Sunday morning coming down

Or late, late Saturday night, if you prefer: Robbers went crazy in the French Quarter early Sunday (11.23.08) morning. In 3 of the robberies, the robber was described as a black dude, between 17 and 23 years old, a dark complexion, clean shaven and shoulder-length braids, and wearing a white hooded sweatshirt:

• 2:05 a.m.: A white man had just parked his new Nissan Titan pickup truck in the 100 block of Exchange Alley when he was approached by 2 black dudes, one armed with a pistol who demanded his keys. The owner complied and the robbers ordered his girlfriend out of the truck. The robbers fled in it down Iberville Street toward the river. The truck is white and has LA license tag W0325395.

The carjackers are described as 17 to 23 years old, both with dark complexions, one with a raspy voice, wearing a blue hoodie and a gray "Jeep" cap; the other with braids to his ears and wearing a white hoodie.

• 2:30 a.m.: A white man standing in the 1200 block of Royal Street (between Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines streets) was robbed of his cash by a black guy with a gun.

The robber, who fled on foot toward Canal Street, was described as 5'8" tall, weighing 160 pounds, and wearing a blue hoodie.

• 3 a.m.: A white woman and 2 friends were walking near Ursulines and Chartres streets when a maroon Dodge truck pulled along side of them. The passenger, a young black fella, got out and asked the woman for her phone number. When she refused, he grabbed her purse, while putting his hand in his pocket, implying he had a gun. She gave up the purse and the robber got back in the truck, which sped off toward N. Rampart Street.

The robber was described as 17 to 23 years old, clean shaven, shoulder length braids, wearing a white zip-up hoodie with red diamond print.

• 4:45 a.m.: A 30-year-old white guy walking near Ursulines and Burgundy streets was robbed of his cash at gunpoint when a white truck pulled along side him and a black dude got out and demanded his money.

The robber was described as 17 to 23 years old, wearing a white hoodie.

With friends like these...: Friends fighting friends, my, my:

• Friday (11.21.08), 1:15 a.m.: Two black men, supposedly friends, got into an argument near Harrah's Casino. One of them took it to another level when he pulled out a knife and allegedly cut his "friend". The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment. Arrested this morning (11.24.08) and charged with aggravated battery was Willie Cruell, 21, 5'11" tall, weighing 180 pounds.

• Saturday (11.22.08), 10:45 p.m.: A white woman told police she was in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets) when she got into an argument with a 27-year-old white guy she knew. She said he pulled a knife and pointed it at her stomach in a threatening manner. Police said they arrested a "Brandon Thompson" a short time later and charged him with aggravated assault, but court and jail records show no suspect by that name.

• Sunday (11.23.08), 7:42 p.m.: A white man and his wife were coming out of Matasa's Market at St. Philip and Dauphine streets when a white guy asked them for a cigarette. They refused and he asked again, but when he was refused again, he pulled a knife and pointed it at the couple in a threatening manner.

The suspect is described as in his mid-20's, 5'10' tall, with a medium build and blond hair.

The scene of this crime is just doors from where a gang of black boys brutally attacked a man on St. Philip Street last Wednesday. Isn't it about time neighbors--and store owners--start calling 911 when they see suspicious characters hanging around?

Dinged by a daiquiri: A woman sitting in the Mango-Mango Daiquiri bar at Bourbon and Conti streets around 10:40 p.m. Saturday (11.22.08) when some guy grabbed her purse and fled. She was unable to give a description of the thief. And they said daiquiris wouldn't hurt you.

Speaking of that beating: It's still puzzling why those 6 black youths were charged with only a municipal offense last Wednesday for beating a man in the 900 block of St. Philip street. The penalty, upon conviction, is only slighting less in municipal court than state court.

And maybe it's time for the police--or DA-- to start adding a "hate crime" charge to some of these offenses when it's blacks attacking and robbing whites or homosexuals. It adds 6 months onto the end of misdemeanor offenses and 5 years onto felonies.

By the way, one of the youths arrested last week, Javon Perrymon, 20, was arrested for burglary 3 times--yes, THREE, times--last year, and in each case the DA refused to prosecute him. But here he was, hanging out on a stoop at Burgundy and St. Philip streets. He listed his home as The Covenant House at 611 N. Rampart St.

Grand jury charges in Malta case: An Orleans Parish grand jury today (11.24.08) indicted Mark Ott, 31, on 2nd degree murder charges in the beating death of Robin Malta, a French Quarter hair salon owner.

Malta, 43, owner of Salon d'Malta in the 1200 block of Decatur Street, was found dead in his home in the 600 block of Port Street in the Faubourg Marigny on June 12, 2007.

Police linked Ott to Malta's murder by DNA from Ott's blood, which they say was found at the crime scene. Police say they believe a drug dealer put out a hit on Malta for a debt allegedly owed by his sister, Monica Malta.

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

Thom Kahler

Gang goes wild

Broad daylight attack: When Paul Starr left his home in the 900 block of Burgundy Street yesterday afternoon (11.19.08) around 1:15 p.m., he thought it should be safe to go around the corner to get some lunch at Matasa's Market at St. Philip and Dauphine streets.

He noticed a half-dozen or so young black punks hanging out on the corner of Burgundy and St. Philip, talking loudly and carrying on, and considered waiting in his house until maybe they went away. But then he figured it was broad daylight with a lot of cars and people on the street, so maybe if he just paid them no mind he would be alright.

As he started out, one of them yelled "You got any money?" Starr ignored him, turned the corner onto St. Philip and crossed the street and kept walking. That's when one of the thugs took off after him.

"I guess they thought this was 'disrespect' or something," said Starr. The thug spun him around and struck him in the face, knocking him to the ground. Starr heard another thug running up behind him, but about this time a motorist in a Mercedes driving down St. Philip saw what was going on and leaned on his horn and called 911.

Neighbors and construction workers nearby came to see what the ruckus was about. The hoodlums took off for N. Rampart Street, with one of the construction workers--who'd been a victim himself a few years ago--in pursuit. Ultimately 5 patrol cars showed up and took 6 of the thugs, ranging in age from 17 to 22 years old, into custody.

They were charged with only misdemeanor battery and disturbing the peace--because they didn't demand the victim's money or go into his pockets. Arrested were (from left to right):

• Nathan Banks, 22, homeless
• Adkeen Johnson, 19, 2828 St. Andrew St.
• Travon Johnson, 18, 2828 St. Andrew St.
• Javon Perrymon, 20, 611 N. Rampart St.
• Brandon Robertson, 17, 839 Jackson St.
• A 6th youth who identified himself as "Bobbie Johnson" and said he was 17 and lived at 839 Jackson St., lied. Police later determined he was 16-years-old and therefore can't be identified by name. He will be processed in Juvenile Court.
  

All were booked into Central Lockup and bonds were set at $10,000 apiece.

Starr suffered a facial laceration requiring sutures, lip laceration, through-and-through cheek puncture, a black eye, a shoulder contusion, and a bump on my head from where his assailant pushed him into a wall. Good thing the thugs weren't armed.

The lesson in all this?: If you see people who don't belong in your neighborhood, pick up the phone and call 911. Just report "suspicious activity." If the dispatcher asks if they've got a gun, say you don't know but it's possible. The police can't stop people hanging out without a reason--if you report them, they then have a reason. You hate to be that way, but better to call 911 than end up like Paul Starr.

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

Thom Kahler

More of the same, unfortunately

Armed robberies: No matter what time of day--wee-hour morning, mid-morning, early evening, late night--you can become a victim of a robbery. Here are cases in point:

• 11:10 a.m. Friday (11.14.08): A black man was in the parking lot in the 100 block of S. Rampart Street (just off Canal Street) when he was approached by another black guy who asked for change for a $5 bill. Then the guy pulled a pistol and demanded the man's money. The victim refused and struggled with the robber, who struck him in the head and fled toward Common Street. No word whether he got change from the victim.

The perpetrator was described as in his 30's, 6' tall, weighing 160 pounds, short hair, dark complexion, wearing a long black T-shirt and blue jeans.

• 3:40 a.m. Sunday (11.16.08): 2 white men, one 26 and the other 22, along with a 23-year-old white woman, were near the corner of Wilkinson and Chartres streets when 3 black men came up behind them, one of them brandishing a pistol and demanding the trio's money. The victims turned over their cash and iPods, and the robbers fled in a black Chevrolet Impala down Chartres.

All 3 robbers were described as 5'10" tall, thin build, wearing dark clothing. That should make it real easy to pick them out of a crowd.

• 8 p.m. Tuesday (11.18.08): A 63-year-old white man parking his car in the lot at Doerr Furniture, 914 Elysian Fields Ave. (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets), was approached by 2 black dudes, one of whom pulled out a handgun and demanded the victim's money. The victim gave it up and the robbers fled on foot down Burgundy toward Frenchmen Street.

The robbers were both described as 17 to 23 years old, both medium build, one 5'6" tall wearing a white hoodie, and the other an unspecified height wearing a gray hoodie.

In the wee hours: The not-so-"simple robberies" where victims often get hurt:

• 2:35 a.m. Sunday (11.16.08): A white fellow was standing near the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann streets when he was approached by a 21-year-old boy who began talking to him. Suddenly the boy, said the police, grabbed cash from the victim's front pocket and fled on foot down St. Ann.

8th District cops quickly apprehended Jules Wise, 21, 5'7" tall and weighing 145 pounds, and charged him with simple robbery, along with municipal charges of prostitution and criminal trespass, plus an outstanding traffic warrant from Jefferson Parish. Some days it just doesn't pay to hit the streets.

• Midnight Monday (11.17.08): A white man was getting into his car in the 200 block of Burgundy Street (if you're from around here, you know better than to park on that street, particularly between Iberville and Bienville streets) when a black guy came up, panhandling change. Suddenly, the victim was struck from behind, apparently knocking him out. The next thing he remembered was passers-by asking him if he was alright. Then he realized his wallet and his car, a 2001 black Ford Mustang, were gone.

The panhandler was described as 35 years old, 5'8" tall, medium build, with a small afro, and wearing a blue hoodie. It would be nice if the cops would give you a license plate number on the car--who knows, a citizen might spot it?

BOLO (Be On the LOOK Out): 8th District detectives have issued an arrest warrant for a black woman named Chiquita Blaise (that would be a great name for a stripper), 23, 5'6" tall and weighing 195 pounds (that's not a great shape for a stripper) who is one of 2 women wanted for attempting to rob a white woman last Thursday (11.13.08) around 9:30 p.m. in the 200 block of N. Rampart Street.

Blaise and her accomplice, another black woman, allegedly both struck the victim while trying to get her purse. The victim fought back and the would-be robbers fled empty-handed. The victim, however, did positively identify Blaise in a photo line-up as one of her attackers.

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

Thom Kahler

New DA...Next: New chief

Give Cannizzaro what he needs: The new DA, Leon Cannizzaro, hit the ground running yesterday (11.17.08) in his first day on the job, promising his staff they're going to work harder and longer than ever before. And take drug tests.

One of Cannizzaro's first problems is going to be how to retain the 29 positions (clerks and investigators) funded by the feds when the grant expires at the end of the year. He says the city ought to be able to find the $1.5 million needed out of a city budget of $500 million.

But Mayor Nagin seems to be more interested in asking for a tax increase so he can keep his friends on the payroll and placate his wife with taxpayer-paid lunches at fancy eateries. He's squandered too much of the taxpayers' tax money over the years on his luxuries and his incompetent staff's bungling to indulge him further.

It's really up to us as citizens. We all talk about how the No. 1 problem in the city is crime. It's time to put our money where our mouth is. How about a dedicated millage for, say, 2 years that will give Cannizzaro all the tools he says he needs to reduce crime in Orleans Parish? We can't keep saying we want to cut crime and not do what it takes. Right now, that's money.

Chief change coming?: With a new DA in place, the focus turns to Police Chief Warren Riley--the remaining weak link in the criminal justice system.

Rumors still swirl that he'll be gone soon--the question is when. Riley will have 3 years in his position come Nov. 28 this year--enough time to retire at full pay ($172,000 a year). Speculation is he will announce his retirement soon after that, effective Jan. 1. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

The NEW chief? Since Mayor Nagin puts little effort in picking police chiefs (Eddie Compass was a boyhood pal; Riley was next in line when Compass melted down during Katrina), the best guess is Assistant Chief Marlon Defillo, currently the No. 2 man in the department, will get Nagin's nod.

As a 27-year veteran of the NOPD, Defillo's not a bad choice. I worked with him on the mayor's public safety transition team; he's intelligent and articulate, listens to others and is persuasive in stating his position. But the rap on him is that he lacks street-level command experience over a division, other than leading the Public Integrity Bureau and the Public Information Office.

Best choice from INSIDE the department? Capt. Jeff Winn. A highly-decorated 23-year veteran of the NOPD and a hero of Katrina who supplied leadership when there was none. His drawback is he's young, but he's experienced (former SWAT team commander, former 1st District commander, currently commander of the criminal intelligence division) and no commanders on the NOPD merit more respect from the rank and file.

Best choice from OUTSIDE the department? Ronal Serpas. Serpas was plucked from the ranks and made the first chief of operations when the NOPD was drastically reorganized under Chief Richard Pennington in the mid-90s. When he took over as boss of the district commanders, crime dropped drastically in the city. A 27-year veteran of law enforcement with a doctorate from the University of New Orleans, he went on to become chief of the Washington State Police in 2001 and then Police Chief of Nashville, TN, in 2004, which has a police force similar in size to New Orleans' for a city/county much larger. In both jobs, he managed to reduce crime significantly.

(I swear, Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, did not put me up to this. He and Serpas are the closest of friends; they were best man at each other's wedding back when both were on the NOPD. Serpas could come back home--have you ever seen a Louisiana boy who wouldn't like to return home--and make more money than up north to boot.)

When we mentioned several possible replacements for Riley above, more than one NOcrimeline reader asked "What about Louis Dabdoub?"

Indeed, how could I forget. When I first met Capt. Dabdoub after he was named commander of the 8th District in 2002, I remember coming home and saying that I had just met the guy who was going to be the city's police chief someday.

He was a gritty street cop who amazed those under him when he would jump in and make a collar when necessary. I once remember him being late to a Lower Quarter Crime Watch meeting--he had stopped to arrest a miscreant near Jackson Square he encountered on the way.

Because he always made time to listen to any citizen's complaint, Capt. Dabdoub was largely loved by the residents of the French Quarter, if not universally by gutter punks and unscrupulous merchants. It was during a sweep of businesses in the Quarter who lacked proper licensing that he ran afoul of the powers that be; it was said some of those busted had close ties to Mayor Nagin.

Dabdoub was banished unceremoniously from the 8th District to the 4th District (Algiers), an obvious demotion. Not long after he resigned from the NOPD and was last heard working for the Federal Protective Service, charged with protecting federal buildings and personnel, as part of Homeland Security.

If Dabdoub could be induced to come back to the NOPD as chief, he could be just the one to give the department the ass-kicking it needs.

Missing loot: You may have been reading about the $19,000 that Riley now admits is missing from the NOPD's flimsy post-Katrina property room in a trailer on Jeff Davis Parkway.

A former commander in charge of the property room said it held $3 million at one time. We've heard from other sources that when police headquarters flooded after Katrina, $7 million was beneath the water.

You want to bet that more than a paltry $19,000 has disappeared in the last 3 years?

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

Thom Kahler

...and away they go

"A" hanging judge: Section A Criminal District Court Judge Laurie A. White's gavel was smoking last week as she sentenced at least 3 armed robbers with links to the 8th District to prison on Thursday (11.13.08).

• Patrick W. Jones Jr.: Jones, 32, was the first to feel Judge White's gavel fall when she sentenced him to 17 years in prison for an armed robbery he admitted committing in July, 2007 in the Marigny Triangle. He couldn't wait to plead guilty after the DA agreed not to charge him on a "multiple bill", which based on his record as a career criminal, would have taken his sunshine away for a very long time.

At the time of his arrest, he was out on bond for an earlier arrest as being a felon in possession of a firearm. On top of that, he had a history of arrests for possession of marijuana and heroin. In this case, Jones pled guilty to robbing a 20-year-old black guy who was sitting on the steps of his house on Frenchmen Street at N. Rampart Street, talking on his cellphone, on a Friday night (7.6.07) at 11:50 p.m.

• Jernel J. Madison: Madison, who was 17 when he was arrested for armed robbery in October, 2007, pled guilty this October when his charge was reduced to attempted armed robbery. Judge White sentenced him to 4 years at hard labor.

Madison, who got out of OPP on bond in this case in early June, was arrested in early July for allegedly shooting a 16-year-old black boy in the back after a fight at Canal and N. Rampart streets and charged with aggravated battery. The DA wound up refusing to prosecute him on those charges in September.

• Lance R. Johnson Jr.: Johnson, 20, pled guilty to first degree robbery after the charge was reduced from armed robbery. Judge White sentenced him to 40 months in jail without probation or parole.

Johnson went into Adult Video at 425 Bourbon St. on 9.14.08 armed with a broken beer bottle and demanded money from the clerk behind the counter. He left with an untold amount of money before the cops quickly caught up with him.

Bank robber gives up: The guy who held up the CapitalOne Bank in the French Quarter last summer is running no more. Steven L. Fickes, 47, pled guilty last Wednesday (11.12.08) to once count of bank robbery before U.S. District Judge Helen G. Berrigan.

Fickes entered the bank at Royal and Iberville streets at 11:50 a.m. and walked up to the teller and demanded "all the hundreds" or he would shoot her. The teller gave him the banded bait money that contained a red dye pack in a bag. He fled on foot, running across Royal Street and into the Holiday Inn parking garage where the dye pack exploded, covering the robber with red dye. A citizen who saw the robber fleeing gave chase on foot across Canal Street, where cops caught up with Fickes in the 500 block of Common Street. For all his effort, he only made off with $400.

Fickes faces a maximum prison term of 20 years, a fine of $250,000, and 3 years of supervised release following his prison term. He is scheduled to be sentenced on 2.18.09 at 9 a.m.

Would-be murderer roaming around: Remember the guy who was at the center of such a commotion last summer when he was charged only with aggravated battery after he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 shots into someone he apparently didn't care much for on Bienville Street near Decatur Street? Well, he's still out roaming around, taking care of business, still awaiting trial.

Nathaniel Payton, 26, who has over 2 dozen drug arrests and convictions going back to near the turn of the century, finally showed up in court last Wednesday (11.12.08) to plead not guilty to attempted 2nd degree murder.

He was arrested 8.2.08 and initially charged by 8th District cops with aggravated battery--not attempted murder, as you might expect--after a witness heard gunfire about 3:40 a.m.on that Saturday (8.2.08) and saw a black dude shooting a 34-year-old black man with a handgun.

Payton easily made the measly $75,000 bond the next day set for him by Deputy Magistrate Rudy Gorrell--the bad guy's best friend when it comes to setting puny bonds. Usually bond for attempted murder is set somewhere around $125,000-$150,000.

(While out on bond, Payton was arrested about a month later on yet another drug charge: distribution of heroin. That charge was reduced to mere possession of heroin, and is now being tried along with the attempted murder charge.)

Considering Payton's case is being heard in Judge Lynda Van Davis' courtroom, he's liable to be roaming loose for a long time before justice finds him.

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

Thom Kahler

Robber gets dose of own medicine

Take that!: We don't have all the details yet, but here's a gist of a French Quarter crime that was on the "Superintendent's Major Offense Log" yesterday:

A 55-year-old white man was entering his house at 727 Burgundy St. (between St. Ann and Orleans streets) about 1:09 p.m. Wednesday (11.12.08) when a black man tried to rob him with a boxcutter. The victim screamed for help and a 33-year-old Hispanic man in the house came to his aid.

The would-be robber stabbed the rescuer in the neck with the boxcutter, inflicting a minor wound. The victim then managed to wrest the knife away from his attacker and slash the perp's face several times, severely enough that the perp was hospitalized.

Police arrested John Clowney, 50, 5'10" tall and weighing 170 pounds, and charged him with attempted armed robbery and aggravated battery. He was booked into Central Lockup just before 1 p.m. today (11.14.08), almost 2 days after the incident.

NOcrimeline finally obtained information just after 5 p.m. today after an inquiry to Maj. Edwin Hosli. The incident didn't appear in earlier 8th District Updates, raising the question of why this frightening incident wasn't reported to French Quarter residents.

What is it with boxcutters?: We haven't seen so many around since 9/11. They seem to be becoming the weapon of choice. Maybe it's the influence of the Hispanics who've flooded the area since Katrina; maybe it's all the bad guys have after the gun buy-back program. Nonetheless...

Here's another case where one was used in an incident Thursday (11.13.08) at about 2:30 a.m. Detectives aren't quite sure exactly where it occurred. One report places it at Conti and N. Rampart streets in the NOPD's 1st District, across from the French Quarter; another places it at Conti and Burgundy streets in the French Quarter, in the 8th District. Detectives are reviewing security videos to see if they can pinpoint the location.

A 31-year-old white man reported he was walking along when he was attacked from behind by 2 Hispanic men who robbed him and slashed him 3 times with a boxcutter when he fought back.

He described one of his assailants as about 26 years old, 5'6" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with short hair, a goatee and sideburns, and wearing a yellow shirt and blue jeans; the other was about 29 years old, 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, with a short goatee, and wearing a blue shirt and black pants.

Simple to you, maybe: The law calls them "simple robberies" when no weapon is used. In truth, they can be more violent than having a gun pulled on you; they often involve the victim being pushed to the ground or beat up:

• Thursday (11.13.08), 9:30 p.m.: A white woman was walking to her car parked in the 200 block of N. Rampart Street (between Bienville and Conti streets) when she was approached by 2 black chicks. She was struck by one of the girls who demanded her purse. When she refused, the other girl struck her too. The victim still resisted and the 2 frustrated would-be robbers fled on foot.

The one black girl was described as in her 20's, 5'6" tall, weighing 195 pounds. Detectives have a possible suspect and will show a photo line-up to the victim.

• Wednesday (11.12.08), 8:08 a.m.: A white woman walking in the 100 block of Bourbon Street (just off Canal Street) noticed a black man staring at her as she passed Krystal Hamburgers. She felt uncomfortable and turned around, intending to go into Krystal. But the black man ran up behind her and grabbed her purse, which she had wrapped around her wrist. The robber knocked her to the ground and took off with the purse.

He got no further than Iberville Street. 8th District officers on patrol there nabbed Leroy Gordon, 5'10" tall, weighing 200 pounds, and charged him with pursesnatching and 2 counts of battery. Gordon just turned 17 less than 2 weeks earlier--welcome to the bigtime, doofus!

• Sunday (11.9.08), 6:15 a.m.: A white man was standing at Bourbon and Conti streets when a black dude came up and demanded his cell phone. The victim refused and attempted to walk away when the robber overpowered him and took the cellphone, fleeing on foot down Conti toward N. Rampart Street.

Shortly thereafter, police apprehended Rene Mason, 20, 5'10" tall, weighing 140 pounds, and charged him with simple robbery and simple battery.

He was only bluffing: The Hispanic poker player who claimed he got into a fight with a white guy at Harrah's Casino early Sunday morning and then was robbed later by the same guy, was only bluffing.

8th District detectives reviewed the security tapes and then re-interviewed the "victim," who admitted he lost his money gambling and that no robbery occurred. There's no word on whether police will charge him with filing a false report.

Warnings!: A couple of alert citizens have reported incidents that might save their neighbors some grief:

• A woman, who herself was a victim of a robbery this past summer in the French Quarter, was walking on the Esplanade Avenue neutral ground near Royal Street on Tuesday (11.11.08) around 10 p.m. when she noticed 3 young black punks stalking a young couple talking as the woman locked up her bike, oblivious to the trio approaching them.
  

The punks, who had ridden up Esplanade from the river, were reaching into the backs of their pants. Even though they noticed our observer on the neutral ground making a phone call, they continued sneaking up on the unsuspecting couple--until they noticed a man walking quickly toward them. The punks quickly remounted their bikes and fled up Esplanade toward N. Rampart Street.

The observer gave police this description of the suspicious kids: 3 black males, late teens to early 20's, braided hair, white shirts, dark jeans, riding 2 mountain-type bikes. Shortly after that she saw 2 police cars patrol in the direction the trio went.

Luckily, this incident didn't amount to a crime. But the lesson is: 1) be aware of your surroundings; and 2) call in suspicious activity--it might prevent a crime.

• Another citizen reported suspicious characters hanging around the Cabrini "dog park" last weekend. She described them as "2 or 3 men in big white T-shirts, cruising around the area in bicycles, giving people here and there 'the eye.' " On one night, she said, she found a man standing at the corner of Burgundy and Barracks street "who looked a bit nervous, as if he were watching for people. When I confronted him, he seemed agitated and slinked off."

The woman reported her observations to NOcrimeline because "I am afraid that the stage is being set for a mugging or a break-in, and possibly worse. These people do not look like they are headed anywhere or are going about any legitimate business."

Maj. Hosli has forwarded this information to his platoons and taskforce, asking them to keep an eye on the area.

Overexposed: Our favorite photographer, Cheryl Gerber, was caught in a conundrum: do I leave my expensive photo gear in my car and take the chance of it being broken into, or do I haul the gear to my house and take the chance of being robbed on the way.

She made the wrong choice last Saturday (11.8.08) night--thieves broke into her car that was parked under a streetlight in front of her house on Burgundy Street in the Marigny Triangle and stole all her camera equipment, about $15,000 worth.

"Yes, I know I'm dumb for leaving valuables in the trunk...but sometimes you have to choose: "Do I take chance getting mugged from car to front door or leave them in the trunk?"

This is part of a trend of more car break-ins along Burgundy Street, both in the Triangle and in the French Quarter. Gerber said hers was the 4th car to be broken into this week.

She is offering a $1,000 reward for return of her gear, which includes a huge heavy case and 2 other big camera bags. If someone offers you fancy Nikon gear cheap, contact NOcrimeline.

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

Thom Kahler

Robbers running rampant

Broad daylight hold-ups: At least 5 robberies have plagued residents and tourists in and around the French Quarter since last Friday. And worse, all the robbers are still on the prowl, waiting to strike again.

• 2:50 p.m. Friday (11.7.08): A 37-year-old white man was standing in the 800 block of Bienville Street (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets) when he was approached by a black guy who asked for a cigarette. While the victim fumbled for his smokes, the robber pulled out a small-caliber chrome-plated handgun and demanded the man's money. The victim turned over his cash and the robber fled on foot to Bourbon Street and turned toward Conti Street.

The perp is described as about 45 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a thin moustache, short black hair, a chipped front tooth, and was wearing a white T-shirt and dark blue sweat pants.

• 4 p.m. Friday (11.7.08): A 19-year-old white guy was leaving his home on Touro Street near Burgundy Street in the Marigny Triangle when a young black punk pulled a semi-automatic handgun and put it to the victim's head, demanding his wallet. The robber fled on foot toward St. Claude Avenue along with 2 other black boys who stood across the street during the robbery.

8th District detectives identified the robber as 15-year-old Albert Myles after the victim picked him out of a photo line-up. An arrest warrant has been issued for the punk, who is described as 5'9" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a light complexion, and was wearing a red hat, red sweatshirt and baggy pants at the time of the robbery.

The trouble is, the NOPD has no picture to show the public so they can avoid this trouble or help apprehend him.

Another problem is, the NOPD considers the case closed just because they've identified the perp and issued a warrant; no real effort is made to hunt down these scumbags until the police stumble upon them again after these scofflaws screw up again.

• 3:45 p.m. Monday (11.10.08): Two 17-year-old white girls were walking on Dumaine Street near Burgundy Street when they passed a black couple in their 20s. As they passed, the black chick grabbed one of the girl's wallet from her pocket. Her boyfriend then put a metal object, believed to be a pistol, to the other young girl's neck and demanded her purse. The victims fled toward N. Rampart Street (kind of like going from the frying pan into the fryer!)

The female robber was described at 5'9" to 6' tall, with a short ponytail, dark complexion, and was wearing a black shirt, blue jacket and jeans. The male was described at 6" tall, with a dark complexion, and was wearing a white hoodie and jeans.

• The other armed robbery in this 4-day spree was at 5:05 a.m. on Friday (11.7.08) when a white man was approached as he stood in the 700 block of Burgundy Street (between Orleans and St. Ann streets) by 2 black dudes asking for a cigarette. When the victim replied he didn't have any cigarettes, one of the thugs pulled a pistol, struck the victim with it, and demanded his money. The robbers told the victim's wallet and cellphone before fleeing on foot toward Canal Street.

Both perps were described as 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, one wearing a stripped shirt and the other dressed in all black clothing.

Not a friendly game of poker: A Hispanic man playing poker at Harrah's Casino early Sunday (11.9.08) morning around 3 a.m. got into an argument with a white man at the table and left the casino. As he walked toward the intersection of Poydras Street and Convention Center Boulevard, a black 4-door sedan pulled along side him.

The man he had argued with earlier got out of the car along with several other men. The Hispanic man was struck and fell to the ground. While he was on the pavement, the other men took cash from the victim's front pocket before getting back in the black sedan and fleeing.

The man the victim argued with was described as white, 25 to 35 years old, 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, and was wearing a blue shirt.

This "Candy Man" can't any more: Last night (11.10.08), Ofc. Athena Monteleone, of the 8th District's Taskforce, single-handedly took down a thug who has almost 3 dozen arrests or convictions in the last 5 years for about any kind of drug you can think of (and a few you can't)--and he's only 25 years old.

Ofc. Monteleone arrested Cedric Franklin at Dumaine and Burgundy streets a little after 8 p.m. and charged him with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam (Xanax, to you) and crack cocaine, and for the umteenth time, "1st offense" possession of marijuana.

Bad driving must have tipped off the officer, since Franklin wound up with about 4 traffic violations too.

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

Thom Kahler

Come on Cannizzaro

New DA needed NOW: Leon Cannizzaro's ready to take over as DA and starting kicking some butt just as soon as the election results are verified, probably the first part of next week. It can't be too soon. Consider the case of this scumbag:

Just a little over 2 weeks ago, the interim DA decided not to prosecute Melvin Bland, 38, for an armed robbery he allegedly committed this past summer. Then yesterday (11.6.08) he was arrested again, this time for simple robbery in the 800 block of St. Louis Street (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets).

A white guy walking along the street about 1:50 a.m. was allegedly grabbed by Bland who tried to get the contents of the victim's front pocket. But before he succeeded, plainsclothes police officers in the vicinity where on him like flies on you-know-what. Bland was charged with attempted simple robbery, resisting an officer, and battery of a police officer.

In the summer robbery, Bland allegedly came up to a woman at 1431 Royal St. (between Kerlerec Street and Esplanade Avenue) at about 2 a.m. 7.16.08 and asked for a cigarette. Then he allegedly pulled a pistol and demanded her money, which she surrendered.

Bland's bond is set at $26,000. Let's hope it keeps him in OPP until Cannizzaro sics his fangs into him at the "show cause" hearing on 1.7.09.

Why this guy was even on the street is a mystery. He's got nearly 2 dozen arrests and felony convictions going back 20 years for everything from prostitution to drug dealing. Why no DA has prosecuted him yet as a career criminal is amazing. Come on Cannizzaro--it's up to you to put this guy away for good.

Boxed in: What is it with boxcutters all of a sudden? In 2 attacks this week, that was the weapon of choice:

• Sunday (11.2.08), a black dude walking with his brothers (no, really, his brothers) at about 5:41 a.m. on Burgundy Street, near Iberville Street, was accosted by a Hispanic guy who came up and started shouting at him, then pulled out a boxcutter and cut him on the arm. The victim's brothers pushed the assailant to the ground and held him until police arrived.

Police arrested Armondo Juarez, 24, and charged him with aggravated battery. He's being held in OPP on $20,000 bond while authorities try to find him a translator. (Probably needs a green card too--and to learn you don't mess with a brother who's surrounded by his brothers, real or not.)

• Tuesday (11.4.08), 2 white men, who police said were "acquaintances," got into an argument at The Roundup Bar, 819 St. Louis St. One pulled a boxcutter and cut his "friend" on the arm.

The victim was taken to the hospital and 8th District detectives went to the home of Marcus Martinez, 33, and charged him with aggravated battery. He's being held on $5,000 bond.

What's the commotion?: Often the police response to a scene is so dramatic that citizens might think the sky is falling. For instance:

• One NOcrimeline reader wanted to know if there was some sort of criminal activity in the 600 and 700 blocks of Esplanade Avenue (between Chartres and Bourbon streets) just after midnight on 10.29.08 because there were many police cars on the scene.

Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, checked it out thoroughly by checking all his nightwatch officers' trip sheets and the Communications Division's logs, but found nothing listed. "In all likelihood," he concluded, "it was a traffic stop or pedestrian stop that may have been conducted by my taskforce or units from another division."

• Another NOcrimeline reader, coming out of work just after 5 p.m. on 10.30.08 was nearly hit as she started to cross the street at Camp and Natchez streets by an unmarked SUV speeding down Camp without lights or siren on. The officer jumped out of the SUV and pulled her gun on a man running across Poydras Street. Another unmarked SUV arrived on the scene in the same manner, swerved, and hit the guy, knocking him down. The reader said about 10 marked NOPD cars showed up and "at least 15 NOPD" officers "standing around staring at this guy in the street."

Maj. Hosli has been checking on this incident too, but is baffled, saying, "I have no major incidents around that area last week."

• If you noticed emergency vehicles converging on Burgundy Street at Kerlerec Street on Thursday (11.6.08) just after midnight, it was due to a suicide at 1719 Burgundy St. According to the police report, a 21-year-old girl, depressed over breaking up with her boyfriend, drank heavily and put a gun in her mouth and fired one shot. She died on the scene. A shame: a long-term solution for a short-term problem.

Don't let this dissuade you from contacting NOcrimeline whenever you see something suspicious or curious. Often it's a tip from a reader that leads to the most important stories. You have more eyes and ears out in the community than the police do, so speak up.

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

Thom Kahler

Stick'em up...lock'em down

Robberies followed by arrests: 8th District cops took 4 thugs off the streets of the French Quarter over the weekend following 3 armed robberies, or attempts there at.

The first, early Friday (10.31.08) morning at 1:30 a.m., occurred when an Asian male was walking in the 1000 block of Conti Street toward N. Rampart Street and was assailed by 2 black dudes. One pulled a gun and demanded the victim's valuables. The victim, not used to our customs, refused and a physical struggle ensued. The would-be robbers, realizing they had bungled their heist, fled the scene.

Apprehended a few hours later and positively identified by the victim were Russell Bernard, 18, and a 16-year-old punk, who's name won't be released, of course, unless his precious psyche be damaged. Bernard was charged with attempted armed robbery and is being held in OPP in lieu of $100,000 bond.

The next night, Saturday (11.1.08), a white man walking in the 100 block of Chartres Street (between Ursulines and St. Philip streets) at 11:23 p.m. was accosted by 2 black guys. One pulled a gun and demanded the victim's money, but another pedestrian happened upon the scene and the would-be crooks fled on foot.

The fearful twosome succeeded 8 minutes later at 11:31 p.m. when they came upon a white couple walking near the intersection of Ursulines and Burgundy streets. When one of the robbers pulled a gun and demanded the victims' money, the man and woman complied. The robbers fled up Ursulines and across N. Rampart Street.

A short while later, police apprehended Kentrell Finister, 17, and Daryl Galle, 20. Both were positively identified by the victims and booked on 2 counts each of armed robbery with a firearm. They are being held on $250,000 bond each in OPP.

Simple but terrifying: A black woman walking to her car in the 1000 block of Touro Street (between N. Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue) in the middle of the afternoon on Friday (10.31.08) at 2:10 p.m. was knocked to the ground by a black guy who came up behind her. He reached into her right front pocket and took her cash before fleeing on foot.

The robber was described as 28 to 32 years old, 5'6" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with a light complexion and short haircut with thin sideburns, wearing a white T-shirt and light blue jeans.

Shootout update: Additional information received this morning from the 8th District allows us to clarify several issues in the alleged shootout Friday in the CDB between cops and a suspect.

The earlier report, from the "Superintendent's Major Offense Log", which gives a gist of each crime, indicated that 8th District officers had been fired upon. However, the 8th District's version does not report the suspect firing his gun at officers, but only brandishing it as he approached them.

Read the revised account in the earlier posting of 11.1.08 below: "Cops in shootout"

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

Thom Kahler

Violence rips the 8th

Cops in shootout: Officers Blake Terrell and Claude Daniel of the NOPD's 8th District came upon 2 men standing next to a van at 800 S. Peters St. (at Julia Street) around 3 a.m. yesterday morning (10.31.08) and arguing with the occupants. As they went to intervene, they heard a gunshot and saw a muzzle flash.

One of the men fled but the other began waving his gun around. The officers ordered him to drop the gun, but he refused. Instead, he approached the officers and pointed his gun at them. They fired, but missed the deranged man. Wisely, the miscreant dropped to the ground.

Police arrested Ryan Toombs, who just turned 18 on 10.2.08 and severely jeopardized his chances of turning 19.

Toombs was charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, and single counts of resisting an officer, illegal use of a firearm, and being a felon with a firearm. His bond was set at $60,000.

Girls gone wild--again: Seems the working girls of the French Quarter are getting into it an awfully lot lately. Maybe they're unionizing, or something.

Around 5:30 a.m. yesterday morning (10.31.08) at Bourbon and Conti streets, a 17-year-old black chick got into a fight with a group of several other black girls. One of them allegedly pulled a folding knife and cut the victim on the left side of her face above the eye. She was treated and released at the scene.

Officers Tyrone Mills and Adrian Chapital apprehended Savonna Stewart (left), 18, and charged her with aggravated battery. They also arrested her gal pal who was also allegedly involved in the fight, Keywanda Ashley (right), 20, and charged her with tampering with evidence.

2 for 2: 2 armed robberies within a half-hour of each other early Thursday morning (10.30.08) resulted in 2 arrests.

Out walking just after midnight, a black man was stopped by a grey Chevy Malibu that pulled along side of him at Common Street and O'Keefe Avenue in the CBD. The passenger hopped out of the car, brandishing 2 pistols and demanded the victim's money. The victim complied and fled on foot, flagging down a patrol car.

Then at 12:30 a.m., a 58-year-old black man was robbed in much the same manner at Tulane and Loyola avenues by a man in a grey Chevy Malibu.

Officers Terrance Wilson and Joseph Jefferson stopped a car fitting the description at Canal and Burgundy streets and determined the men inside where the perpetrators of both robberies.

Arrested were Manual McDonald (right), 20, 5'8" tall, weighing 160 pounds, and William Gates (left), 19, 5'8" tall, weighing 155 pounds. Both were charged with 2 counts of armed robbery. McDonald's bond was set at $200,000, but Gates' was set at only $50,000. Gates managed to bail out later in the evening to go trick-or-treating the next day.

Scumbag goes free: Police probably figured they finally had the goods on Kyle J. Anderson, 22, when the 8th District Task Force bagged him at Decatur and Frenchmen streets (just off Esplanade Avenue) in June.

Anderson--who had eluded murder charges against him a year ago--now had 12 charges lodged against him, ranging from a multitude of traffic offenses to drug and weapons charges as well as assault on officers.

But it was not to be. Anderson was set free a week or so ago (10.23.08) when the DA dropped all remaining charges against him. (The election Tuesday can't come soon enough to get a new DA in there who will, hopefully, crackdown on this crap!)

What is not known is whether the fact one of the officers who arrested Anderson last June but has since quit the NOPD while under investigation by the Public Integrity Bureau affected the ability to prosecute the case.

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

Thom Kahler