Getting away with murder

Will he get away with it?: Murder charges have been quietly dropped against the suspect in New Orleans' first homicide since Katrina.

Cleveland Moore, 41, who had been the subject of a manhunt since the fall of 2005 was finally captured almost 2 years later in Florida and returned to New Orleans. But 2 months ago--with no fanfare or outrage--District Attorney Keva Landrum-Johnson dropped the 1st-degree murder charges against him on 5.3.08.

Moore is suspected in the in the brutal beating of beloved French Quarter icon, Jon Newlin, 56, and was suspected in the stabbing death of Newlin's neighbor, Joyce Rader, at Newlin's home in the 700 block of Marigny Street on 11.14.05.

Moore, best described delicately as a "friend" of Newlin's who occasionally stayed with the literary light at his home in the Faubourg Marigny, disappeared after the crime.

According to the story we get, Moore allegedly beat Newlin in the kitchen of his home with an unknown object until the poet passed out. Then when Rader, a neighbor of Newlin's, came to investigate the commotion, she was stabbed or slashed by Newlin's assailant.

Initially, an arrest warrant for Moore charged him only with aggravated battery in the assault on Newlin. Because Newlin had been rendered unconscious, he told police he had not witnessed the attack on Rader and so no murder charges were filed.

Eventually, NOPD Homicide Det. Erbin Bush developed enough evidence to issue a warrant for Moore on murder charges on 10.19.07. A week later, Moore was located in Tallahassee, Florida and arrested there by sheriff's deputies. He was extradited to Louisiana and booked into OPP in January and was being held with no bond on charges of 1st-degree murder and aggravated 2nd-degree battery.

Now charged with only aggravated battery, Moore could bail out of OPP with a $250,000 cash bond set by Judge Ben Willard. He is not scheduled in court again until 7.31.08.

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

Now if he could just remember what happened on that tragic Monday it might help put away his assailant for good, rather than the mere 15 years he faces if convicted.

The other way would be for the Orleans Parish DA to learn to try cases on circumstantial evidence. Like in California, where you can bet Scott Peterson wishes he could have faced Louisiana prosecutors instead. Or more specifically the Orleans Parish prosecutor.

The only thing to be said good about her: The DA, Keva Landrum-Johnson, doesn't seem to be prejudiced. She frees white suspects too.

Last Saturday (6.28.08) she refused to prosecute Ronald G. Tice, 37, on a charge of aggravated assault.

In broad daylight at 11 a.m. on 3.31.08 at the corner of Conti and Burgundy streets, Tice got into an argument with a black guy and allegedly tried to stab the man with a small knife. Police caught up with Tice a couple of blocks away and arrested him at Conti and Basin Street.

When they do go to trial: A suspect charged with 2 armed robberies in the 8th District and a slew of other offenses--including attempted murder--managed to elude the most serious charges and get only a 10-year sentence for aggravated battery.

James Allen, 20, (for whom the sheriff couldn't manage to get a picture) was sentenced on 6.25.08 after a jury convicted him of the charge while finding him not guilty of attempted murder in a case we have no details on.

We know the DA dismissed a charge of armed robbery with a firearm for a robbery at Annunciation and Poeyfarre streets on 4.29.07. But we can't figure out what happened with charges against him of robbing a man at Gov. Nicholls and Chartres streets at 3:19 a.m. on 5.1.07.

He is due in court again 8.25.08 on a "multiple bill" to try to get him put away for a long time as a career criminal.

Will they ever nab him?: An arrest warrant has been issued for a guy who robbed an Hispanic man at a Canal Street eatery, a guy who has eluded police and fought like a ferret when cornered.

According to 8th District detectives, Thomas Anderson, 26, grabbed the wallet out of the hand of a Hispanic who was eating in the Au Bon Gourmet Deli, at Canal and S. Rampart streets, on 6.25.08.

The victim identified Anderson from a photo line-up they showed him (why don't they show us so we can help catch the guy?). Anderson is described at 5'6" tall, weighing 150 pounds.

In 2007, he was charged again with battery on a police officer and resisting an officer. He posted a $3,000 bond and never bothered to show up for his court date 11.14.07.

In 2003, Anderson was charged with battery on a police officer and attempted escape in connection with his arrest on burglary and other charges. (The DA let him go on all the charges.)

But the real coup was earlier in 2003, when Anderson--or someone said to be him--pled guilty 8.20.03 to possession of a stolen auto and was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Then Anderson--or someone said to be him--showed up in court and was fingerprinted, which, according to the court docket, "determined that this not the right defendant that plead guilty; someone else used this defendant's name and date of birth."

So Anderson was set free. (Now that's having a real friend in a time of need!)

Now Anderson, whatever he looks like, is out there, walking amongst us, avoiding the cops. (Damn! Wish we had a picture!)

You read it here first: We told you last week (6.25.08) that the judge had increased the bond on David Bonds, 19, the suspect in an attempted murder on Canal Street from $750,000 to $1 million. The Big City Daily never got around to making a big deal of it until a whole week later--on 7.2.08. I thought they were supposed to be the newspaper?

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

Thom Kahler

Fireworks in the French Quarter

Beware of trio of robbers: For the second time in 2 weeks, bullets flew in the French Quarter, leaving a victim wounded.

Tuesday morning (7.1.08) around 2:10 a.m. on Royal Street at Toulouse Street, gunfire erupted as 3 black hoodlums tried to rob a white couple. A neighbor in the area reported the male victim pushed his female companion to safety in the doorway of the Elliot Gallery at 540 Royal St. as one of the robbers opened fire, shooting several times, striking the victim in the leg.

There is speculation this may be the same trio of armed robbers who are stalking the Toulouse Street corridor and robbed another couple over the weekend in the Quarter.

In that robbbery, a white couple walking in the 500 block of Toulouse Street near Chartres Street on Saturday (6.28.08) at 4:15 a.m., were held up by 3 black men armed to the hilt. While 2 of the black dudes, one armed with a black handgun and the other with a silver-colored handgun, held the victims at gunpoint and told them to be quiet, the third thief emptied the victims pockets. They then fled down Toulouse on foot.

The robbers were described as 17 to 24 years old, 2 of them as 5'11" tall, weighing 130 pounds, and the other as 5'8" tall, weighing 120 pounds.

The 8th District hasn't reported on Tuesday morning's incident, and was delinquent on supplying info on Saturday's robbery. Ofc. Brian Shubert, who compiles the reports, is on vacation this week; his replacement has found it a daunting task to compile all this information. Seems that's a good argument for just sending out the Incident Reports intact as the 8th District used to, before Big Chief Warren Riley got in a snit.

Arrests in brutal hold-up: 8th District Taskforce officers last Wednesday (6.25.08) apprehended a pair of punks wanted as suspects in the armed robbery of a 58-year-old man in the 500 block of Toulouse on 6.19.08. Arrested were James Dawson, 22, (left) and Tony Graps, 21, (right) Each was charged with armed robbery with a firearm and each has a $100,000 bond keeping them in OPP.

According to the police report, one perpetrator got behind the victim and began to strike him with his pistol, knocking him to the ground. The other perp took a wallet from the victim's pocket. The robbers then fled on Chartres Street.

According to a friend of the victim, the robbers got only $7 from the victim's pockets but "then proceeded to kick and punch him while (he was) lying on the ground protecting himself."

Stabbing on Bourbon Street: A white guy trying to break up a fight between his friends and a black gang in the 200 block of Bourbon Street on Saturday morning (6.28.08) at 3:35 a.m. realized only later that he had been stabbed.

He told police he felt one of the blacks punch him in the back of his neck, but only after the black gang fled and a friend of his told him he was bleeding did he find the stab wound in his neck.

Police arrested Donnie J. Nelson, 27, and charged him with one count of aggravated battery and 2 counts of simple battery. He is being held on $25,000 bond in OPP.

Rash of pursesnatchings: At least 3 pursesnatchings marred the weekend, with only one arrest noted:

• Friday (6.27.08), 2:10 a.m., Burgundy and Frenchmen streets: A white woman and friend were about to enter a bar when 2 black dudes attempted to take the woman's purse.

One thug, in his 20's, 5'10" tall, weighing 150 pounds, managed to get the purse and fled on foot up Frenchmen toward Esplanade Avenue; the other who spoke a foreign language, also in his 20's and weighing 150 pounds, 5'6" tall, fled on Burgundy toward Elysian Fields Avenue.

• Saturday (6.27.08), 12:45 a.m., 300 block of Julia Street: A white woman and a friend were walking toward Commerce Street when an Hispanic male came up from behind and grabbed the woman's purse.

The thief was described as in his 20's, 5'7" tall, weighing 180 pounds.

• Monday (6.29.08), 3:50 a.m., 100 block of Bourbon Street: A white woman walking along Bourbon felt a bump from a black dude who took her purse from under her arm and then fled on foot.

Police later arrested Randy Cotton, 27, and charged him with pursesnatching and possession of stolen property. He's being held on $85,000 bond in OPP.

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported in June 2008

These are the crimes reported during June, 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
6.08.08, knife, Tchoupitoulas St. & Gravier St.
6.10.08, attempted, knife, Carondelet St. & Gravier St.
6.10.08, gun, 800 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.19.08, gun, 500 Toulouse St.
6.22.08, 1100 Bourbon St.
6.23.08, gun, Gov. Nicholls St. & Burgun,dy St.
6.28.08, gun, Chartres St. & Toulouse St.

Simple robbery
6.02.08, pickpocketing, 600 Bourbon St.
6.02.08, pickpocketing, 700 Bourbon St.
6.12.08, pickpocketing, Gravier St. & St. Charles Ave.
6.13.08, pickpocketing, 400 Carondelet St.
6.16.08, pursesnatching, 700 Orleans Ave.
6.21.08, simple robbery, St. Louis St. & Bourbon St.
6.22.08, pickpocketing, Burgun,dy St. & St. Peter St.
6.26.08, pickpocketing, St. Louis St. & Bourbon St.
6.27.08, pursesnatching, Frenchmen St. & Burgun,dy St.
6.27.08, pursesnatching, Commerce St. & Julia St.
6.28.08, pickpocketing, 300 Canal St.
6.29.08, pursesnatching, 100 Bourbon St.

Assault & battery
6.13.08, aggravated battery, cutting, Royal St. & St. Peter St.
6.16.08, aggravated battery, shooting, 300 Dauphine St.
6.23.08, aggravated assault, 900 Canal St.
6.28.08, aggravated battery, cutting, 200 Bourbon St.

Burglary
6.02.08, business, 1000 Annuciation St.
6.04.08, business, 600 Decatur St.
6.04.08, residential, 1400 Bourbon St.
6.07.08, aggravated, 500 Decatur St.
6.07.08, aggravated, 1600 Canal St.
6.10.08, residential, 800 Burgun,dy St.
6.15.08, residential, 900 Esplanade Ave.
6.16.08, business, 500 Toulouse St.
6.19.08, business, 900 Poeyfarre St.
6.20.08, business, 1000 Bienville St.
6.25.08, business, 1300 Girod St.
6.25.08, residential, 900 Dauphine St.
6.29.08, simple burglary, 400 O'Keefe Ave.

Theft
6.01.08, 100 Decatur St.
6.01.08, 800 Iberville St.
6.02.08, 200 St. Charles Ave.
6.02.08, 700 Iberville St.
6.02.08, 900 Iberville St.
6.02.08, 300 Bourbon St.
6.02.08, 1000 Bienville St.
6.02.08, 300 Camp St.
6.03.08, 700 Bourbon St.
6.03.08, 900 Convention Center Blvd.
6.03.08, 900 Convention Center Blvd.
6.04.08, 300 Julia St.
6.04.08, 400 St. Charles Ave.
6.04.08, 300 Bourbon St.
6.04.08, bicycle, Canal St.
6.05.08, 300 Bourbon St.
6.05.08, 300 Julia St.
6.05.08, shoplifting, 1000 Canal St.
6.05.08, shoplifting, 700 Royal St.
6.06.08, 100 Bourbon St.
6.06.08, 300 Bourbon St.
6.06.08, 700 Camp St.
6.06.08, attempted, Royal St. & St. Peter St.
6.07.08, shoplifting, 300 Canal St.
6.08.08, 300 Camp St.
6.08.08, bicycle, Royal St. & Orleans Ave.
6.09.08, 800 Esplanade Ave.
6.09.08, Poydras St.
6.09.08, 1000 Elysian Fields Ave.
6.09.08, 1200 Chartres St.
6.09.08, 600 St. Louis St.
6.09.08, 600 Decatur St.
6.09.08, Poydras St.
6.09.08, 100 Iberville St.
6.10.08, St. Peter St. & Bourbon St.
6.10.08, Poydras St.
6.10.08, 900 Burgun,dy St.
6.10.08, Poydras St.
6.10.08, 400 Bourbon St.
6.10.08, shoplifting, 1000 Canal St.
6.11.08, 600 Decatur St.
6.12.08, shoplifting, 1000 Canal St.
6.13.08, 400 Bourbon St.
6.13.08, shoplifting, 700 Royal St.
6.14.08, Poydras St.
6.14.08, 1600 Canal St.
6.14.08, Poydras St.
6.14.08, 1000 Loyola Ave.
6.15.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.
6.15.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.
6.15.08, 700 Lafayette St.
6.15.08, 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.17.08, shoplifting, 100 Royal St.
6.18.08, 500 Canal St.
6.19.08, 500 Canal St.
6.19.08, 300 Julia St.
6.20.08, shoplifting, 1000 Canal St.
6.21.08, 700 Orleans Ave.
6.21.08, shoplifting, Poydras St.
6.21.08, shoplifting, Poydras St.
6.22.08, 700 Conti St.
6.22.08, 600 Royal St.
6.23.08, 900 Convention Center Blvd.
6.23.08, 800 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.24.08, 1300 Poydras St.
6.24.08, 800 St. Charles Ave.
6.24.08, shoplifting, 100 Elk Pl.
6.24.08, shoplifting, 600 Decatur St.
6.26.08, 1500 Poydras St.
6.27.08, 500 Frenchmen St.
6.27.08, bicycle, 700 Gov. Nicholls St.
6.28.08, 200 O'Keefe Ave.
6.28.08, bicycle, 400 Chartres St.
6.28.08, bicycle, 900 Camp St.
6.29.08, exterior of auto, 1700 N. Rampart St.

Auto theft
6.01.08, 600 Decatur St.
6.01.08, Esplanade Ave. & Royal St.
6.01.08, 200 Royal St.
6.02.08, Canal St. & St. Charles Ave.
6.02.08, 300 Magazine St.
6.04.08, 800 Carondelet St.
6.04.08, 700 Union St.
6.04.08, Burgun,dy St. & Iberville St.
6.04.08, Canal St. & Bourbon St.
6.06.08, 100 Conti St.
6.08.08, Dauphine St. & Bienville St.
6.08.08, 200 S. Rampart St.
6.08.08, 700 St. Louis St.
6.08.08, 1000 Bienville St.
6.08.08, 1800 N. Rampart St.
6.10.08, 900 Elysian Fields Ave.
6.10.08, Barracks St. & Burgun,dy St.
6.12.08, Poydras St. & Tchoupitoulas St.
6.13.08, Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
6.13.08, 300 St. Charles Ave.
6.14.08, Gov. Nicholls St. & Bourbon St.
6.14.08, Esplanade Ave. & Decatur St.
6.15.08, Exchange Alley & Iberville St.
6.16.08, 1200 Dauphine St.
6.16.08, 400 Toulouse St.
6.16.08, Decatur St. & St. Louis St.
6.18.08, Cleveland Ave. & LaSalle St.
6.18.08, 1900 Burgun,dy St.
6.18.08, attempted, 900 Girod St.
6.20.08, Burgun,dy St. & Gov. Nicholls St.
6.20.08, Notre Dame St. & Tchoupitoulas St.
6.21.08, N. Rampart St. & Orleans Ave.
6.22.08, 100 Bienville St.
6.24.08, Bourbon St. & Canal St.
6.27.08, Canal St.
6.29.08, attempted, 1500 Pauger St.
6.29.08, attempted, Tchoupitoulas St. & N. Diamond St.

Car break-in
6.01.08, 100 University Pl.
6.01.08, Poydras St. & Magazine St.
6.01.08, Magazine St. & Poydras St.
6.01.08, attempted, 300 Canal St.
6.02.08, 300 S. Rampart St.
6.02.08, Decatur St. & Conti St.
6.03.08, 1000 Gov. Nicholls St.
6.03.08, 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.04.08, St. Philip St. & Burgun,dy St.
6.04.08, 1000 S. Peters St.
6.05.08, 1000 Conti St.
6.05.08, 200 Burgun,dy St.
6.05.08, 200 Burgun,dy St.
6.06.08, 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.07.08, 300 St. Joseph St.
6.07.08, S. Peters St. & St. Joseph St.
6.08.08, S. Rampart St. & Perdido St.
6.08.08, Perdido St. & O'Keefe Ave.
6.08.08, 1000 Bienville St.
6.08.08, Commerce St. & Girod St.
6.08.08, Iberville St. & Burgun,dy St.
6.08.08, Magazine St. & Notre Dame St.
6.08.08, Perdido St. & O'Keefe Ave.
6.08.08, Perdido St. & O'Keefe Ave.
6.09.08, 400 St. Joseph St.
6.13.08, Canal St.
6.16.08, 400 Andrew Higgins St.
6.16.08, 1600 Canal St.
6.18.08, 1000 Barracks St.
6.18.08, 1300 Burgun,dy St.
6.20.08, 400 Elysian Fields Ave.
6.22.08, 1900 Dauphine St.
6.22.08, 400 Natchez St.
6.25.08, 800 Commerce St.
6.25.08, 200 S. Villere St.
6.25.08, 400 Natchez St.
6.25.08, 300 St. Joseph St.
6.27.08, 300 Canal St.
6.29.08, O'Keefe Ave. & Perdido St.

Crime plagues Bourbon Street

Not the place to be: Sometimes it takes awhile to sink in--but have you noticed all the violence lately on Bourbon Street? Not only is it occurring where tourists like to play, but it's also hitting where residents of the Lower Quarter live.

On Sunday (6.22.08), a man was held up in the 1100 block of Bourbon (between Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines streets) at 6:50 a.m.--just a block away from where another armed robbery took place just 3 days earlier on Thursday (6.19.08) in the 1200 block (between Gov. Nicholls and Barracks Street) at almost the identical time--6:51 a.m.

In the Sunday robbery, the perpetrator was described as a white guy in his 20s, 5'8" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a crew cut and a tattoo of a flower on his neck, wearing a white T-shirt and green jacket. The Thursday robbery was not reported by the 8th District, so no description of the robber was available. (Sure hope the 8th District is aware of the crime.)

Add to the armed robberies, the simple robberies. On Saturday morning (6.21.08) at 9:50 a.m., a black guy grabbed cash from the victim's hand at Bourbon and St. Louis streets. Just 4 minutes later in the 400 block (between Conti and St. Louis streets) there was another simple (unarmed) robbery. A week earlier on 6.14.08 there was another simple robbery at 2:31 a.m. in the 500 block of Bourbon (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets).

Throw in a few assaults and batteries too, and it's definitely not the place you want to be for a good time. And for those of us who live here, we seem to accept it when we should be raising holy hell to get the NOPD to patrol the French Quarter like flies on you-know-what.

Not the only place suffering: Just a block from Bourbon Street, at Gov. Nicholls and Dauphine streets, early Monday morning (6.23.08) at 1:25 a.m., a white man and Asian lady were robbed at gunpoint by a black guy. The woman dropped her purse on the ground, which was good enough for the robber who scooped it up and fled on foot up Dauphine toward Canal Street.

The description of the perp sounds an awfully lot like one of the 2 thugs who viciously attacked a 58-year-old man last Thursday (6.19.08) on Toulouse Street during a robbery in which both low-lives were armed. In the Monday morning robbery, the thief was described as in his 20's, 5'11" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a light complexion, and wearing dark clothing and a dark cap.

Vicious duo identified: Speaking of the vicious robbery mentioned above that we reported yesterday, 8th District detectives were swift in developing a lead and showing a photographic line-up to the victim who positively fingered the thugs who savagely beat him during a robbery last Thursday (6.19.08) on Toulouse Street between Decatur and Chartres streets.

Warrants for arrest on armed robbery charges were issued for 2 blacks, both of whom have arrest records going back to when they were teenagers:

• James Dawson, 22, 6' tall, 160 pounds;

• Tony Graps, 21, 5'8" tall, 140 pounds.

Bonds' bond boosted: David Bonds, the 19-year-old arrested in a shooting at Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue on 5.4.08, plead not guilty today before Judge Julian Parker in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court to a charge of attempted 2nd-degree murder.

Judge Parker increased his bond from $750,000 to a cool $1 million. Hurray...let's not take any chances of this little scumbag being out on the street again anytime soon.

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

Thom Kahler

Shooter off the streets

It took 3 days, but: 8th District detectives arrested a 22-year-old black man on Thursday (6.19.08) for the shoot'em up in the 300 block of Dauphine Street near the Chateau LeMoyne Hotel 3 days earlier on Monday morning.

Jarrell Kendrick was charged with 2nd-degree attempted murder in the shooting with left a 31-year-old black man wounded. (If you try to look at the suspect's mugshot with the link above, all you're going to see is the picture Sheriff Gusman took of what looks like the contents of the guy's pockets. Maybe the sheriff needs a new camera--or we need a new sheriff.)

According to the police report, the victim was walking down the street at 3:39 a.m. when he heard someone shouting at him. He turned around and saw a black dude he knew only by his first name pointing a pistol at him. The gunman began firing and hit the victim in the left hip and thigh. The victim was taken to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition. The shooter fled in a silver-colored vehicle.

A resident in the vicinity said 5 to 6 shots were fired from a 9mm handgun, one of which pierced the tailgate of his pickup truck parked on the street and another bullet grazed the pickup parked in front of his.

The shooter is described as 6'1" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with a short haircut, wearing a light blue T-shirt and dark colored pants.

Vicious armed robbery: A 58-year-old man walking in the 500 block of Toulouse Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) on Thursday (6.19.08) about 2 a.m. when he was robbed by 2 black dudes, each armed with a pistol.

According to the police report, one perpetrator got behind the victim and began to strike him with his pistol, knocking him to the ground. The other perp took a wallet from the victim's pocket. The robbers then fled on Chartres.

According to a friend of the victim, the robbers got only $7 from the victim's pockets but "then proceeded to kick and punch him while (he was) lying on the ground protecting himself."

But that was only the beginning of his ordeal. She said it took police 15 minutes or more to arrive at the scene and then "he was treated like crap by the local NOPD. They never called an ambulance for him as he bled profusely from the back of his head.

"When the police finally arrived they put him in the back of their police car without caring for him. He was in so much pain he could barely speak," she said, but "the police drove around with him making him help them look for the suspects."

After the police took him to the 8th District station, "one cop actually bitched at (the victim) for bleeding on the floor of the police station while giving his statement. They never bothered to clean him up or help him at all."

The police did finally transport him to Tulane University Hospital "where he was again ignored and treated like crap."

After he was released from the hospital around 4:30 a.m., he went back to the scene of the crime to search for his wallet. He found it in a trash can about a block from where his attack occurred.

Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, said he is going to investigate these allegations.

Both robbers were described as 20 to 29 years of age, 5'8" to 5'9" tall, one weighing about 140 pounds wearing a black shirt, long dark-colored pants, and a black cap; the other 160 pounds wearing a yellow shirt and long dark-colored pant.

Other heists:

• Armed robbery, Sunday (6.22.08), 6:50 a.m., 1100 block of Bourbon Street (between Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines streets): A white man was approached by another white man who gestured with his hand in his jacket pocket, implying he had a weapon and demanded the victim's money. The victim complied and the robber fled on Gov. Nicholls toward N. Rampart Street.

The robber was described as in his 20s, 5'8" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a crew cut and a tattoo of a flower on his neck, wearing a white T-shirt and green jacket.

• Simple robbery, Saturday (6.21.08), 9:50 a.m., St. Louis and Bourbon streets: A white man walking along was approached by a black man who grabbed cash from the victim's hand and fled on foot toward N. Rampart Street.

The robber was described as 5'4" tall, weighing 125 pounds, wearing a light blue shirt, blue jeans, and a light blue baseball cap.

Other happenings, to a point: The following information is from the Times-Picayune, but you can see from the gaps the NOPD is not putting out all the reports it has (look at the missing days) and the 8th District is not telling all it knows, either:

Armed robbery (NOT reported by the 8th District)

Thursday (6.19.08)

• 6:51 a.m., 1200 block of Bourbon Street
• 2 a.m., 500 block of Toulouse Street

Simple robbery (NOT reported by the 8th District)

Saturday (6.21.08)

• 9:54 a.m., 400 block of Bourbon Street

Saturday (6.14.08)

• 12:35 p.m., 500 block of Chartres Street
• 2:31 a.m., 500 block of Bourbon Street

Assault & Battery

Sunday (6.22.08)

• 9:32 a.m., 300 block of Royal Street
• 2:27 a.m., Bourbon and Toulouse streets
  

Saturday (6.21.08)

• 8:14 p.m., 200 block of Poydras Street

Thursday (6.19.08)

• 11:59 p.m., Chartres and St. Ann streets
• 11:43 p.m., Canal and N. Rampart streets
• 4:23 a.m., 1000 block of N. Peters Street

Tuesday (6.17.08)

• 10:20 p.m., 300 block of St. Joseph Street

Monday (6.16.08)

• 12:04 p.m., Bourbon and St. Louis streets

Saturday (6.14.08)

• 2:28 a.m., 900 block of Iberville Street

Friday (6.13.08)

• 11:20 a.m., 700 block of Royal Street
• 9:59 a.m., 600 block of Bourbon Street
• 8:43 a.m., 1600 block of Tulane Avenue

Theft

Tuesday (6.17.08)

• 11:08 p.m., 300 block of O'Keefe Avenue
• 8:52 p.m., 100 block of Royal Street

Monday (6.16.08)

• 2:38 p.m., 500 block of Tchoupitoulas Street
• 2:23 p.m., 900 block of Poydras Street
• 8:24 a.m., 1000 block of Elysian Fields Avenue
• 8:23 a.m., 300 block of St. Charles Avenue

Sunday (6.15.08)

• 5:47 p.m., 300 block of St. Charles Avenue

Saturday (6.14.08)

• 4:27 p.m., first block of Poydras Street
• 6:19 a.m., 600 block of St. Ann Street

Friday (6.13.08)

• 2:02 p.m., 400 block of Bourbon Street
• 11:20 a.m., 700 block of Royal Street
• 5:40 a.m., 400 block of Carondelet Street

Auto theft

Tuesday (6.17.08)

• 3:46 p.m., Decatur Street and Esplanade Avenue
• 12:10 p.m., Decatur and St. Louis streets

Monday (6.16.08)

• 9:30 p.m., Elysian Fields Avenue and N. Peters Street
• 9 p.m., 400 block of Toulouse Street
• 9:35 a.m., 1200 block of Dauphine Street
• 8:54 a.m., Bourbon and Gov. Nicholls streets

Saturday (6.14.08)

• 12:31 p.m., 300 block of St. Charles Avenue

Friday (6.13.08)

• 8:32 p.m., Gravier Street and O'Keefe Avenue

Car burglary

Monday (6.16.08)

• 11:20 a.m., 1600 block of Canal Street
• 7:50 a.m., 400 block of Andrew Higgins Boulevard

Sunday (6.15.08)

• 6:59 p.m., 700 block of Lafayette Street

Saturday (6.13.08)

• 11:48 p.m., 1300 Perdido Street

Residence burglary

Monday (6.16.08)

• 3:53 a.m., 900 block of Esplanade Avenue

Business burglary

Saturday (6.21.08)

• 2:18 a.m., 1000 block of Bienville Street

Friday (6.20.08)

• 6:48 a.m., 900 block of Poeyfarre Street

Monday (6.16.08)

• 7:37 p.m., 500 block of Toulouse Street

Oops: Last week in reporting the difference between 1st-degree and 2nd degree murder in the case of David Bonds we said it was the difference between life and death. True, but he was charged with "attempted" 2nd-degree murder, reduced from "attempted" 1st-degree. Both carry a penalty of 10 to 50 years in prison upon conviction. We corrected it on the website almost immediately after the error was pointed out by some lawyer friends, but most of you received the news via email, hence this explanation. Our apologies to those of you who wanted to see the young punk fry.

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

Thom Kahler

Bonds: What really happened

Or at least what we think happened: We reported Tuesday (6.17.08) that David Bonds might be out on the street again soon because it looked like the attempted murder charges against him had been dropped.

How else would you interpret Minute Clerk Otis Durel's notation "Charges disposed of" after Bonds' preliminary hearing Monday (6.16.08) before Magistrate Gerard Hansen?

And the subsequent erasure of the bond amount from the dockmaster yesterday afternoon and from the Criminal Sheriff's inmate booking information Wednesday (6.18.08) morning?

The old-time news media--TV and newspapers--made a big deal last night and this morning with stories that Bonds had been charged with attempted 2nd-degree murder. In truth, the DA actually dropped the attempted 1st-degree murder charge against him and agree to prosecute only the lesser charge.

The difference between them? Not much as "attempted"--both can earn him 10 to 50 years in Angola.

The case had been assigned to Judge Julian Parker in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court-Section G and his bond reset at $750,000. He is due for arraignment on 6.25.08.

Bonds, 19, is charged with allegedly shooting a 25-year-old white guy in the chest with a handgun at 5:35 a.m. on 5.4.08 at Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue which left the victim in critical condition.

A pair of eyewitnesses to the incident identified Bonds from photographs and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

Famous as the kid who beat a murder rap in April in the shooting death of renown 9th Ward musician Dinerral Shavers, Bonds was apprehended 5.16.08 in Thibodaux by Lafourche Parish Sheriff's deputies after a manhunt resulted in a brief foot chase. He was returned to OPP on 5.20.08.

Stay tuned--let's see what really happens to him.

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

Thom Kahler

Bullets fly in the French Quarter

Shoot'em ups: Bullets flew in the 300 block of Dauphine Street near the Chateau LeMoyne Hotel early Monday (6.16.08) morning, leaving the intended victim wounded in the leg.

According to the police report, a black man, 31, was walking down the street at 3:39 a.m. when he heard someone shouting at him. He turned around and saw a black dude he knew only by his first name pointing a pistol at him. The gunman began firing and hit the victim in the left hip and thigh. The victim was taken to the hospital where he was listed in stable condition. His assailant fled in a silver-colored vehicle.

A neighbor in the vicinity said 5 to 6 shots were fired from a 9mm handgun, one of which pierced the tailgate of his pickup truck parked on the street and another bullet grazed the pickup parked in front of his.

The shooter is described as 6'1" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with a short haircut, wearing a light blue T-shirt and dark colored pants.

Long arm of the law: It took a little while, but 8th District cops finally arrested a suspect in a robbery that happened in January.

Shaffee Dawson, 25, was charged Sunday (6.16.08) for armed robbery on 1.16.08 at 7:30 p.m. in which a white man was walking up the steps at 2020 N. Rampart St. when he was accosted by a black guy with a pistol who took his money.

Dawson had been a fugitive after skipping out on a $25,000 bond and failing to show up for court last December on a charge of possession of crack cocaine. He was apprehended late last month and was sitting in OPP when 8th District detectives collared him.

He's now being held on $150,000 bond on the armed robbery charge.

Knifing: A Hispanic man was arrested Friday (6.13.08) after allegedly stabbing a white guy, 31, in the abdomen after an argument on the old A&P on Royal Street at St. Peter Street.

Luiz Ramirez, 38, 5'10" tall, weighing 220 pounds, was arrested around 3:15 p.m. after fleeing to Jackson Square after the incident. He was charged with aggravated battery and resisting an officer. He's being held in OPP on $55,000 bond.

Ramirez got into a little trouble in January and was charged with aggravated battery then too, as well as armed robbery. But in March--you guessed it--the DA refused to prosecute him.

An array of arrests: 8th District cops made a number of notable arrests in the past week:

• Anthony Spano, 37, was arrested last Wednesday (6.11.08) at 10:44 p.m. at Barracks and Dauphine streets by the drug-busting duo of Ofc. James Lipscomb and Ofc. Kelly Morel of the 8th District Taskforce on charges of carrying illegal drug paraphernalia (a glass pipe), possession of methamphetamine, and begging (which I guess means he won't be making the $6,000 bond).

• Tony Durden, 28, was arrested Friday (6.13.08) at 3:30 p.m. by Ofc. Jerry Stapler for simple arson at the corner of Cleveland Street and S. Claiborne Avenue, near the homeless encampment. It's not known if it had anything to do with the denizens there, but it was serious enough for him to be held on $50,000 bond.

• Eugene McGee, 17, was arrested Sunday (6.15.08) at 1:45 a.m. in the 500 block of Bourbon Street by Ofc. Valentino Grayman of the Bourbon Promenade on charges of carrying an illegal weapon and possession of stolen property.

• Cordell Thomas, 27, was arrested Sunday (6.15.08) at 1:45 a.m. in the 1000 block of St. Ann Street by Ofc. Channing Branch and Ofc. Willie Jenkins on charges of public drunkenness and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He's being held on $50,000 bond.
  

Another pursesnatching: A white woman was walking in the 700 block of Orleans Avenue (between Royal and Bourbon streets) toward Royal about 3:10 a.m. Monday (6.16.08) when a black guy came up behind her and grabbed her purse.

The robber was described at 6' tall, wearing a long-sleeved dress shirt and long blue jeans. Don't be fooled by sartorial excellence.

Car break-in suspects go free: When it happened in early April, we said you don't hear too often of suspects being arrested for breaking into cars. Well, you don't hear too often of the DA prosecuting them either.

Such is the case of 2 black men: Curtis C. Landon Jr., 20, (top) and Rasheed G. Williams, 23, (bottom). Each was charged with 2 counts of simple burglary after Ofc. Claud Daniel caught them at 12 a.m. 4.12.08 allegedly breaking into a car at 809 Iberville St. (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets).

In a slap in the face to the police work of Ofc. Daniel, District Attorney Keva Landrum-Johnson refused to prosecute them last Friday (6.13.08).

We will soon being doing a analysis of the cases KLJ--who wants to be a judge now--has failed to prosecute since she became DA. It's a pitiful rebuke of the efforts of NOPD officers to lock up the bad guys.

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

Thom Kahler

A couple of bad asses go down

Bad driver?: I dunno, maybe it was his driving that tipped off the cops. But Wednesday evening (6.11.08) at 10:44 p.m. at Decatur and Frenchmen streets (just off Esplanade Avenue) Kyle J. Anderson, a 22-year-old, 6'2" tall, 160-pound black dude, drew the attention of the 8th District Task Force's busy drug-busting duo, Ofc. James Lipscomb and Ofc. Kelly Morel. When all was said and done, Anderson had 12 charges against him.

From the brief redacted police report it's hard to tell whether whether Anderson was driving erratically, which led to the discovery of the drugs, or whether the cops noticed the drugs, which set off a wild police pursuit.

When they caught up with him, they charged him with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute after allegedly finding 9 packets of his merchandise on him, possession of a firearm while possessing drugs, possession of a stolen firearm, 2 counts of flight from a police officer, and assault on a police officer.

As for his driving, he was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle, 2 counts of failure to use a seat belt, failure to heed stop and yield signs, going the wrong way on a one-way street, and failure to use a turn signal (See, it is against the law!).

Anderson is being held in OPP with his bond set at only $17,000 on the criminal charges, plus another $3,500 for the traffic violations.

Let's hope that's enough to hold him. Earlier this year he was being held on a $1 million bond for second-degree murder before the DA decided to drop the charges in January.

NOPD homicide detectives charged Anderson last July with the shooting death of a 21-year-old man on 2.20.07 at 9:05 p.m. under the I-10 overpass in the 900 block of N. Claiborne Avenue (between Dumaine and St. Philip streets). The victim, who was armed with 2 handguns, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the his head. He later died at the hospital.

Kind of makes you shudder to think who's running around our neighborhood, doesn't it?

Moving on up: A 21-year-old black dude--who should have been in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen auto last year--has now been arrested for armed robbery.

Allen M. Jones, who was arrested Tuesday on a minor charge of obstructing a public place (sleeping in a doorway, or something like that?), triggered 8th District detectives to show his picture in a photo line-up to the victim in a robbery in the CBD on Sunday (6.8.08). In that case, a white man standing at the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Gravier streets at 1:55 a.m. was accosted by 3 black thugs, one of whom pulled a knife while the other 2 stole cash from the victim's pockets.

The victim positively identified Jones from the picture shown to him and Jones was charged with armed robbery. He is being held in OPP on $150,000 bond.

Jones was sentenced in March, 2007 to 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen auto from a case dating to January, 2006. Even with credit for time served, its hard to tell why he was out already. But you know how those things go.

Then, oops, he did it again. But the DA didn't think so--she refused to prosecute him 4.29.08 after he was charged earlier in the month for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and possession of a stolen auto. And this woman--Keva Landrum-Johnson--wants to be a judge? Spare us.

And more: Here's what we've gleaned recently from the Times-Picayune that hasn't appeared in the 8th District Updates:

Assault and Battery

6.4.08, 8:43 p.m., Decatur and Iberville streets
6.4.08, 2:56 a.m., 200 block of Bourbon Street

Rape

6.10.08, 1:59 p.m., first block of Canal Street

Burglary

6.4.08, 3:15 a.m., 600 block of Decatur Street

Theft

6.4.08, 3:48 p.m., 300 block of Julia Street
6.4.08, 6:36 a.m., 400 block of St. Charles Avenue
6.4.08, 1:53 a.m., 300 block of Bourbon Street

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

Thom Kahler

Some arrested, some let go

It's not just the kids: Plagued like we've been by young punks holding us up, 8th District csops arrested an old codger yesterday (6.10.08) morning. A white man was walking at the corner of Carondelet and Gravier streets at 12:40 a.m. when he was attacked from behind by a knife-wielding black man who demanded his wallet. The victim refused and struggled with his assailant who fled on foot.

A short while later, policed arrested James Brown Jr., 53, and charged him with armed robbery and aggravated battery. He's being held in OPP on $125,000 bond. He was convicted in 1998 as a 2-time loser and might being going away for a long time if convicted on these charges.

Young dudes this time: Police are searching for 2 young black dudes in their 20s who robbed a Hispanic man yesterday (6.10.08) morning at 4:30 a.m. as he was walking in the 800 block of Tchoupitoulas Street. One of the robbers held the victim at gunpoint while his accomplice extricated the victim's wallet from his pocket.

One of the robbers was described as 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, with dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt, black jeans and a white cap. The other was 5'7" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a short haircut.

Not too often, but: Bicycle thieves are caught every now and then. In a belated report, Officers Tracie Medus and Patrick Ohern on 5.26.08 at 1:35 p.m. arrested Shawn Cosse, a 27-year-old black man for trying to steal a bicycle at Bienville and Royal streets.

He was charged with attempted theft and simple criminal damage under $500. He's sitting in OPP, unable to post $3,500 bond.

And others go free: DA Keva Landrum-Johnson (she who wants to be a judge!) refused to prosecute the case against Gregory Hughes, a 35-year-old black dude, who was arrested 4.9.08 for robbing a white guy at gun-point on 3.2.08 at 11:25 p.m. in the notorious 500 block of Burgundy Street (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets).

He managed to post $100,000 bond and get out of OPP before KLJ freed him on 5.12.08, despite a positive identification by the victim. You sure you want this kind of woman as a judge? You've got to be crazy!

And another: KLJ also decided on 5.23.08 not to prosecute James Fulford, 44, for pickpocketing near The Famous Door on 4.27.08 at 1:20 a.m.

He had been arrested by Lt. Charles Little and Sgt. Patrick Baxter of the 8th District's "Bourbon Promenade" and charged with theft and possession of stolen property.

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

Thom Kahler

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.

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

Thom Kahler