The big cover-up

Not a "quirk" at all: A number of days ago we said it was a quirk in the law that required the police to charge home invaders with "aggravated burglary" rather "armed robbery," but now we find that's not so.

What is so, according to Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, is "that's how we're told to charge it." I'm presuming that comes from his bosses in the NOPD; if it was coming from the DA, she'd probably reduce it to something like "illegal use of a doorknob."

What difference does it make? To the bad guy, it's the difference between 1 to 30 years in Angola for "burglary" versus 10 to 99 years for "robbery." For the NOPD, it allows them to report the incident to the FBI as a more benign "property crime" by calling it a burglary; if they report it as a robbery it's classified a "violent crime." And "property crimes" pall in comparison to "violent crimes" when Big Chief Warren Riley tries to brag about crime figures. (Keep on eye on this site--we'll soon have an analysis there of the just-released FBI figures for 2007.)

A few years ago, there was a big brouhaha about crimes being downgraded in the 1st District, which made the commander there look like he'd really improved the crime rate there. When it came to light, then-Chief Eddie Compass fired the commander and his lieutenants (since reinstated).

A few weeks ago, a producer for CNN called me and asked if that's what was happening with the NOPD refusing to release reports to the public. At that time, I told her no, that we seemed to be getting accurate reports of all the crimes from Maj. Hosli. I wish she'd call again.

In the case that raised this issue, 5 black boys--armed with a gun--entered a house at 831 Touro St. and robbed 2 Hispanic workers there of their wallets. An arrest warrant for "aggravated burglary" rather than "armed robbery" was put out for one of the punks, but sloppy police work botched that.

Now we have 2 more "aggravated burglaries" reported by the 8th District as happening last Saturday (6.7.08). See if you think these should have been classified as something else instead:

• A Hispanic woman was returning to her room at 1630 Canal St. at 7:20 a.m. As she opened the door, a black man and black woman came up behind her and pushed her into her room. The 2 perpetrators took cash from the room and fled.

The man was described as 30 years old, 6' tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a red polo shirt and black shorts. The woman was described as 5"3" tall and weighing 180 pounds.

Ofc. Donald Nides, of the 8th District's Canal Street Squad, issued a warrant for Joy Armond, 27. She was arrested last December for armed robbery, but in February the DA (surprise, surprise) refused to prosecute her. (If the cops are really serious about catching these fugitives, why don't they put out a picture of them to the public? Any one of us might have seen her walking through the French Quarter.)

• 3 men were in a store at 635 Decatur St. that was closed for the night at 11:55 p.m. when a black dude burst in with a pistol and removed cash from the victims' pockets and fled.

The robber (or, according to the cops, "burglar") was described as 5'7" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a dark complexion and gray beard, wearing a white chef's coat, black pants and black shoes.

Actual armed robberies: But there were some robberies the NOPD classified as such:

• Tuesday (6.3.08), 1:05 a.m., Canal and LaSalle streets: A black man walking on Canal was accosted by another black man who pulled a knife and demanded money. The victim complied and the robber fled toward the river.

The robber was described as in his 20s, 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, with short twists in his hair, and wearing a black T-shirt and cut-off blue jeans.

• Friday (6.6.08), 4:49 a.m., Elysian Fields and St. Claude avenues: A black man sitting in his car was robbed by another black man who pulled a shotgun and demanded money. The victim complied and the robber ran across the street to a gold-colored car which sped away on St. Claude to St. Bernard Avenue.

The robber was described as wearing a red hat, red bandanna, and white T-shirt.

• Sunday (6.8.08), 1:55 a.m., Tchoupitoulas and Gravier streets: A white man standing on the corner was accosted by 3 black thugs, one of whom pulled a knife while the other 2 removed cash from victim's pockets.

One robber was described as 5'10" tall, thin build, with corn rows in his hair, light complexion, clean shaven, wearing a white T-shirt and black pants; another was described as 5'10" tall, thin build, with dreadlocks and a mustache, wearing a black shirt and black pants; the other was described as 6' tall, thin build, short haircut, wearing a white shirt and blue shorts.

Some arrests, or warrants for arrests, too:

• Patrick Porter and David Cobarruviaz, both black and 21, were arrested 6.2.08 at 4:48 a.m. by Officers Brandon Ludwig and Billy Tregle for breaking into a car at Decatur and Conti streets. the duo share a birthday on 12.18.86 but apparently don't share finances--Porter posted $5,000 bond to bail out of OPP before we could get his picture; Cobarruviaz is still there.
  

• Kendal Russ, a black punk, 17, 5'5" tall, weighing 120 pounds, is wanted for snatching the purse of a white woman at 5:09 a.m. on 5.25.08 in the 300 block of Bourbon Street.

• Michael Merrill, a black dude, 28, 5'10" tall, weighing 150 pounds, is wanted for punching a white man in the chest and taking his wallet on 5.26.08 at 4:15 p.m. at St. Ann and Dauphine streets.
  

The rest of the story: When Maj. Hosli began sending his redacted crime reports directly to citizens in late March, he was sending an email almost every day, including mostly violent crimes (but not burglaries). Now the reports have tapered off to, on average, only one report a week, which usually has little in it.

(It would be nice to assume that means crime has tapered off, but probably not. I would suspect he's being curtailed by Chief Riley again. Riley has managed to stifle his command staff more effectively than Archie ever did Edith.)

Here's what we've gleaned the past week from the Times-Picayune that hasn't appeared in the 8th District reports:

Assault and battery

• 5.30.08, 12:30 p.m., 1000 block of Ursulines Avenue
• 6.1.08, 5:40 a.m., Bourbon and Conti streets
• 6.1.08, 3:51 a.m., 100 block of Royal Street
• 6.2.08, 12:11 p.m., French Market Place
• 6.2.08, 10:40 a.m., 700 block of Canal Street
• 6.2.08, 6:00 a.m., 800 block of Bourbon Street
• 6.2.08, 3:16 a.m., Bourbon and St. Louis streets
• 6.2.08, 12:06 a.m., 400 block of Bourbon Street
• 6.3.08, 11:48 p.m., 800 block of Convention Center Boulevard
• 6.3.08, 11:00 p.m., 300 block of Bourbon Street

Burglary

• 6.2.08, 9:32 p.m., 1000 block of Annunciation Street

Theft

• 5.30.08, 9:19 p.m., first block of Canal Street
• 5.30.08, 2:17 p.m., 200 block of Poydras Street
• 5.30.08, 11:01 a.m., 800 block of Chartres Street
• 6.1.08, 3:55 p.m., 800 block of Iberville Street
• 6.1.08, 12:56 p.m., 100 block of Decatur Street
• 6.2.08, 6:08 p.m., 300 block of Camp Street
• 6.2.08, 5:34 p.m., 700 block of Iberville Street
• 6.2.08, 10:57 a.m., 200 block of St. Charles Avenue
• 6.2.08, 3:50 a.m., 300 block of Bourbon Street
• 6.2.08, 10:38 p.m., 500 block of Decatur Street
• 6.3.08, 6:48 p.m., 700 block of Bourbon Street
• 6.3.08, 5:15 p.m., 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard
• 6.3.08, 6:38 p.m., 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard
• 6.3.08, 1:54 p.m., 900 block of Iberville Street
  

Robbery (pickpocketing)

• 6.2.08, 11:55 a.m. 600 block of Bourbon Street
• 6.3.08, 12:11 a.m., 700 block of Bourbon Street
  

Riley reneges: As you can note from the above, the Times-Picayune is still running a week behind on publishing crime reports from the NOPD. Chief Riley agreed on 4.23.08 to begin providing the reports within 3 days, as required by law, to settle a suit brought by the Big City Daily. Now, from what I hear, he's saying he doesn't have enough manpower to do that job either. In truth, he has more officers per capita than New York City does.

NONPAC: The meeting is at 5:30 p.m. Thursday (6.12.08) at the Maison Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse St. (at Burgundy Street), in the Renoir Room.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Getting away with murder

Attempted murder, actually: A young punk who was charged with 2 armed robberies a year ago in the 8th District beat an attempted murder rap last Wednesday (5.28.08) in Criminal District Court.

He, or his attorney, had the good sense to request a jury trial--and it's well known that a jury of peers in Orleans Parish rarely convicts a brother for his misdeeds. We have no details on the charge; he, of course, could be innocent. Yeah, right.

James Allen, 20, still must face a charge of armed robbery in the French Quarter in which the victim essentially apprehended him. A black dude with dreadlocks and wearing a blue bandanna over his face pushed a white man, walking near the corner of Chartres and Gov. Nicholls streets at 3:19 a.m. on 5.1.07, into a doorway and demanded money.

The victim gave him a dollar. The robber, apparently dismayed with the amount offered for his efforts, pulled a handgun. The victim, apparently offended by the escalated demand, fought with his assailant until the perpetrator freed himself and fled on Gov. Nicholls. The victim chased him while calling 911 on his cellphone. The victim and police caught up with him at Royal and Gov. Nicholls streets near Verti-Mart, where police arrested Allen.

Police also suspected Allen for a robbery a couple of days earlier on 4.29.07 at 4:26 a.m. in which a man fitting Allen's description--a prominent "10th Ward" tattoo under his left eye--got out of a black Chevy Monte Carlo as it pulled up to the victim's car at stop sign at Annunciation and Poeyfarre streets in the CBD and demanded the victim's money and jewelry.

The DA, however, refused to prosecute Allen on that charge last July.

They were only cops: A 21-year-old gun-toting woman from the country walked away free a couple of weeks ago despite originally being charged with aiming her firearm at a couple of cops in the French Quarter.

Calizza Coyne, of Folsom, was originally charged with 2 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 2 counts of illegal use of a weapon, and aggravated assault with a firearm upon a peace officer. By the time the DA got done, all charges against the would-be cop killer were dropped.

When police arrived in the 800 block of St. Louis Street near Bourbon Street at 6:08 a.m. on 2.16.08, they found Coyne shooting her gun in the air. As they approached, she took aim at them. When she refused to drop her gun, one of the officers fired his at her but missed. Had he been a better shot she would have been going to see Jesus instead of the DA.

Calizza's birthday is in a couple of weeks--let's hope she doesn't come to the French Quarter to celebrate.

Not really robbery, was it?: Back in the early morning hours of 3.26.08, at 4:05 a.m. to be exact, a 34-year-old white guy went with a woman to her room at 608 Iberville St. for purposes we can only imagine. Once there, her real boyfriend allegedly pulled a pistol and demanded the victim's cellphone and wallet, which contained $71.

The victim later identified Ricardo Rodriguez, 45, from a photo lineup and detectives charged Rodriguez with armed robbery with a firearm, possession of crack, possession of prohibited drug paraphernalia.

The moral of this story, as you might imagine, has to do with the fact the DA made the armed robbery charge go away, leaving only a minor drug charge.

Hey, copper: Catching a copper thief is probably not the easiest things for cops to do, but the police did manage to apprehend Billy Black, 38, for the alleged theft of copper in the 1000 block of Canal Street (by Burgundy Street/University Place). They charged him with theft over $500 and criminal trespass.

The DA knocked off the theft charge and Billy pled guilty today (6.3.08) to the trespass charge. Judge Terry Q. Alarcon gave him 30 days in jail with credit for time served. Considering he'd been in OPP since his arrest 3.28.08, he's long gone by now. Watch your downspouts!

White boys can't be convicted: We just heard about it today, but back on 4.23.08 the DA decided not to prosecute a white guy for possession of heroin--just like 2 other charges against him for possession of crack and cocaine that have been dropped in the last 2 years.

So much for the efforts of the 8th District Taskforce officers who arrested Joseph E. Booth, 41, at "Crack Corner" (Dauphine and St. Louis streets) on 4.2.08 at 9:23 p.m.

Hard to tell why he's getting all these breaks. Black dudes rarely do.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported in May 2008

These are the crimes reported during May, 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

5.20.08, 900 Poeyfarre St.
5.20.08, Girod St. & Fulton St.
5.28.08, 1000 Conti St.

Simple robbery/pursesnatching

5.01.08, pickpocketing, St. Louis St. & Bourbon St.
5.03.08, pursesnatching, Bourbon St. & St. Ann St.
5.04.08, simple robbery, 300 Burgundy St.
5.05.08, simple robbery, 1000 N. Rampart St.
5.07.08, simple robbery, 1100 Bourbon St.
5.12.08, pickpocketing, 500 Decatur St.
5.15.08, simple robbery, 400 Bourbon St.
5.18.08, pickpocketing, 200 Bourbon St.
5.19.08, pickpocketing, Canal St.
5.22.08, pickpocketing, 400 Dauphine St.
5.22.08, pickpocketing, 500 Canal St.
5.24.08, pickpocketing, 800 Toulouse St.
5.25.08, pursesnatching, 300 Bourbon St.
5.26.08, simple robbery, 800 St. Ann St.
5.30.08, pickpocketing, Canal St.

Assault & battery

5.04.08, aggravated battery (shooting), 700 Canal St.
5.06.08, aggravated assault, 100 Bourbon St.
5.10.08, aggravated assault, 500 Bourbon St.
5.10.08, aggravated battery (shooting), 500 Bourbon St.
5.14.08, aggravated assault, 100 Bourbon St.
5.15.08, aggravated assault, St. Louis St. & Bourbon St.

Burglary

5.01.08, business, 500 St. Ann St.
5.01.08, residence, 1900 Dauphine St.
5.04.08, business, 400 Canal St.
5.05.08, business, 800 N. Rampart St.
5.05.08, business, Burgundy St. & St. Peter St.
5.08.08, 800 St. Charles Ave.
5.08.08, business, 1000 Tchoupitoulas St.
5.09.08, 500 Decatur St.
5.10.08, residence, 1000 Frenchmen St.
5.12.08, business, 900 Canal St.
5.13.08, residence, 900 Esplanade Ave.
5.15.08, residence, 900 Esplanade Ave.
5.17.08, aggravated burglary, 800 Touro St.
5.23.08, 1700 Burgundy St.
5.23.08, attempted residence, 2000 Dauphine St.
5.26.08, residence, 300 Camp St.
5.29.08, business, 1700 N. Rampart St.

Theft

5.01.08, 200 Bourbon St.
5.01.08, 900 Tchoupitoulas St.
5.01.08, 400 Bourbon St.
5.01.08, 700 Carondelet St.
5.01.08, 300 Decatur St.
5.01.08, 700 Canal St.
5.02.08, 200 Julia St.
5.02.08, 300 Royal St.
5.03.08, 100 Bourbon St.
5.03.08, 900 Canal St.
5.04.08, 500 Baronne St.
5.04.08, 1000 Canal St.
5.05.08, 900 St. Charles Ave.
5.05.08, 700 Loyola Ave.
5.05.08, 700 Orleans Ave.
5.05.08, 300 Poydras St.
5.05.08, 1200 Poydras St.
5.06.08, 100 Camp St.
5.07.08, 300 Dauphine St.
5.07.08, 700 Iberville St.
5.07.08, 500 Esplanade Ave.
5.08.08, 500 Bourbon St.
5.08.08, 800 Julia St.
5.08.08, 400 Barracks St.
5.10.08, 800 Bienville St.
5.10.08, 1400 Decatur St.
5.12.08, 800 Iberville St.
5.12.08, 1500 Tulane Ave.
5.13.08, 800 Iberville St.
5.13.08, 1000 Loyola Ave.
5.13.08, 1000 Orleans Ave.
5.13.08, 700 Canal St.
5.14.08, 100 Elk Pl.
5.15.08, 300 Chartres St.
5.16.08, 900 Canal St.
5.16.08, 900 Canal St.
5.16.08, 600 Royal St.
5.16.08, 1400 Chartres St.
5.17.08, 400 Bourbon St.
5.17.08, 700 Gravier St.
5.17.08, 100 S. Claiborne Ave.
5.17.08, 900 Burgundy St.
5.18.08, 100 St. Charles Ave.
5.18.08, 500 Bourbon St.
5.18.08, St. Charles Ave. & Common St.
5.19.08, St. Louis St. & Decatur St.
5.19.08, 1100 S. Peters St.
5.19.08, 1000 S. Peters St.
5.20.08, 700 Tchoupitoulas St.
5.20.08, 700 Tchoupitoulas St.
5.21.08, 1800 Burgundy St.
5.21.08, 900 Iberville St.
5.21.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.
5.21.08, Frenchmen St. & Burgundy St.
5.21.08, 400 N. Peters St.
5.22.08, 200 Carondelet St.
5.22.08, 500 Toulouse St.
5.23.08, 600 Poydras St.
5.23.08, 600 Decatur St.
5.23.08, 1000 Canal St.
5.24.08, 400 Dauphine St.
5.24.08, 1100 Decatur St.
5.25.08, 500 Chartres St.
5.25.08, Chartres St. & Conti St.
5.26.08, 400 Iberville St.
5.26.08, Bienville St. & Royal St.
5.27.08, 800 Decatur St.
5.28.08, 400 Bourbon St.
5.28.08, 100 Bourbon St.
5.28.08, Poydras St. & Loyola Ave.
5.28.08, 1000 Canal St.
5.29.08, 1000 Elysian Fields Ave.
5.30.08, 200 Poydras St.
5.30.08, 500 Decatur St.
5.30.08, 800 Chartres St.

Auto theft

5.01.08, Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
5.01.08, Canal St.
5.01.08, Canal St.
5.01.08, 600 Chartres St.
5.02.08, Julia St. & Camp St.
5.02.08, St. Joseph St. & Constance St.
5.02.08, Poydras St.
5.02.08, 900 Bourbon St.
5.03.08, LaSalle St. & Poydras St.
5.04.08, 900 St. Philip St.
5.04.08, Pauger St. & Dauphine St.
5.04.08, 900 Touro St.
5.04.08, Dumaine St. & Burgundy St.
5.05.08, Loyola Ave. & Perdido St.
5.05.08, S. Rampart St. & Girod St.
5.06.08, 1100 Decatur St.
5.09.08, Conti St. & N. Peters St.
5.09.08, 100 Camp St.
5.09.08, 300 St. Joseph St.
5.10.08, Elk Pl. & Tulane Ave.
5.10.08, 900 Orleans St.
5.10.08, 200 N. Peters St.
5.13.08, 1500 Perdido St.
5.13.08, Poydras St.
5.14.08, Burgundy St. & Esplanade Ave.
5.15.08, Dauphine St. & Kerlerec St.
5.18.08, 900 St. Ann St.
5.18.08, Conti St. & Decatur St.
5.18.08, Common St. & University Pl.
5.18.08, Conti St. & Decatur St.
5.19.08, 800 Baronne St.
5.19.08, Julia St. & Loyola Ave.
5.19.08, 600 Royal St.
5.20.08, Baronne St. & Union St.
5.20.08, 600 St. Louis St.
5.20.08, 600 St. Louis St.
5.22.08, 400 Canal St.
5.25.08, Bourbon St. & Canal St.
5.25.08, 200 Magazine St.
5.25.08, 800 St. Joseph St.
5.26.08, 1400 Dauphine St.
5.28.08, 600 Tchoupitoulas St.
5.29.08, Girod St. & S. Rampart St.
5.30.08, 1400 Royal St.

Car break-ins

5.01.08, Gov. Nicholls St. & Royal St.
5.01.08, 1000 St. Philip St.
5.01.08, 100 University Pl.
5.02.08, 1000 Conti St.
5.02.08, 700 St. Philip St.
5.04.08, Basin St. & Canal St.
5.06.08, 1300 Royal St.
5.08.08, 1000 Conti St.
5.08.08, 1000 Conti St.
5.09.08, 800 Poydras St.
5.09.08, Camp St. & Poydras St.
5.13.08, 100 N. Rampart St.
5.14.08, Touro St. & Burgundy St.
5.18.08, 300 Loyola Ave.
5.19.08, Gravier St. & Baronne St.
5.19.08, Girod St. & S. Rampart St.
5.19.08, Elk Pl. & Canal St.
5.23.08, 700 Gravier St.
5.24.08, Chartres St. & Kerlerec St.
5.24.08, Magazine St. & Poydras St.
5.25.08, 900 Union St.
5.25.08, 300 Canal St.
5.26.08, Perdido St. & Penn St.
5.27.08, 800 Common St.
5.27.08, 800 Commerce St.
5.28.08, 1000 Poeyfarre St.
5.30.08, 600 Iberville St.

Of terrorists, chiefs, beefs

Terrorists in the French Quarter?: The FBI is being tight-lipped about why an anti-terrorism task force swooped down on the French Quarter on Wednesday morning.

According to one FBI agent, the task force raided "multiple locations...in furtherance of an ongoing criminal investigation." No word whether the locations were bars, dives, T-shirt shops, or private residences.

In a rather cryptic explanation of the operation, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said, "It's not a matter that poses any danger to the public." It's always good to know that terrorism is nothing to worry about--for a minute there I thought they might be looking for weapons of mass destruction.

What was curious was the law enforcement agencies NOT in the task force. Included was the NOPD, the Harbor Police, the State Police, the IRS, the Secret Service, the Border Patrol, the U.S. Marshal's Service, and the Sheriff's Offices from St. Bernard, Plaquemines, St. John and St. Charles parishes.

Excluded were the Drug Enforcement Agency, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's Office.

New chief: No, not that chief, but a new deputy chief to head the operations bureau, which controls all the patrol functions of all 8 NOPD districts.

Maj. Kirk Bouyelas, who inherited command of the 2nd District from Maj. Edwin Hosli when Hosli came to the 8th District in January, 2007, will take over Sunday (6.1.08) as the third in command of the NOPD.

Maj. Bouyelas, renown as a fantasy football fanatic, is reputed to be one of the most computer-savvy commanders in the NOPD. He pioneered an "email blast" to Uptown citizens about the time Maj. Hosli began helping launch NOcrimeline in the French Quarter.

It's not known yet whether Maj. Bouyelas in his new role will have any impact on getting better crime information to the public. Also not known is whether this forebodes a shake-up among district commanders, which often accompanies a regime change at headquarters.

Where's the beef?: Or more correctly, where's the result of the beef? The NOPD supposedly agreed last Friday (5.23.08) to begin releasing crime incident reports on a timely basis after the Times-Picayune sued for access to them.

The NOPD stipulated that the reports would first have to be reviewed by a shift supervisor before they are released. There is no word on whether the NOPD will continue to charge the public $25 for each incident report or if they will be available free. And there's no word on whether each individual district will be able to release the, as Maj. Hosli had been doing in the 8th, or if they'll only be available at some hard-to-access central location.

In the meantime, there's been no evident improvement in the T-P's publication of crime news, so perhaps the protocol for retrieving these reports hasn't been resolved yet.

Now for the news: Be that as it is. Finally on Tuesday (5.27.08) we got another update from the 8th District--the first since the previous Tuesday. It would be nice to know that so little is happening, but I'm not so sure: The 8th District reported only 3 incidents in the last 10 days.

Here's what the 8th District reported:

• Armed robbery, 1000 block of Conti Street, Wednesday (5.28.08), 6:20 a.m.: 2 white men, 43 and 45, were walking on Conti when they were approached from behind by 2 black men and a black woman. One of the perpetrators pulled a handgun and demanded the victims' wallets. The victims complied and the robbers fled on foot. The gunman was described as 35 to 40 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 160 pounds, and wearing a striped shirt. Detectives, however, smell something fishy in the victims' stories and may throw this case back.
  

• Robbery, St. Ann and Dauphine streets, Monday (5.26.08), 4:15 p.m.: A white man was accosted by a black man who punched him in the chest and took his wallet. The thief took the cash out of the wallet and hopped into the passenger side of a burgundy 4-door sedan, which sped off in an undetermined direction. The robber was described as 20 to 25 years old, wearing a dark-colored shirt, green pants and white sneakers. There was no description of the driver of the getaway car.

• Pursesnatching, 300 Bourbon St., Sunday (5.25.08), 5:09 a.m.: A white female was arguing with 2 men when a black guy came up and grabbed her purse off her shoulder. The perpetrator, wearing a red hat, black shirt and pants, fled down Bienville Street toward N. Rampart Street.

Here's what the T-P reported but the 8th District didn't:

• Assault and battery:
• 500 block of Bourbon Street, Sunday (5.25.08), 4:31 a.m.
• 1000 block of Chartres Street, Saturday (5.24.08), 3:25 a.m.
• Julia and S. Peters streets, Saturday (5.24.08), 3:25 a.m.

• Theft:
• 400 block of Bourbon Street, Wednesday (5.28.08), 11:13 p.m.

Obviously, we do not know what's really going on in the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle and CBD if we rely on the "8th District Updates" which arrive spasmodically and don't come close to revealing all crimes in our neighborhoods. If you want to do your neighbors a favor, report any crimes you're aware of to NOcrimeline and we'll alert them--perhaps it will save them from becoming victims themselves.

False alarm: Detectives thought they had their man--actually a boy--in the "aggravated burglary" at 831 Touro St. on 5.17.08, but an arrest warrant initially issued Thursday (5.29.08) has been rescinded.

In that incident, 5 black boys entered the house about 4 p.m. where 2 Hispanic men were working and, armed with a handgun and hammer, demanded the men's wallets, which contained about $150.

Why wasn't this an armed robbery? Due to a quirk in the law, if the crooks come INSIDE your house and rob you, it's only "aggravated burglary", punishable by as little as a year in jail. If they rob you OUTSIDE, even on your porch, it's armed robbery, punishable by at least 10 years and up to 99 years in prison. Sounds like Rep. Cedric Richmond ought to stop screwing around with making the Sazerac the official state cocktail and worry more about creating some serious penalties for home invasions.

More drug arrests: We should have called Officers James Lipscomb and Kelly Morel of the 8th District Task Force a 2-OFFICER drug-wrecking crew last week since Ofc. Morel is female.

After making 9 drug arrests the week before, they made an additional 4 from 5.20.08-5.23.08, mostly for minor drug offenses:

• N. Peters Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, 5.20.08, 11:28 p.m., a black man, 21, and a white man, 29.
• N. Peters Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, 5.21.08, 10:45 p.m., a Hispanic man, 20.
• 400 block of Esplanade Avenue (between N. Peters Street and Decatur Street), 5.22.08, 12:30 a.m., a black man, 24.
• 1000 block of Bienville Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets), 5.23.08, 1:25 a.m., a black man, 24.

Another drug arrest was made by Det. Bryan Mulvey, who arrested 2 black men, 25 and 27, in the 500 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets).

12-hour shifts start Sunday?: The word's not official, but coinciding with the arrival of a new deputy chief of operations there's been talk of once again expanding every cop's day from 8 hours to 12. We hear that doesn't sit well with many officers.

A high-ranking officer (not Maj. Hosli), in trying to dissuade the discontent, sheds some light on the imperious reign of Big Chief Warren Riley when he says, "The fact is, the Superintendent alone decides, often without the input of his command staff or even over their objections. I don't know which, if any, of the chiefs were polled for their input on 12-hour shifts, but the Superintendent doesn't always ask for or follow their advice."

Gee, Chief, you think if you drew on the expertise of your deputy chiefs and other ranking officers you might come up with some solutions to reducing crime just a little bit in the city?

Speaking of fighting crime: Do you have your video surveillance camera up and working on your house yet? QuarterSafe, which is working alongside the NOPD to build a reliable network of citizen-owned security cameras to deter and catch criminals, has a plan where you can get a camera for as little as $10.

According to Joshua Clark, who's spearheading the effort, says residents report ordering cameras but few have contacted QuarterSafe to network their systems with the NOPD. Go to www.QuarterSafe.com for complete information.

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

Thom Kahler

Bourbon going bonkers

What's with this?: Bourbon Street, for all its rowdiness at all hours, is usually rather tame crimewise: Disneyland with alcohol. But this month, there all sorts of things happening there that should give you pause for your safety.

There was gunplay at Chris Owens' Club in the 500 block. A black chick was busted at Larry Flynt's Barely Legal strip joint in the 400 block for peddling cocaine. A white "lady" pulled a rod to chase away 2 unwanted suitors in the 100 block. Now this:

• A black woman, 22, barred from entering the Fat Catz Music Club at 440 Bourbon St. last Thursday (5.15.08) returned about 2 a.m. in a car and allegedly pointed a pistol at the bouncer who barred her. She fled in the vehicle but was apprehended a short time later. Arrested was Ciera Wells, who was charged with aggravated assault. She posted her bond of $20,000 and got out of jail before Sheriff Marlin Gusman could focus his Instamatic.

• A white couple was robbed in the restroom of Mango Mango (called by some "Mangle Mangle" after its abysmal conversion of the Old Absinthe House into a daiquiri dive nearly 10 years ago) at 400 Bourbon St. last Friday (5.16.08) at 4:30 a.m. The man was followed into the restroom by a white man, a black man, and a light-skinned black woman. One of the men struck the male victim. When the female victim tried to intercede, the black woman struck her. The black woman took the man's wallet and fled with her 2 male accomplices.
  

Dragging in the druggies: The 8th District Task Force has been hauling in street urchins on drug charges right and left since last Tuesday (5.13.08). Most are first time offenders, but Officers James Lipscomb and Kelly Morel scored big time with the arrest of Howard Fleming on Friday.

Fleming, 27, was apprehended at Chartres Street and Elysian Fields Avenue and charged with possession with intent to distribute Ecstasy, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, attempted escape, resisting arrest, flight from an officer, assault on a police officer, criminal damage. He's in OPP on $71,500 bond for the 7 charges.

His only other previous charges in Orleans Parish were for first time possession of marijuana--3 times! The first time he was arrested 8.23.06, the DA refused to prosecute him. The next 2 times, on 12.22.06 and 7.23.07, he pled guilty each time and each time paid a fine of $200 (Don't ask me how you do something for the first time twice--must be a peculiarity of the Napoleonic Code).

He must have figured the penalties for drugs wasn't that great, so what the hell? This time he may be in just a little deeper--look at this picture.

Officers Lipscomb and Morel have been a 2-man drug wrecking crew the past week, making 8 other drug arrests, mostly for minor drug offenses:

• 800 block of St. Ann Street (between Dauphine and Bourbon streets), Tuesday (5.20.08), 2:30 a.m., white male, 32.

• St. Louis and Dauphine streets, Tuesday (5.20.08), 12:05 a.m., black male, 42.

• 1900 block of N. Rampart Street (between Pauger and Touro streets), Friday (5.16.08), 12:15 a.m., black male, 47.

• St. Ann and Bourbon streets, Thursday (5.15.08), 11:25 p.m., black male, 45.

• N. Peters Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, Thursday (5.15.08), 1:37 a.m., black male, 21.

• Dauphine and Orleans streets, Wednesday (5.14.08), 2 a.m., white man, 54.

• N. Peters Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, Wednesday (5.14.08), 10:30 p.m., 2 black males, 20.

• N. Peters Street and Elysian Fields Avenue, Wednesday (5.14.08), 10 p.m., white female, 20.

Other officers in the 8th District Task Force made these additional drug arrests:

• 900 block of St. Louis Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets), Tuesday (5.20.08), 1:20 a.m., Officers Willie Jenkins and Calcedonia Fiorella arrested a white male, 54.

• 300 block of Dauphine Street (between Bienville and Conti streets), Monday (5.19.08), 10:30 p.m., Officers Kelsey Lewis and Johnnie Brumfield arrested a black man, 32.

• Dauphine and St. Ann streets, Tuesday (5.13.08), 9:45 p.m., Officer Kelsey Lewis arrested a white female, 44.

These crimes were NOT reported: These crimes have been printed in the Times-Picayune but NOT reported by the 8th District, so it begs the question whether they happened or not:

• Aggravated burglary: 800 block of Touro Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets in the Marigny Triangle), Saturday (5.17.08), 4:01 p.m. (We're confident this happened because it was reported by a NOcrimeline subscriber as well as the T-P, though it wasn't reported by the 8th District.) 5 black boys entered a house where 2 Hispanic men were working and, armed with a handgun and hammer, demanded the men's wallets, which contained about $150.

Now let's see: If someone invades my home armed with a gun it's "aggravated burglary" and they could get at least 1 and up to 30 years if convicted. But if they rob me out on the street, they could get 10 to 99 years without parole for "armed robbery". Who decides these things?

• Assault and battery:

• Friday (5.16.08):
  
• 600 block of Conti Street, 4:03 p.m.
• Saturday (5.17.08):
  
• 400 block of Bourbon Street, 1 a.m.
• Orleans and Royal streets, 1:24 a.m.
• Constance and Julia streets, 2:36 a.m.
• 800 block of Fulton Street, 3:54 a.m.
• 300 block of Bourbon Street, 7:34 p.m.
• Sunday (5.18.08):
  
• First block of Canal Street, 5:24 a.m.
• 900 block of Iberville Street, 8:30 a.m.
• 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 5:11 p.m.

• Thefts:
• Friday (5.16.08):
  
• 600 block of Royal Street, 2:31 p.m.
• 900 block of Canal Street, 4:22 p.m.
• 1000 block of Canal Street, 5:12 p.m.
• 900 block of Canal Street, 6:35 p.m.
• Saturday (5.17.08):
  
• 200 block of St. Charles Avenue, 6:17 a.m.
• 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 11:46 a.m.
• 100 block of S. Claiborne Avenue, 11:59 a.m.
• 1000 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 2:50 p.m.
• 1400 block of Chartres Street, 7:55 p.m.
  
• Sunday (5.18.20):
  
• 500 block of Bourbon Street, Sunday (5.18.20), 3:04 a.m.
• Gravier Street and Loyola Avenue, 5:55 a.m.
• 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 9:39 a.m.
• 900 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 10:38 a.m.
• 100 block of St. Charles Avenue, 12:54 p.m.
• 800 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 6:55 p.m.

These crimes WERE reported: A well-armed trio of young black boys was apprehended this morning (5.20.08) after pulling off 2 armed robberies in the CBD.

In the first at 4:30 a.m. at Girod and Fulton streets, 2 white men, ages 39 and 30, were approached by the gang, one of whom was armed with a shotgun and ordered the pair to stop. The victims dropped their wallets on the ground and fled.

In the second at 4:45 a.m., a white 70-year-old cab driver was standing in the 900 block of Poeyfarre Street (between Constance and Annunciation streets) was approached by the gang wielding the shotgun and this time another boy had a pistol. They demanded the man's money and the victim complied.

The young punks fled on foot but were apprehended a short time later by the police, who confiscated the shotgun and pistol. Police arrested the young punks, who were identified by the Times-Picayune as Frederick Wilson, 15, Ericton Wilson, 14, and Brandon Carter, 15.

Once again, the question is: where the hell were the police? Wouldn't you think cops patrolling (they do patrol, don't they?) the area around the Convention Center might notice young boys running around at this hour of the morning? Don't we still have curfew laws the cops should have been enforcing? And don't you think they might have noticed a shotgun being toted down the street? If the cops had been doing their jobs, there's 3 people--maybe in town for a convention--who wouldn't have fallen victim to crime.

Another crime reported: A black couple who attacked a black woman as she was getting into her car in the 1100 block of Poydras Street yesterday (5.19.08) at 5 p.m. was apprehended today (5.20.08).

The victim locked her car doors when she noticed the couple walking toward her. The man pulled a pistol and began beating on the car's window with the butt of his gun. He then handed the gun to his female accomplice while he tried to pull the car's door open. The woman pointed the gun at the victim while the man managed to get the door open. After punching the victim in the chest, the perpetrators fled on foot.

Charisse Lykes, 32, was arrested just before 1 p.m. today and charged with 3 counts of aggravated assault, but she was freed on her own recognizance 4 hours later by Judge Camille Buras.

Bruce Pierre, 36, was booked shortly after 3 p.m. today (5.20.08) on a warrant for battery, but that charge was wiped from court records after Judge Ben Willard sprung him from jail on his own recognizance.

I don't know what these 2 have on those judges, but it doesn't make me feel any safer walking the streets. Remember those names when all the judges are up for election this fall.

Back behind bars: David Bonds, 19, was returned to Orleans Parish Prison today (5.20.08) just after noon to face a charge of attempted first degree murder. He is being held on $750,000 bond.

Famous as the kid who beat a murder rap last month in the case of a noted 9th Ward musician, Bonds was apprehended Friday (5.16.08) afternoon in Thibodaux by Lafourche Parish Sheriff's deputies after a manhunt resulted in a brief foot chase.

The kid who beat the murder rap in the case of a Mid-city musician only to be charged less than a month later with attempted murder in a shooting at Canal and St. Charles streets was arrested yesterday.

Bonds allegedly shot a 25-year-old white guy in the chest with a handgun following an argument at Canal and St. Charles streets at 5:35 a.m. on 5.4.08. At that time the victim was reported as critical but stable at a local hospital. A pair of eyewitnesses to the Canal Street shooting identified Bonds from photographs.

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

Thom Kahler

Bringing in the bad guys

Bonds, David Bonds: The kid who beat a murder rap in the case of a Mid-city musician--only to be charged less than a month later with attempted murder in a shooting at Canal and St. Charles streets--has been apprehended.

David Bonds, 19, was arrested yesterday (5.16.08) afternoon in Thibodaux by Lafourche Parish Sheriff's deputies after a manhunt resulted in a brief foot chase. He's being held as in the Lafourche Detention Center in Thibodaux, charged as a fugitive and for resisting arrest.

Bonds allegedly shot a 25-year-old white guy in the chest with a handgun following an argument on the busy CBD corner at 5:35 a.m. on 5.4.08. At that time the victim was reported as critical but stable at a local hospital. (The Times-Picayune reported that Bonds is wanted for murder in this case, but you know how they are with the facts. To our knowledge the victim has not died and Bonds is still charged only with attempted murder.)

A pair of eyewitnesses to the Canal Street shooting 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.

Shooter's target back behind bars: To our knowledge, the 8th District didn't toot their own horn when they rearrested Bruce Jones--the citizen shooter's target--on 4.15.08 for attempted armed robbery.

Jones, 26, nearly had his butt shot off by a citizen who turned the tables on him when Jones came up behind the citizen in the 500 block of Burgundy Street at 12:30 a.m. on 4.8.08. As Jones allegedly went to pull a large gun from his waistband, the citizen pulled his own .38-caliber revolver and got off 4 laser-guided shots at Jones. Jones, a lucky man indeed, was not hit, and may have even been relieved when cops arrived and hauled him off, charged with aggravated assault and carrying a concealed weapon. (The citizen shooter, by the way, finally got his gun back just recently.)

After Jones made the rather paltry $6,000 bond the next day and got out of jail, 8th District detectives decided he was a suspect in the attempted armed robbery of the Compac convenience store at Dauphine and St. Louis streets on 3.24.08 and issued a warrant for his arrest. They quietly hauled him in on 4.15.08 and now he sits in OPP on $35,000 bond.

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

Thom Kahler

War on crime won?

Or just quiet?: It's probably the sign of a sick mind when you think the police are not reporting the crimes committed in your neighborhood rather than rejoicing that maybe the good guys have finally turned the tide on the bad guys. But, man, it's been quiet in the 8th District the last couple of weeks; a few pursesnatchings and a couple of more dangerous crimes that didn't involve law-abiding citizens. But not the usual complement of armed robberies, assaults, and mayhem that usually terrorizes the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, and CBD.

If it's true that it's not happening rather than not being reported, then the goal is being achieved. Let's rejoice and hope it's sustained.

But there was a shooting: Talk about having somebody out to get you. On Saturday (5.10.08) at about 12:30 a.m., a black gentleman, a patron of Chris Owens Club, got into an argument with a black ruffian who allegedly pulled a pistol and pointed it at him. The victim grabbed the gun and wrestled it away from his assailant.

Police quickly arrived and arrested Terrence Johnson, 21, (pictured top) and charged him with aggravated assault and illegally carrying a weapon.

But that's not the end of the story. As the victim exited the club at 500 Bourbon St. a short while later, he spotted another black dude who apparently didn't much care for him either because he too pulled a gun and allegedly fired it at him. As luck would have it, the bullet missed the intended victim and instead struck a black woman standing outside the club in the leg. She was taken to the hospital where she was listed in stable condition.

The gunman fled on foot but was apprehended a short time later and his pistol recovered. Police arrested Christopher Nabonne, 18, (pictured bottom) and charged him with aggravated battery and aggravated assault. (Why not attempted murder? Because he didn't hit the actual person he intended to shoot?)

Unless he's sure these are the only guys out to get him, the victim may want to consider residence elsewhere. They say Montana is lovely this time of the year.

Then there was this: You might remember reading in the Times-Picayune on Tuesday (5.13.08) about a shooting at Touro and Burgundy streets on Sunday (5.11.08) at 10:04 p.m. The paper reported that "a stranger ran up to a vehicle being driven by a 24-year-old man shot the man in the face, chest, side and buttocks" and that the victim underwent surgery at Tulane University Hospital. But Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District which includes the Marigny Triangle where the incident supposedly happened, has no idea what the T-P is talking about. He has no record of such a crime occurring in his jurisdiction, and he would know if it had.

You don't supposed the Times-Picayune makes this stuff up, do you? Naw, come on...really? From my 40 years in newspapers, I know they make mistakes, but I know of none who cut a story from a whole piece of cloth. Inquiries to the T-P for more information on this "incident" have been for naught. Finally on Friday (5.16.08) the T-P printed a correction: the shooting was at Touro and Urquhart streets--4 blocks away in the NOPD's 1st District.

And, as Maj. Hosli notes, wouldn't you think a guy being blasted 4 times would be all over the TV news?

Speaking of which: As we reported in our last column, the police and the public were at odds over the mysterious mugging 4.24.08 of "Kevin". A friend of the victim's complained that the 8th District did not have a report on the incident; the 8th District complained that no one had come forward to make a report.

Now the friend quoted in the column, plus other friends of Kevin's, have come forward and are cooperating with Maj. Hosli in trying to piece together what happened. Stay tuned; we'll report it when we get it.

What it boils down to is this: If you know about a crime, or even witness something suspicious, call the police and tell them what you know. Police work thrives on input from the public. If you care about curbing crime, you have to do your part by providing that input.

Pistol-packing mama: 8th District police arrested a 24-year-old white chick for allegedly pulling a pistol and pointed it at a white guy and a black guy during an argument Wednesday (5.14.08) at 4:40 a.m. in the 100 block of Bourbon Street.

After brandishing the gun, she walked away, but police caught up with and arrested Lyndi Gajan and charged her with aggravated assault and illegally carrying a weapon.

Her bond was set at $7,000, but Judge Frank Marullo Jr. let her out on her own recognizance.

Barely legal, indeed: On 5.8.08 at 6:45 a.m., 8th District officers Terrence Wilson and Joseph Jefferson arrested Crystal Ellis, a 27-year-old black woman, at Larry Flynt's Barely Legal strip club, 411 Bourbon St., and charged her with possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Her bond was set at $10,000, but apparently she was sufficiently endowed to be able to post that amount rather quickly and get out of jail, so we can't show you her picture.

His first time?: The next day (5.9.08) at 5:45 a.m., 8th District Officer Claude Daniel arrested Tevest Vance, a 30-year-old black dude, at Burgundy and Conti streets, and charged him with "first offense" possession of marijuana.

The trouble is, Vance has a long history of drug charges--including pleading guilty to "first offense" possession of marijuana in 1999. So tell me again how the justice system works.

Burglar thwarted: Without supplying any details, 8th District police arrested Kevin Earin, 45, for burglary Monday (5.12.08) at 1:25 a.m. at 921 Canal St., which is listed as the address of The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton. His bond is set at $25,000, far more than even drug dealers get.

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

Thom Kahler