly pulled a gun pulled a handgun and fired it, striking the other fella in the chest. The victim is reported in critical but stable condition at a local hospital.

A pair of eyewitnesses to the crime identified Bonds from photographs and a warrant was issued for his arrest on a charge of attempted murder. He's a little twerp: 5'5" tall, weighing 140 pounds.

This is the second shooting mentioned in the same breath with Bonds after his acquittal 4.10.08 in the shooting death of Dinerral Shavers in 2006. You remember that case because of the controversy over the reluctance of a young girl to identify Bonds as the shooter, forcing the DA to drop the case. Charges were reinstated after the DA located more witnesses, but when it came time to testify this last time, they went blind when Bonds allegedly made threatening gestures toward them in the courtroom.

Then a week after Bonds went free, one of the witnesses against him, Guy McEwen, who didn't actually identify Bonds, was gunned down on an Uptown street on 4.17.08. Police say there is no connection between McEwen's death and Bonds' trial, and Bonds is not known to have a role in his demise.

But now Bonds is running the streets of the French Quarter and CBD as an armed and dangerous fugitive. Let's hope the NOPD takes him down before one of us becomes a victim. His 19th birthday is Wednesday (5.7.08). Let's celebrate him into OPP!

More wanted: 8th District detectives have also issued warrants for other suspects in some recent robberies. Warrants are out for:

• Victor Russell, 48, black male, 6'1" tall, weighs 165 pounds: He's wanted for robbing a white woman of her purse on 4.26.08 at 5:15 a.m. while she was walking on Carondelet Street near Girod Street.

• Mark Melerine, 34, white male, 5'11" tall, weighing 180 pounds: He's wanted for snatching a woman's purse last Tuesday (4.29.08) in the 1300 block of Bourbon Street at 12:25 p.m. He reportedly hopped out of a white SUV and grabbed her purse, splitting her lip in the process. He has short hair and was wearing a white polo shirt and beige pants. His accomplice who was driving the SUV has not been identified.
  

Melerine is also wanted in a pursesnatching on 4.4.08 at 1:25 a.m. in the 100 block of N. Peters Street. His alleged accomplice in that crime is Randal A. Campo, 40, who is in OPP on $25,000 bond, charged with simple robbery.

Arrested:

• Jesse Akmin, 18, black male, 6'1" tall, weighing 180 pounds: He and 2 accomplices allegedly held up a white man last Tuesday (4.29.08) who was walking in the 1400 block of Chartres Street near Esplanade Avenue around 10:40 p.m. He was charged with armed robbery and is in OPP in lieu of $100,000 bond.
  

All the robbers were described as 20 to 30 years old, about 6' tall. The gunman's weight was guessed as 180 pounds, and he was said to have short dreadlocks and corn rows, and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

8th District police had just arrested Akmin on 4.4.08 in the French Quarter for possession of marijuana. And they say drugs won't hurt you.

Robbery, plain and simple: It's hard to believe there was no commotion of any sort for 3 whole days in the 8th District. But, if that's true, let's herald it as good news. After a slew of armed robberies and pursesnatchings last Tuesday (4.29.08) following a week's hiatus, there was nothing reported by the 8th District NOPD until these incidents this weekend:

• Saturday (5.3.08), 4:15 a.m., Bourbon and St. Ann streets: A white woman was standing on the corner when a black man came up from the front and grabbed her purse. He fled down St. Ann toward N. Rampart Street. He was described as 6'1" tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a red, tan and black striped shirt.

• Sunday (5.4.08), 3 a.m., 300 block of Burgundy Street: A black man walking down the street was robbed of a gold chain around his neck by a black man who ran up behind him. The victim chased the culprit down Conti Street toward N. Rampart Street and the police apprehended Anthony Johnson, 21, shortly after and charged him with simple robbery, flight from an officer, and criminal trespass.
  

NONPAC: The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (5.8.08) at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse St. (at Burgundy Street).

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported in April 2008

These are the crimes reported during April, 2008 in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD) as listed on the NOPD's crime map, which gives the dates and locations, but not the time the crimes occurred:

Armed robbery

4.02.08, 1000 Ursulines Ave.
4.03.08, 900 Bienville St.
4.06.08, 1000 Bienville St.
4.07.08, 900 Orleans Ave.
4.08.08, 900 Dumaine St.
4.08.08, 900 St. Philip St.
4.09.08, Loyola Ave. & Poydras St.
4.11.08, Dauphine St. & Ursulines Ave.
4.11.08, 900 Chartres St.
4.11.08, 1100 Bourbon St.
4.13.08, Decatur St. & St. Philip St.
4.13.08, 600 St. Louis St.
4.29.08, 800 Union St.
4.29.08, 600 Dauphine St.
4.29.08, 1400 Chartres St.

Simple robbery/pursesnatching

4.04.08, Simple robbery, 600 Dauphine St.
4.04.08, Pursesnatching, 100 N. Peters St.
4.06.08, Pursesnatching, Canal St. & Basin St.
4.09.08, Simple robbery, 800 Bourbon St.
4.11.08, Pickpocketing, Royal St. & Bienville St.
4.12.08, Pursesnatching, Decatur St. & Toulouse St.
4.13.08, Simple robbery, Dauphine St. & Kerlerec St.
4.19.08, Simple robbery, 1000 Bourbon St.
4.19.08, Simple robbery, 800 St. Ann St.
4.20.08, Simple robbery, 600 Iberville St.
4.24.08, Pursesnatching, 700 Canal St.
4.26.08, Simple robbery, Conti St. & Dauphine St.
4.26.08, Simple robbery, Girod St. & Carondelet St.
4.29.08, Pursesnatching, 1300 Bourbon St.

Assault & battery

4.05.08, Aggravated battery (cutting), 2000 Burgundy St.
4.08.08, Aggravated assault, 500 Burgundy St.
4.08.08, Aggravated battery (cutting), 800 Toulouse St.
4.25.08, Aggravated battery (cutting), St. Peter St. & Chartres St.

Burglary

4.05.08, 400 Canal St.
4.05.08, 500 St. Louis St.
4.09.08, 500 Dauphine St.
4.10.08, 1700 N. Rampart St.
4.11.08, 700 St. Peter St.
4.13.08, 100 Royal St.
4.14.08, 400 Notre Dame St.
4.14.08, 1900 Dauphine St.
4.17.08, 800 Burgundy St.
4.20.08, 500 Frenchmen St.
4.21.08, 200 Loyola Ave.
4.22.08, 1000 Decatur St.
4.23.08, 2100 Chartres St.
4.23.08, 2100 Chartres St.
4.24.08, 700 Tchoupitoulas St.
4.24.08, 500 St. Peter St.
4.24.08, 700 Ursulines Ave.
4.25.08,1800 Burgundy St.
4.28.08, 900 N. Rampart St.
4.28.08, 1500 Poydras St.
4.28.08, 600 Elysian Fields Ave.

Theft

4.01.08, 600 St. Peter St.
4.01.08, 500 St. Peter St.
4.02.08, 200 Loyola Ave.
4.02.08, 300 Chartres St.
4.02.08, 900 Decatur St.
4.03.08, Bourbon St. & Conti St.
4.03.08, 300 Bourbon St.
4.03.08, 300 Bourbon St.
4.04.08, 1200 Chartres St.
4.05.08, 500 Bourbon St.
4.06.08, 600 Canal St.
4.06.08, 300 Camp St.
4.06.08, 300 Bourbon St.
4.07.08, 300 Royal St.
4.07.08, 1100 Chartres St.
4.07.08, 800 Canal St.
4.08.08, 200 S Rampart St.
4.08.08, 100 Royal St.
4.10.08, 600 Chartres St.
4.10.08, 200 Poydras St.
4.10.08, 300 Camp St.
4.10.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.
4.10.08, Dauphine St. & St. Philip St.
4.11.08, 100 St. Charles Ave.
4.11.08, 700 Iberville St.
4.12.08, Poydras St.
4.12.08, 100 Decatur St.
4.12.08, 300 Chartres St.
4.13.08, 1000 Canal St.
4.14.08, 600 Bourbon St.
4.15.08, 600 Bourbon St.
4.15.08, 500 Canal St.
4.16.08, 100 Royal St.
4.16.08, 500 St. Philip St.
4.18.08, 300 Magazine St.
4.18.08, N. Rampart St. & Orleans Ave.

4.19.08, 500 Canal St.
4.19.08, 300 Poydras St.
4.19.08, 700 S. Peters St.
4.20.08, 1200 Dauphine St.
4.20.08, 800 St. Peter St.
4.20.08, 100 Magazine St.
4.21.08, 400 St. Charles Ave.
4.21.08, 1400 Tulane Ave.
4.23.08, 400 Bourbon St.
4.24.08, 200 Bourbon St.
4.24.08, 300 Chartres St.
4.25.08, 800 Bourbon St.
4.25.08, 300 Baronne St.
4.25.08, 700 Frenchmen St.
4.26.08, 1000 St. Peter St.
4.26.08, 200 Chartres St.
4.26.08, Canal St.
4.26.08, 500 Canal St.
4.27.08, 300 Chartres St.
4.27.08, 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
4.27.08, 500 St. Ann St.
4.28.08, 1400 Poydras St.
4.28.08, 100 Elk Pl.
4.29.08, 800 Toulouse St.
4.29.08, 400 Bourbon St.
4.29.08, 500 Gov. Nicholls St.
4.29.08, 400 Bourbon St.
4.29.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.

Auto theft

4.02.08, Conti St. & Chartres St.
4.04.08, 1300 Decatur St.
4.04.08, Conti St. & Dauphine St.
4.04.08, St. Peter St. & Burgundy St.
4.06.08, 300 Dauphine St.
4.06.08, 900 Bourbon St.
4.06.08, Dauphine St. & Orleans Ave.
4.08.08, 600 Dauphine St.
4.08.08, Burgundy St. & Frenchmen St.
4.08.08, Loyola Ave. & Perdido St.
4.09.08, Natchez St. & Magazine St.
4.09.08, Howard Ave. & Loyola Ave.
4.09.08, 1500 Girod St.
4.10.08, Girod St. & Loyola Ave.
4.10.08, Camp St. & Poydras St.
4.10.08, S. Rampart St. & Lafayette St.
4.11.08, Esplanade Ave. & Dauphine St.
4.12.08, Burgundy St. & St. Peter St.
4.12.08, Iberville St. & Burgundy St.
4.12.08, Carondelet St. & Poydras St.
4.12.08, 700 Iberville St.
4.13.08, Exchange Alley & Canal St.
4.13.08, 700 St. Peter St.
4.13.08, 1400 Chartres St.
4.13.08, Calliope St. & S. Peters St.
4.13.08, Basin St. & Canal St.
4.14.08, Dauphine St. & Toulouse St.
4.15.08, 400 St. Charles Ave.
4.16.08, O'Keefe Ave. & Perdido St.
4.19.08, Dauphine St. & St. Louis St.
4.19.08, 100 Iberville St.
4.19.08, Decatur St. & Elysian Fields Ave.
4.20.08, Bourbon St. & Ursulines Ave.
4.20.08, 300 Julia St.
4.21.08, 700 Barracks St.
4.22.08, 1300 Perdido St.
4.24.08, 800 Iberville St.
4.24.08, 500 Madison St.
4.25.08, Chartres St. & St. Philip St.
4.25.08, Poydras St.
4.26.08, 800 Toulouse St.
4.26.08, St. Peter St. & Decatur St.
4.26.08, Dauphine St. & Esplanade Ave.
4.27.08, 1600 Canal St.
4.28.08, Dauphine St. & St. Louis St.
4.28.08, 1600 Canal St.
4.29.08, Dauphine St. & Dumaine St.
4.29.08, 1000 Dauphine St.

Car break-ins

4.03.08, 800 Commerce St.
4.04.08, 300 Loyola Ave.
4.10.08, 2100 N. Rampart St.
4.12.08, 800 Iberville St.
4.12.08, 800 Iberville St.
4.12.08, 100 St. Charles Ave.
4.12.08, 800 Iberville St.
4.14.08, 100 Royal St.
4.15.08, 900 Iberville St.
4.17.08, 100 Burgundy St.
4.18.08, 500 Dauphine St.
4.19.08, 200 N. Peters St.
4.19.08, Perdido St. & O'Keefe Ave.
4.20.08, 500 Conti St.
4.20.08, 300 Burgundy St.
4.22.08, Iberville St. & Burgundy St.
4.23.08, 900 Barracks St.
4.25.08, 1000 Bienville St.
4.25.08, Burgundy St. & Canal St.
4.26.08, 1000 Bienville St.
4.26.08, 1600 Canal St.
4.29.08, S. Saratoga St. & Canal St.

Too good to last

Armed robberies resume: After more than a week with no reports of armed robberies in the 8th District, the bad guys are back in action. The lull coincided with the apprehension of that little 14-year-old black boy and his cousin for a number of robberies. Don't think the little twerp's out roaming the streets of the French Quarter at all hours again, do you? That's the trouble with these juvenile jerks--you don't know whether they're still in jail or some kindly judge has sent them home to the bosoms of their mamas.

But here's what's been going on, armed robbery-wise:

• Tuesday (4.29.08), 6 a.m., 600 block of Dauphine Street: A black man was walking on Dauphine (toward Toulouse from St. Peter) when he was approached from behind by a silver-colored 2-door vehicle driven by a black dude who pulled a pistol and demanded the victim's money. The victim complied and the robber sped off toward Canal Street.

The robber was described as heavy set, medium complexion, with short hair, wearing a baseball cap.

• Tuesday (4.29.08), 5:30 p.m., 800 block of Union Street: A black female was walking on Union between Carondelet and Baronne streets in the CBD when she was approached from behind by a black man who stuck an "unknown object" (presumably a gun) in the small of her back and demanded money. The victim complied and the robber fled on foot.

He was described as 5'7" tall, weighing 180 pounds, wearing a green collared shirt, blue jean shorts, and white tennis shoes.

• Tuesday (4.29.08), 10:40 p.m., 1400 block of Chartres Street: A white man was walking on Chartres in the Marigny Triangle toward Esplanade Avenue when eh was approached by 3 black men, one of whom pulled a handgun and demanded money. The victim complied and then ran away.

All the robbers were described as 20 to 30 years old, about 6' tall. The gunman's weight was guessed as 180 pounds, and he was said to have short dreadlocks and corn rows, and was wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

Pursesnatchings back in vogue: Are we ever free of them? But how to protect yourself against them is another thing. Consider the first one, in broad daylight, with people all around. And yet...

• Tuesday, (4.29.08), 12:25 p.m., 1300 block of Bourbon Street: A white woman walking on Bourbon between Barracks Street and Esplanade Avenue had her purse snatched by a white guy who hopped out of a white SUV, splitting her lip in the process, while her husband stood helplessly by. Others on that busy block, including an AT&T crew working in a manhole at the corner, were just as startled at the bravado of the bandit in broad daylight.

The robber was described as in his 20's, 5'11" tall, weighing 180 pounds, with short hair, wearing a white polo shirt and beige pants. The victim could not see the driver of the vehicle.

(Remember how Maj. Edwin Hosli and Chief Warren Riley lambasted NOcrimeline for not reporting crimes exactly as they submitted them to us? If we did that, we would have been guilty of numerous inaccuracies, such as the one in this report. Here's how it came from the 8th District: "...she was approached from behind by an unknown BLACK male...The subject is described as: WHITE male..." [capitals and boldface added by us for distinction]. Sloppy police work or knee-jerk reaction? We had local knowledge to determine which was which.)

• Saturday (4.26.08), 5:15 a.m., Carondelet and Girod streets: A white woman walking on Carondelet was approached from behind by a black man who demanded her purse. She complied and he fled on foot.

The robber was described as in his 40's, 6'1" tall, thin build, wearing all black clothing.

• Saturday (4.26.08), 3:50 a.m., Conti and Dauphine streets: A white man was punched by someone who then took cash from his pocket. The victim was unable to give any description of the perpetrator.

• Thursday (4.24.08), 12:30 p.m., 711 Canal St.: A white woman was standing inside McDonald's when a black man snatched her wallet from her hand and fled out the Royal Street exit and headed into the bowels of the Quarter.

The robber was described only by what he was wearing: a black T-shirt, blue jeans, and dirty white shoes.

Some arrested: 8th District officers hauled in a few bad guys, but gave little information on why:

• Sunday (4.27.08), 10:10 a.m.: Sgt. Mark Mumme, along with Officers Jack Buzali and Lawrence Hall, arrested Patrick Bell, 47, for theft from 332 Chartres St. No word what is located at that address or what the alleged thief supposedly stole.

• Sunday (4.27.08), 1:20 a.m.: Lt. Charles Little and Sgt. Patrick Baxter of the 8th District's "Bourbon Promendade" arrested James Fulford, 43, for pickpocketing near The Famous Door, 341 Bourbon St. No word on who the victim was, but best guess he's from out of town, since no local would be seen in the tourist-trap section of town at that hour.

• Friday (4.25.08), 3:45 p.m., Jackson Square: Police arrested Tyrone Gaygen, 52, and charged him with aggravated battery after he allegedly cut another homeless man on the hand with a box cutter after they got into a verbal altercation.

Go forth--and be careful out there...

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

Thom Kahler

Cops and/or robbers

Not quite that bad: With all the cops this week that wound up on the wrong side of the law, it seems almost like the bad guys were winning.

8th District detectives arrested a 14-year-old black boy this week who robbed a white man at gunpoint in the 400 block of Burgundy on 3.22.08 around 11:45 p.m.

They aren't saying, but the description fits that of the 14-year-old they've already charged in about 4 other robberies and he could be a suspect in as many others, judging by the descriptions in those cases.

There's no word whether his accomplice, who was driving a black SUV in this robbery, has been charged. Last week they charged his cousin in one of the robberies. He, too, may be a suspect in some of those other robberies where the juvenile had an accomplice.

In all of the robberies believed to be related, the robbers were described as in their late teens, 5'4" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with dark complexions. Both usually wore hoodies and one always seemed to wear a bandanna of various colors, from red to blue to black.

Of course, because the little darling is a juvenile, the police can't reveal his name. They'll have to wait until he escapes from the Youth Study Center like the 16-year-old did the other day. He was one in a long line of escapees from what's more like a sieve than a jail. Reassuring to know that these little kids that are big enough to stick a gun your face are running loose again. Do you know the kid that shot the guy just before Mardi Gras in the CBD is still running loose--even though the cops know his name? Hard to believe these little devils are smarter than the NOPD.

Grown-up arrests: 8th District officers did manage to arrest 3 adults--all white folks--for burglary this week.

Officers Jason Hickman and Adam Garner arrested Gregory Trott, 33, on Sunday (4.20.08) at 6:30 p.m. for breaking into a car in the 300 block of Burgundy Street. He is being held on $20,000 bond on charges of simple burglary and possession of stolen property over $500. Police did not report what was stolen, but the value of property allegedly in his possession totaled $1,439.

Then on Tuesday (4.22.08) at 2 a.m., 8th District officers arrested a man and woman for attempted burglary of a business at 1000 Decatur St.

Arrested were Marty Montgomery, 51, and Melissa Montgomery, 30, who is presumably his wife. Marty was charged with attempted simple burglary and simple assault, and is being held on a $20,000 bond. Melissa is charged with attempted simple burglary, and is being held on a $15,000 bond.

JazzFest tames the wild beast?: Like last year, crime this year preceding JazzFest has been relatively tame. The 8th District has reported only 3 crimes since last weekend, if you can believe that.

On Saturday (4.19.08), a white woman (again the cops don't think age or residence is important) had her purse snatched in the 1000 block of Bourbon Street (between Ursulines and St. Philip streets) at 1:10 a.m. She and a friend were walking toward Canal Street when they were approached by 2 black men, one of whom grabbed her purse and fled toward Esplanade Avenue.

Both perpetrators were described as 6' tall, weighing 210 pounds, but one was wearing a blue shirt and white hat, and the other was wearing a red shirt and dark jeans.

Later Saturday, around 2 p.m., a white man was at Dauphine and St. Ann streets when he was approached by a black man who demanded his money. The victim complied and the robber fled on St. Ann toward N. Rampart Street.

The crook was described as 24 to 28 years old, 5'10" tall, medium build, dart complexion, round face, wearing a white T-shirt and dark blue jeans.

On Sunday (4.20.08) around 3:45 a.m., a white man was jumped by 3 fat white guys in front of 606 Iberville St. (between Chartres and Royal streets). He was grabbed from behind by the trio and one took his wallet from his pants pocket. They fled on foot toward the river.

All were described as in their 20s, one 6'4" tall, weighing 220 pounds, with short hair, the second 5'10" tall, weighing 220 pounds, with short hair, and the third 5'11" tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing a red hat.

Murder rate soars: Big Chief Riley stood up last Friday to brag about the homicide rate being down 10% for the first part of the year, from 59 to 54. Since then, there have been 12 murders as of 12:59 p.m. Saturday (4.26.08). That's 66 for the year--a 12% increase. Chief, you better wait until the crime rate actually goes down before you announce "Mission Accomplished".

Speaking of shootings: We hear from independent sources that there was a shooting this morning around 6:30 a.m. at St. Louis and Royal streets. The 8th District has not issued any report on it.

Speaking of guns: The last we heard, the citizen who shot at a would-be robber almost 3 weeks ago still hasn't been able to get his gun back from the NOPD. The gun owner went down to the station house to see Maj. Hosli on Monday and he promised he would look into it.

The next day, someone from the 8th District called the owner and said the gun could be picked up from the evidence room. Wary of being thwarted there before, he called the evidence keepers and was told, "Oh, no, we haven't done a background check on the gun yet!"

What is it with the NOPD that one officer doesn't know what the others are doing? No wonder crime is soaring.

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

Thom Kahler

So, what's the truth?

'Figures don't lie, but liars do figure': It's an old saying to explain statistical variations. But calling it lying in the case of the NOPD might be a little too strong. I think Big Chief Warren Riley and his desk jockeys are just confused. It seems like every time Riley mentions numbers or percentages, he steps in it.

Take for instance yesterday. At a press conference, he admitted armed robberies were up in the 8th District this year, that there were 55 armed robberies reported so far. But checking the NOPD's crime maps--which Riley claims are among the best in the country--shows only 45 robberies reported. Of course, the map hasn't listed any robberies for almost 3 weeks, the last one being on 3.29.08, and we know that's not the case. So, if he's got more accurate, up-to-date figures, why doesn't he make them public?

Then he went on to brag that murders were down to only 54 this year, from 59 last year. (The bad guys caught up in the last 3 days with 5 more--they made their quota.) But his crime maps show only 25 homicides through the end of March. Surely there haven't been 29 more murders in just 19 days? So what's the truth?

With a backdrop of 600 weapons he said his cops had taken off the street this year (he didn't say how many were from law-abiding citizens), Riley tried to make everyone feel better about crime by claiming that 36 robbery suspects had been arrested so far this year in and around the French Quarter. That figure in no way jibes with records I keep. Perhaps the 8th District isn't fully reporting all the arrests it makes; I'd love to see its list.

Then Riley claimed that the NOPD solves 64% of all its homicide cases, compared to a national average of 55%. Personally, I'd prefer for the NOPD to prevent my murder than solve my homicide, wouldn't you?

But never mind statistics. Numbers, schmumbers. If I'm a victim, even one case is one too many. What I really want to hear--no, see--from Riley is what he is going to do to reduce armed robberies and homicides. He is not a man with a plan. How much longer we tolerate him as superintendent of police is on all of our heads if any of us is the next victim.

Speaking of public records: The Times-Picayune finally got around to suing the NOPD for failing to give timely access to public crime records, even after the NOPD promised it would. Now the Big Chief is going to cost the city a ton of money defending his position that he's got a right to tell citizens only what he wants them to know.

All the reports all the time?: Some NOcrimeline subscribers and media reporters periodically ask whether I think the 8th District is reporting all crimes to the citizens on its email list. I have no way of knowing, but I've always replied that I felt Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, has been honest and transparent, and wasn't withholding anything. But an incident yesterday has me questioning that.

I forwarded Maj. Hosli an email from a NOcrimeline reader who complained there was no response to her 911 call on Sunday, and I also asked about a shooting Wednesday that another reader reported and a report from Fox8 News on Thursday that the 19-year-old cousin of the 14-year-old arrested for robbery had also been arrested. I made my query at 1:50 p.m. Friday. Maj. Hosli responded at 2:22 p.m. that "As soon as Ofc. (Brian) Shubert is able to get his computer operational again, the information will be sent out." Ofc. Shubert sent out a report at 4:30 p.m.

Maj. Hosli's explanation of a computer malfunction is certainly plausible (we've all been there). But that these incidents covered a 3-day span, were not reported until an inquiry was made, and were the only ones reported since the last report on Wednesday, raises a few eyebrows.

There are 2 things to be learned from this:

• Continue to report to NOcrimeline any crime you know of that is not appearing in the 8th District's email dispatches;

• Contact Maj. Hosli through 8thDistrict@cityofno.com and he says he will respond personally to you.

Where was 911?: A 25-year-old white woman was attacked Sunday (4.13.08) at about 6 p.m. at Dauphine and Kerlerec streets by a black boy accompanied by 2 young black female accomplices. The boy struck the victim and pushed her to the ground, demanding her purse. He fled when a pedestrian came around the corner.

"I have a huge gash on my face and a horrible black eye, as well as several other bruises on my body--all for a $20 cell phone," the victim emailed NOcrimeline.

Probably most painful of all is when she made a call to 911 and help failed to come. "After the 911 call, I waited for the police on Frenchmen Street. They never came. I went home, feeling depressed, angry and confused," she said.

Two days later she went to the 8th District station house to report the crime, she said, "and was later told by the patrolling office from Sunday night that 'that call never came in, I was working that area, and I never got a call like that.' " Maj. Hosli says he is investigating "the entire incident."

Meanwhile as you try to make your way through the Quarter and Marigny Triangle, be on the lookout for these young hoodlums, all described as 13 to 15 years old:

• The boy is described as 5'1" tall, weighing 120 pounds, with a dark complexion and short hair.

• The girls are both described as 5'5" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with brown complexion. One has long braids.

Shot or not?: Another NOcrimeline subscriber reported, albeit secondhand, that a friend of his who was on the 3rd level of the parking garage at New Orleans Athletic Club at about 4 p.m. Wednesday (4.16.08) "heard 8 shots and saw a gunman and cops running." Another woman who was in the Walgreen's on Canal Street at about the same time was told by police to go back inside when she went to leave, according to the same subscriber, who said she told him she saw "a guy fall to the sidewalk apparently shot in a drive by shooting."

All the 8th District's report says is: A black male...was standing at the corner of Iberville and Burgundy (Streets) when he heard several gunshots. Shell casings were found on the scene. This incident has been documented and is being investigated by Detective Sean McElrath." So there. No mention of the cops being on the scene.

Family affair: The 19-year-old cousin of a 14-year-old black boy arrested earlier in the week for 3 armed robberies has been arrested for another robbery in which the juvenile has been charged too.

Arrested was Renaldo Nickles, who is now charged with 5 robberies and is being held in OPP on $511,000 bond. He and his cousin were accused of robbing a white couple walking on Bienville Street near Burgundy Street toward N. Rampart Street on 4.3.08 at 3:57 a.m. They allegedly jumped from behind a dumpster. One pointed a pistol at the victims and demanded money. The victims complied, surrendering $116 in cash and the woman's purse. The thieves fled in a dark-colored 2-door vehicle.

The 14-year-old juvenile--whose name police won't release because of his age--was charged for 3 of 5 similar robberies in the wee hours of 2 different days. (Dollars to donuts, he's good for those others also.)

He was charged with a robbery in the 900 block of Chartres Street 4.11.08 at 12:05 a.m. and another in the 1100 block of Bourbon Street the same morning at 12:25 a.m.--but not one the same day at 12:10 a.m. in the 900 block of Ursulines Street. He is also charged for a robbery 4.8.08 at 2:05 a.m. in the 900 block of St. Philip Street in which an accomplice (cousin?) participated, but wasn't charged with a robbery 10 minutes earlier one street over in the 900 block of Dumaine Street.

To make it a true family affair, I'll tell you who ought to be arrested next: the boy's mama. Where was she when her little darling was out running the streets of the Quarter, sticking a gun in folks' faces? Couldn't she be charged with child neglect or some similar crime? Maybe if some of these punks saw their mamas being hauled off to jail they'd think twice about their career choices.

And where were the cops when this punk was out blatantly violating curfew? Insulated behind their rolled-up cop car windows, talking on their cellphones? It's a shame the cops don't notice what's right in front of their faces, if they would just pay attention to the people they're supposed to protect and serve.

What's it take?: The DA this week dropped 2 charges of attempted murder against a woman who took aim at 2 cops 2.16.08 and wouldn't drop her weapon until they fired at her.

Calizza Coyne, 21, of Folsom, will be prosecuted only for the illegal use of a weapon for the incident at 6:08 a.m. on 2.16.08 in the 800 block of St. Louis Street near Bourbon Street.

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

Thom Kahler

Anybody in charge here?

Harder on the victim than criminal: The would-be robber who got the surprise of his life when his would-be victim beat him to the draw and fired 4 shots at him is out walking the streets. The would-be victim still can't get back the gun he used to shoot at the would-be robber. So much for Second Amendment rights.

An officer from the 8th District called the citizen the day after the incident last week and told him that "arresting my gun was a mistake" and that he could retrieve it immediately, the citizen told NOcrimeline. Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, said as much at the NONPAC meeting last week. But when the shooter went to the NOPD evidence room a few days later, confusion reigned. The officer there told him that a background check would have to be performed first and he had no idea how long that would take. When he told the officer the gun had been purchased just a few weeks ago and that a background check at that time was successfully completed in only 5 minutes, the officer responded with the perfunctory rudeness.

So the shooter is still waiting to get that gun back, though he went out the day after it was confiscated and bought another one so he can walk the streets of the French Quarter safely.

Meanwhile, the guy the citizen shot at, Bruce Jones, is out roaming the streets after he got out of jail on the meager bonds set on the charges of aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon. Never mind that detectives figured out belatedly that he's the guy who held up a convenience store in the Quarter a couple of weeks earlier and they would now like him back so they can charge him with armed robbery.

Noting that Jones could get 15 years for the armed robbery but only 6 months for the assault on him, the shooter says, that is "all because I was stupid enough to shoot at him before he asked for my money."

"Well, I'll never do that again," he asserts. "I really think I got the hang of it now. Let's see: first, let the thug point his gun directly at you and allow him time enough to request all of your property. Now, once the thug has his gun pointed at you and politely requested financial assistance, then and only then can he be charged with a crime horrible enough to keep him in jail long enough to temporarily end his one-man crime wave."

Then another inspiration grips the shooter: "At that point, it would be advisable to kill him so that he actually stays gone from your life and you don't have to worry on a daily basis about running into him again in just a few days."

"Oh by the way," he adds, "I am purchasing a bullet-proof vest on eBay--it's the perfect French Quarter accessory!"

Maybe a little sarcastic, maybe a little strident. But if you had to walk the mean streets of Burgundy and Bienville daily and you had already been held up just a week before, what would you do?

Caught in the act: A quick-reacting 8th District officer, after responding to one armed robbery Sunday morning (4.13.08) on Decatur Street, thwarted a second robbery 4 blocks away after spotting a suspect described in the first robbery.

At 6 a.m., a white couple were held up by a black dude with a pistol at Decatur and St. Philip streets who demanded their money. They complied and the robber fled downriver on Decatur and hopped into a gray car driver by another black guy.

At 6:19 a.m., Officer Charles Stamps saw the suspect described in the 6 a.m. robbery in the act of robbing a white man in the 600 block of Decatur. The robber fled but Ofc. Stamps caught up with him at Decatur and Toulouse streets, where a vehicle matching the getaway car's description pulled up at the corner. Police found property from the first robbery in the car and they recovered the pistol used in both robberies.

Arrested were:

• Kalef Bell, 19, (right) who was charged with 2 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, 1 count of possession of stolen property, and 1 count of illegally carrying a weapon.

• Reginald R. Carter, 20, (left) who was charged with 1 count each of armed robbery with a firearm and possession of stolen property.

For some reason, Bell's bond was set at only $110,000 for the 4 charges against him, but bond for Carter was set $10,000 higher at $120,000 for only 2 offenses.

Bell just last month escaped 2 charges of armed robbery with a firearm that had been dragging through the court for over 2 years. On 3.7.08, the DA decided not to prosecute him on either charge.

Same scene, different day: Just a day earlier at Decatur and Toulouse streets on Saturday (4.12.08), a white man was walking in the parking lot at that location at 4:08 p.m. when a black guy ran up and snatched an envelope containing $1,340 in cash out of his pocket. The victim pursued the pickpocket and caught up with him after a short chase.

Arrested was Albert Davis, 47, who was charged with simple robbery.

Can't figure this one out: 8th District detectives say they have arrested a 14-year-old juvenile--whose name can't be used because it might damage the little punk's psyche--for 2 of 3 similar robberies last Friday (4.11.08) and 1 of 2 similar robberies the previous Tuesday (4.8.08).

A black boy--wearing a red bandanna over his face--described as 16 to 20 years old, 5'3" to 5'9" tall, weighing 145 to 150 pounds, with medium dreadlocks to his shoulder, was charged with a robbery in the 900 block of Chartres Street on Friday at 12:05 a.m. and another in the 1100 block of Bourbon Street on Friday at 12:25 a.m.--but not one Friday at 12:10 a.m. in the 900 block of Ursulines Street.

He is also charged for a robbery that previous Tuesday at 2:05 a.m. in the 900 block of St. Philip Street in which an accomplice participated, but wasn't charged with a robbery 10 minutes earlier one street over in the 900 block of Dumaine Street.

Look at the times those robberies occurred. If the cops were out patrolling and paying attention, wouldn't they maybe have noticed that a young thug like this was violating curfew. That alone would have been enough to haul him in--maybe before he robbed 5 residents of the French Quarter.

Another one on the loose: You'd think $100,000-bond might keep a suspect in jail for a little while. But not Christopher S. Hughes, 24, who bonded out of OPP in the middle of the night Wednesday morning (4.16.08).

He was arrested last Thursday (4.11.08) and charged in the armed robbery of a white couple who were walking in the 1000 block of Bienville Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) on 4.6.08 at 3:30 a.m. They were approached from behind by 3 black men. One pulled a pistol and demanded money. The victims complied, handing over cash and the woman's purse.

Unfortunately, the sheriff bungled the photograph of Hughes when he had him in the slammer, so we don't know what he looks like. But he was described as in his 20s, 5'10" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with should-length dreadlocks, wearing a yellow shirt. There was no description of his accomplices, who remain at large too.

Funny figures: The crime figures Greg Rusovich, head of the New Orleans Crime Coalition, was spewing around Washington this week are hard to figure out. According to the report in the Times-Picayune, he told a group that homicides in New Orleans in the first quarter of 2008 were down 10.4% from last year.

I'm not sure where he got those figures, considering how tight-lipped the NOPD is about releasing statistics. But by my count--using the NOPD's own crime maps--there were 46 murders citywide in the first quarter of last year, and only 25 so far this year. That is about 46% fewer homicides this year. Now if you were trying to impress the bigwigs in D.C. with how you've reduced crime, wouldn't you use that figure instead of being so precise as to tack on .4 to 10%?

That dubious math then calls into question his claim that the DA was prosecuting 93% of violent crimes. That might be in some other part of the city, but a rough count for the past year in the 8th District shows that of 34 cases, the DA refused to prosecute 62% (21) of them and got guilty pleas in only 38% (13) after they were pleaded down to lesser charges. There are 46 cases still pending.

But the danger, if you're going to try to evaluate the crime problem in numbers, is equating the homicide rate with the crime rate. For instance, murder is rare in the 8th District (there were only 2 in the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD last year). But robberies, which residents have a real fear of encountering any time they step out their door, are up 37.5% this year (66 in the first quarter of 2008 versus 48 in 2007). Thefts are up slightly from 300 last year to 315 this year. Auto thefts, a perennial problem, are up 8.67% from 127 last year to 138 this year; at that rate, 552 cars will be stolen from the 8th District this year.

Chief on the warpath: Don't know if you saw the article in Gambit Weekly this week entitled "The Blogger and the Chief", in which Big Chief Warren Riley vents his spleen on NOcrimeline. He suggests instead citizens go to the NOPD's website where--he blatantly claims--some crimes are posted in 24 hours and most in 8 to 10 days. For laughs, go there. The last press release was posted almost 5 weeks ago on 3.17.08, the crime map is more than 2 weeks out of date and goes only to 3.31.08, and even under his command staff is a deputy chief who was replaced a month or more ago. How can he be so out of touch and hope to reduce crime in this city?

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

Thom Kahler