Royal robbery suspect arrested

Very quietly: You can't accuse the NOPD of tooting its own horn in this case, but they managed to arrest a suspect early last month in 1 of 2 robberies in the 1300 block of Royal Street early the month before.

In checking the outstanding arrest warrants that NOcrimeline keeps track of, we discovered the police had arrested Taurus Legrandre, 27, on 11.3.08 for the armed robbery of 3 victims in October. Legrandre pled not guilty yesterday (12.12.08) in Criminal District Court before Judge Raymond Bigelow on 3 counts of armed robbery with a firearm. He is being held in OPP on $50,000 bond. His next court date is 1.6.09.

Neighbors in the vicinity of those 2 robberies (Royal between Barracks Street and Esplanade Avenue) were on edge after the robbery 10.10.08 of 2 women, both 24, and a man, 27, who were out walking just after midnight, when a man who hopped out of car and held them up at gunpoint.

Just 2 days before on 10.8.08 around 6:30 p.m., 5 black boys on bicycles tried to hold up a woman walking in he same block. When the woman realized their weapon was only a cigarette lighter shaped like a gun, she fled. The police managed to arrest 3 of the young thugs, 13,14, and 15 years of age.

Cop killing indictment: A federal grand jury on Thursday (12.11.08) indicted Ameal Parker (right), 46, for the murder of a Drug Enforcement Administration agent from Houston attending an anti-crime conference in New Orleans who was beaten to death and robbed before Hurricane Gustav.

On 8.28.08, Thomas Byrne (left), 40, was found by a passerby on Elysian Fields Avenue near the I-610/I-10 overpass at about 1:20 a.m. He was taken to the hospital where he died 8.30.08.

Police reports conflict. At first, they said Byrne had last been seen walking to his hotel in the CBD from the French Quarter. A later report, said Byrne was walking in the French Quarter when he apparently got lost and wandered into the 7th Ward across St. Claude Avenue, a known no-no for locals.

Based on filmed footage from private and city crime surveillance cameras investigators obtained a warrant to search a house in the 1300 block of Frenchmen Street, just across St. Claude. After FBI and DEA agents and NOPD cops the afternoon after Byrne's body was found, they arrested Parker and Joseph Miller, 50, and booked them with possession of stolen property and access device fraud after they allegedly used Byrne's credit cards. Miller was later cleared of those charges.

Can't anybody here shoot straight?: It took a long time, but perhaps this is what really happened in the shooting at Harrah's Casino last Saturday night (12.6.08):

At first, a man who was shot in the leg told police he was wounded by another guy; when surveillance videos showed otherwise, he admitted he shot himself.

Now, the NOPD says, he was a rent-a-cop assigned to guard valet parking and was "playing with his gun" when it went off and a bullet went through his thigh.

The NOPD issued a summons for the illegal discharge of a firearm to Ricky Matthew Jr., 23, who works for Black Hawk Security (the guys who last year wanted to charge you to protect the French Quarter...no thanks).

Did he or didn't he?: In the only report the 8th District put out this week, Maj. Edwin Hosli said his officers arrested a 38-year-old guy after he pulled a knife on his girlfriend during an argument at Loyola and Tulane avenues before fleeing on a RTA bus.

Though police gave the suspect's name and date of birth, there is no record of the man in court documents or booking information at Central Lockup.

Maybe it's this kind of record keeping that sets so many criminals free.

Speaking of which: Paul Starr, who was so viciously attacked by a black gangster last month while walking to Matassa's Market, recently showed up at a municipal court hearing for his attacker after learning about it on NOcrimeline. He had not received any official notice from the city attorney's office, so prosecutors were surprised he was there.

And after telling them his story, Starr said, "The city attorney was surprised that this hadn't gone to the district attorney...it looked like everyone was just working off of the handwritten notes that had been taken at the scene. I gave the attorney a copy of your webpage together with the information on the accused which I had also printed out, thanks to the links that you had posted on your website."

The hearing was continued until 12.30.08 because, Starr said, "I believe that...the city attorney is working to see if the charges can be moved to the DA's office."

The difference between the city attorney handling a case in municipal court and the district attorney handling it in criminal court is the difference between a wrist-slap and a full-blown criminal prosecution.

And the offense doesn't wind up on the FBI figures that show how bad crime is in New Orleans. Perhaps that's why we're seeing so many cases brushed off as municipal infractions--another way to down grade real crime.

Free, free at last: A panhandler who attacked a guy with a knife in the French Quarter this past summer has been freed by Criminal District Court Judge Frank Marullo Jr.

Steven Law, 26, pled guilty 11.24.08 to aggravated battery for attacking the victim while he was walking with a group of friends in the 1000 block of Decatur Street about 8:30 p.m. on 8.10.08. The gutter punk and his girlfriend began hustling the group for money, and when they refused to give them any, the punk pulled a knife and stabbed the victim in the leg. The victim's friends grabbed the assailant and held him until police arrived.

After Law pled guilty, Judge Marullo sentenced him to time served--just over 3 months. Doesn't sound like much for plunging a knife into someone.

And another goes free: A guy arrested this past summer for allegedly breaking into a residence at 525 Conti St. has gone free after the DA yesterday (12.12.08) not to prosecute him for burglary. Actually, Michael L. Bourgeois, 34, had been free since 7.12.08, 2 days after he had been arrested, thanks to Judge Marullo who released him on his own recognizance rather than forcing him to post $25,000 bond.

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

Thom Kahler

Double robbery spoils evening

Hooded hoodlums hunted: Two robberies last night (12.7.08) about an hour apart in the early evening are believed related.

• 6:29 p.m., 500 block of Burgundy Street near Toulouse Street: A couple walking along were accosted from the rear by a black guy who grabbed the victim's money clip from his rear pocket. The man's wife struck the thief with a ruler (shades of the nuns!) as the felon fled on Toulouse toward N. Rampart Street.

He was described at 5'10" tall, weighing 145 pounds, wearing a gray hoodie.

• 7:40 p.m., 1000 block of St. Louis Street: Slightly more than an hour later, the hoodlum rounded up a buddy and struck again just around the corner from the earlier robbery. This time, perhaps fearing another ruler attack, he came armed with a kitchen knife as he and his buddy snuck up on a 65-year-old white man from behind. They fled down St. Louis toward the river with the man's cellphone, keys and wallet containing $7.

The description of the knife-wielding robber was the same as in the previous robbery; his accomplice was described as also 5'10" tall, wearing a camouflaged hoodie.

These 2 thugs are still out there, waiting to strike again. Anyone with information on these thieves are asked to contact Detective Willie Jenkins at 658-6080, or you may also call CrimeStoppers anonymously at 822-1111 and make a few bucks turning these losers in.

Having a blast at Harrah's: A man who originally claimed to have been shot outside of Harrah's Casino on Saturday (12.6.08) around 10 p.m. was found to be lying when police rolled the video surveillance tapes.

When detectives confronted him, the victim admitted he had shot himself in the leg in the valet parking area of the casino. They issued him a summons and took him to the hospital.

There was no explanation, other than shear stupidity or carelessness, as to why he shot himself.

2 more go free: The DA's office--the old DA--quiet refused to prosecute a couple more suspects arrested by 8th District officers:

• Torray Thomas, 24, was set free 10.21.08. He had been charged with aggravated assault after he and another black man got into an argument in the early morning hours of 10.4.08 at the corner of Bourbon and St. Louis streets. Thomas allegedly left the scene and returned a short time later with a pistol, which he pointed at the other man before running away.

• Prince Richardson, 32, had charges of simple robbery and simple battery dropped by the DA in September after an incident 7.5.08 at the Astor Crown Plaza Hotel on Canal Street. Richardson was one of 3 men arrested after allegedly accosting another black man as he left a hotel room after going there with a strange black woman. Allegedly they demanded money from him and the victim gave them $400.
  

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

Thom Kahler

Woman attacked in her bed

Burglar breaks down front door: A 26-year-old woman living at 830 St. Ann St. awoke to a loud noise of her door being kicked in early Wednesday morning (12.3.08) and then found a hulking black man looming over her.

Before she knew it, he had her facing the wall and told her he would kill her if she moved or made a noise. He told her he was armed and pressed a cold object to the back of her neck. He repeatedly asked where she kept her money in the house, and she repeatedly told him there was no money in the house. He settled for her TV set and laptop computer and fled.

Within 2 hours after the 1:45 a.m. incident, police apprehended Frank Moody, 48, on N. Rampart Street and booked him with aggravated burglary. He is in OPP on $100,000 bond.

Moody should have never been on the street in the first place. When a hung jury in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court this spring failed to convict him on a charge of burglary of an inhabited dwelling late last year, Judge Ben Willard allowed Moody to plead guilty to the lesser charge of simple burglary.

Willard gave him a suspended 4-year sentence and sentenced him to probation designed to treat alcoholism and drug addiction. After Moody violated that probation, Willard made the terms of his probation even stricter this October: wear an ankle monitor, obey a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, and perform 500 hours of community service. He's now being held without bond for violating probation.

Burglaries the thing: A burglar who may have visited the same business twice found that 2 is too much (well, actually one is).

The proprietor of Dragon's Den, 435 Esplanade Ave., called police when he heard someone on the second floor of the business on 11.26.08 just before 1 p.m.

The police showed up and arrested John D. Petrie III, a 37-year-old white guy, and charged him with burglary. Then after investigating another burglary in the same block on 11.18.08, they charged him in that case too.

A charge of aggravated burglary against Petrie from last year, was thrown out of court this spring because the DA's office dilly-dallied too long in pressing the case.

It is not believed these burglaries are related to the 4 that occurred next door at Tomatillo's, a Mexican restaurant at 437 Esplanade (corner of Decatur Street), in the latter part of September and early October.

Video surveillance cameras showed a black man carting off several bottles of liquor and beer in a each of the burglaries, plus a couple of bicycles. There's been no word from the police whether or not they were able to identify and arrest the thief based on those video shots.

A dollar won't do: When a woman walking in the 1000 block of Iberville Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) at about 1 a.m. on 11.28.08 tried to fend off a black guy asking for money by giving him a dollar, he grabbed her purse instead. Police quickly caught up with Andrew Norris, 22, and arrested him for pursesnatching and carrying a concealed weapon.

So where's the crime?: We kept waiting for the reports to roll in after this past weekend's big Bayou Classic bash, but it was relatively quiet. Like last year, there were only a couple of relatively minor incidents--but lots of auto thefts. The flashy rides driven by college kids and alumni from elsewhere in the South were apparently too much for local thug element to resist. Bring the bling, and they will find you.

You can stop looking: Police finally arrested the woman with the exotic name but not the figure to match--Chiquita Blaise--about 10 days after putting a warrant on her after identifying her as one of 2 women wanted for attempting to rob a white woman 11.13.08 in the 200 block of N. Rampart Street.

Blaise, 23, 5'6" tall and weighing 195 pounds, 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.

Blaise was arrested 11.22.08 and 4 days later, Criminal District Court Judge Julian Parker released her on her own recognizance rather than require her to post $20,000 bond.

More on NOcrimeline: New Orleans Magazine's take on NOcrimeline is featured in an article by Chuck Hustmyre in its December issue.

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

Thom Kahler

HOW to get rid of Riley

After we advocated last week that Big Chief Warren Riley needed to be replaced sooner than later as police superintendent, he more or less sealed the deal in the public's eyes when he admitted his department was impotent to do anything about conquering crime in New Orleans. Invariably, readers here and elsewhere agree with NOcrimeline that Riley must go. But, they asked, how do we get rid of him?

Resignation: If he was smart enough to read the handwriting on the wall--or in the public press--Riley would resign. As of last Friday (11.28.08) he was eligible to retire with his full $172,000-a-year salary.

He might see his resignation at this time as capitulation to those calling for it. But he should also consider that the longer he stays, the more humiliating the terms of his departure might be.

Get while the getting is good might be the best for him.

Firing: Some, recognizing that Mayor Nagin is Riley's boss, wondered why he didn't fire him. Yeah, like why doesn't Nagin do anything to benefit the city?

Some suggested a recall petition drive. Sorry, the state's laws regarding recalls make the practice of democracy almost impossible here.

Others suggested a march on city hall. The last time thousands marched on city hall following a couple of high-profile murders, Nagin spewed words promising to make crime his number one priority. But since he has no priorities to begin with, the pecking order doesn't matter.

The City Council does have the power to remove the police chief, according to Section 3-125 of the Municipal Code which states: "The council may bring charges against any person appointed to the unclassified service for lack of qualifications, incompetence, neglect of duty, failure to comply with a lawful directive of the Civil Service Commission or gross misconduct in reference to that person's duties." Hmmm...sound like anybody we've been discussing?

Former District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. has already labeled Riley as "more than merely incompetent" for Riley's failure to protect evidence and supply reports to the DA's office. Rafael Goyeneche of the Metropolitan Crime Commission went even further, saying that "laxity and negligence on the part of the NOPD has resulted in additional crime in this city."

Perhaps the council would be willing to form a "Connick Commission" to compile the evidence against Riley as a prelude to dismissing him. Or maybe Robert Cerasoli, the new inspector general, could proceed posthaste with an investigation into Riley's failures. (Cerasoli, however, seems so overwhelmed with grist for his mill that this city generates that he's virtually immobilized.)

Waiting for the mayor to act is waiting for the 2010 election when there will be a new mayor. Nagin shows no indication now of doing any more than he's done in the last 6 years: nothing.

The City Council may be prepared to act, particularly since 2 or 3 members on it seem to be eying the 2010 mayor's race.

Pressure from power brokers: When the train wreck that was Eddie Jordan went completely off the track as DA, it was the powerful moneyed interests in the city who engineered the deal that got him out of Dodge a year ago. This posse needs to mount up and ride again.

Money has always talked in New Orleans, subtly perhaps but distinctly. Many who make up this elite class are the moguls of tourism, and while we have to live here and endure the ravages of crime, it is tourism that suffers the most economically. A robber might get $20 from our pocket, but crime costs hotels and restaurants millions in lost tourism.

Joe Jaeger, who led a group that purchased the Omni Royal Orleans hotel last spring, told Councilman James Carter in an email this fall, "I believe crime is at a point where it will be affecting commerce and I have told the hotels I am involved with to warn guests to be careful."

Hotel occupancy is well below the rosy numbers often touted publicly by tourism officials, Jaeger said. "Despite what you may read in the paper as it relates to occupancy in the area hotels, it is all false. Most are still running at somewhere between 50% and 60% occupancy for the year."

After New Orleans was christened as the crime capital of the U.S. last week, the rumors started to fly that travel agencies in other cities were trying to persuade their clients from traveling to the Crescent City. Tourists already here reported their travel agents looked at them like they were crazy when they said they wanted to go to New Orleans. A number of NOcrimeline.com readers write and ask if the crime really is that bad in the city. Others say they've decided to wait to visit until they're convinced it's safe.

Once New Orleans cements its reputation as the most dangerous city in the U.S., it will take a long time to change that perception. Look how long it took to convince visitors that the city wasn't still under water from Katrina. It was take a major event to erase the perception of being crime riddled. Some thing like a new police chief.

The powerful in the tourism business have the ears of the politicians who can do something. Nagin, who's bound to crave higher office after he's seen the bright lights and heights of power, will listen to money. Members of the city council, a number of whom have aspirations to be the next mayor, will listen to money.

As Jaeger eagerly told Carter in the fall, "Something needs to be done, and we need someone to step up in the political arena and take charge. Is there anything we can do? This is not my expertise but I would be willing to contribute people and dollars to help in any way I can. Something needs to happen."

(Carter, head of the council's Criminal Justice Committee, said he sees no problem with crime. If he runs for mayor, remember that.)

Jaeger and his cohorts need to step up and now and take their stance. The longer they wait to effect Riley's ouster, the greater and faster the problem will grow.

How will this happen? You, as a citizen, must make your concern known. Forget Nagin. Let your City Council representative know that you mean business. And let businesses know that they must speak up because you're prepared to warn friends and relatives against coming to New Orleans until crime is reduced and the streets are safe again.

Action must come now. New Orleans must show the world that it is serious about doing what it takes to make the streets safe again, rather than just lapsing into the old lazy attitude of the Big Easy. And that means getting a new police chief who can get the job done.

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

Thom Kahler

Shoot the messenger!

Just as Big Chief Warren Riley thinks the city's crime problem is beyond the NOPD's ability to solve, so too Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, thinks it's impossible for him to curtail crime as long as NOcrimeline keeps reporting it.

We were recently sent a copy of the French Quarter Citizens' fall newsletter in which Carol Greve, the organization's VP, reported Maj. Hosli's extensive comments during what was billed as the "first joint public safety meeting" on 8.27.08. Initiated by the French Quarter Business Association "after a high profile crime in the 8th District and several rumors that a crime wave was scaring tourists away," it was attended by representatives of numerous residential and business organizations.

According to Greve's thorough account, "Maj. Hosli is concerned that residents, business owners and visitors are being unduly alarmed by NOcrimeline reports that seem to sensationalize the crimes and promote the perception that the police are not doing their jobs properly and that they are not releasing crime stats."

Maj. Hosli insisted that "crime is not out of control in the French Quarter," pointing out that overall, crime is down by 6% for the year, although he admitted "armed robberies are still a problem."

(From Jan. 1 to Nov. 17 [the latest date figures were available], there were 1,942 crimes in 2008 versus 1,952 in 2007--10 fewer this year--more like .6% than 6%. As for robberies in the same period, there were 158 last year, 172 this year--14 more--an increase of almost 9%.)

Maj. Hosli claimed NOcrimeline's reports "at times may endanger police officers." He cited as an example our reports in mid-August about a crackhouse operating openly at Bourbon and Gov. Nicholls street. He said the reports "alerted the criminals operating out of this house that the police knew about them and the police lost any element of surprise that they might have had to act against the illegal operation," according to Greve's account.

The truth is, Maj. Hosli had been contacted repeatedly by residents who wanted to rid their neighborhood of this nuisance. When they got no response from Maj. Hosli, they turned to NOcrimeline to ask if we could muster some action. We contacted Maj. Hosli to inquire if he was aware of these complaints, but got no response. So we contacted the NOPD's chief of operations, Kirk Bouleyas--Hosli's boss--and pointed out the problem to him. He assured us Maj. Hosli would be made aware of the problem. (To date, there's been no report from the 8th District that it's taken any action on the problem.)

Greve went on to report that, "The major is definitely frustrated with the NOcrimeline blog and insists that his office properly reports murders, armed robberies, assaults and other crimes."

But when he claimed that "the 8th District currently fields an estimated 5,000 calls per month, which produces about 1,000 arrests and reports," Greve did the math: "...this translates into approximately 165 calls a day and 33 arrests per day."

When was the last time you saw 33 reports in one day from the 8th District? At best, there are 2 or 3 reported. That means an awfully lot is being withheld by the 8th District.

Lamenting reports on NOcrimeline about the number of crimes, Maj. Hosli says that creates the perception the 8th District is doing nothing.

Because of that, he was reported as saying, "he is using up valuable manpower to convince the public that there is a police presence in the Quarter. He assigns police cars to ride around the Quarter and show a police presence when he could be using these officers for more valuable work."

Huh? What's more valuable than preventing crime in the Quarter?

Here's where we stand: Because the daily newspaper had largely abdicated its responsibility to report crime news after Katrina, rumors roamed wildly about how bad crime had become in the city though no one knew the facts. This led to the creation of NOcrimeline in March, 2007, intent on informing residents of the French Quarter, Marigny Triangle and CBD about crime happening in their neighborhoods so they could take precautions to keep themselves safe and avoid becoming a victim.

Maj. Hosli, the commander of the 8th District which encompasses those neighborhoods, enthusiastically endorsed the service. He and his staff regularly and responsibly supplied reports on all crimes occurring on their turf.

Earlier this year, Big Chief Riley intimidated Hosli into halting cooperation with NOcrimeline. Why? Because Riley's lack of a plan to curb the city's crime rate became a target of NOcrimeline and our readers who wanted to know what he was going to do to solve the problem.

His response? Shoot the messenger.

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported in November

We've compiled the latest list of crimes reported during November, 2008 in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD) as listed on the NOPD's crime map, which gives the dates, locations, and the time the crimes occurred. Click here for the list. The comparison of crimes this year versus last year has also been updated on the list to the right.

Crimes reported: November 2008

This is a list of the crimes reported during November, 2008 in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD) as listed on the NOPD's crime map, which gives the dates, locations, and the time the crimes occurred.

Armed robbery
11.01.08, 11:31 p.m., Ursulines Ave. & Burgundy St., gun
11.01.08, 6:40 a.m., 600 N. Rampart St., gun
11.02.08, 3:55 a.m., 800 S. Peters St., knife
11.07.08, 4:25 p.m., Touro St. & Burgundy St., gun
11.07.08, 5:05 a.m., 700 Burgundy St., gun
11.08.08, 2:50 p.m., 800 Bienville St., gun
11.10.08, 3:45 p.m., Dumaine St. & Burgundy St., gun
11.14.08, 11:10 a.m., 100 S. Rampart St., attempted, gun
11.16.08, 3:30 a.m., Wilkinson St. & Chartres St., gun
11.18.08, 7:58 p.m., 900 Elysian Fields Ave., gun
11.23.08, 2:05 a.m., Exchange Alley & Iberville St., carjacking
11.23.08, 2:30 a.m., 600 Ursulines Ave.
11.23.08, 2:30 a.m., 1200 Royal St., gun
11.23.08, 4:10 a.m., Ursulines Ave. & Burgundy St., gun
11.26.08, 5:50 p.m., 700 Kaerlerec St., gun

Simple robbery
11.09.08, 6:15 a.m., Conti St. & Bourbon St.
11.12.08, 8:08 a.m., 100 Bourbon St., pursesnatching
11.13.08, 9:12 p.m., 200 N. Rampart St., attempted
11.15.08, 1:15 a.m., 1000 Gov. Nicholls St., pursesnatching
11.16.08, 2:40 a.m., St. Ann St. & Bourbon St.
11.22.08, 10:40 p.m., 400 Bourbon St., pursesnatching
11.23.08, 1:30 p.m., 600 N. Rampart St.
11.28.08, 1:15 a.m., 1000 Iberville St., pursesnatching

Assault & battery
11.02.08, 5:35 a.m., 200 Burgundy St., aggravated battery, cutting
11.04.08, 5:06 a.m., 800 St. Louis St., aggravated battery, cutting
11.21.08, 10:45 p.m., 400 Bourbon St., aggravated assault
11.23.08, 7:38 p.m., 1000 Dauphine St., aggravated assault
11.25.08, 3:09 a.m., 900 Bienville St., aggravated battery, shooting

Burglary
11.02.08, 10:30 p.m., 200 Dauphine St., business
11.02.08, 3:09 a.m., 900 Iberville St., business, attempted
11.03.08, 2:00 a.m., 2000 Royal St., business
11.03.08, 6:50 a.m., 800 Chartres St., business
11.05.08, 3:13 a.m., 1300 Decatur St., business
11.06.08, 4:30 a.m., 600 Conti St., business
11.11.08, 12:30 a.m., 500 Freret St.
11.11.08, 2:00 a.m., 700 Camp St., business
11.16.08, 11:30 a.m., 500 Dauphine St., residence
11.16.08, 6:29 a.m., 100 Conti St.
11.17.08, 12:45 p.m., 400 Esplanade Ave., business
11.18.08, 12:30 a.m., 400 St. Joseph St.
11.18.08, 1:46 a.m., 900 Decatur St., business
11.19.08, 5:45 a.m., 400 Esplanade Ave., business
11.20.08, 10:57 p.m., 800 Iberville St., business
11.20.08, 2:00 p.m., 800 Bourbon St., residence
11.26.08, 12:50 p.m., 400 Esplanade Ave., business

Theft
11.02.08, 11:48 a.m., 700 St. Peter St., bicycle
11.02.08, 3:00 p.m., 300 Bourbon St.
11.04.08, 5:01 p.m., 500 St. Ann St., shoplifting
11.05.08, 3:00 p.m., 700 Bienville St.
11.05.08, 3:45 p.m., 400 N. Peters St., shoplifting
11.05.08, 9:00 a.m., 900 Burgundy St.
11.05.08, 9:00 a.m., 900 Burgundy St.
11.05.08, 9:37 a.m., 500 Canal St.
11.06.08, 12:15 a.m., 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
11.06.08, 6:17 p.m., 800 Conti St., bicycle
11.07.08, 1:00 a.m., 700 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
11.08.08, 11:38 a.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
11.08.08, 2:15 p.m., 300 Chartres St., shoplifting
11.08.08, 7:00 a.m., 1600 Canal St.
11.09.08, 3:20 p.m., 700 Canal St.
11.09.08, 7:15 p.m., 100 Bourbon St.
11.10.08, 1:00 a.m., 500 Canal St.
11.10.08, 9:45 p.m., 700 St. Peter St.
11.13.08, 5:44 p.m., 400 N. Peters St., shoplifting
11.14.08, 12:00 p.m., 300 Poydras St.
11.14.08, 12:01 a.m., 300 Poydras St.
11.15.08, 5:30 p.m., 200 N. Rampart St.
11.16.08, 4:30 p.m., 400 Decatur St.
11.16.08, 8:20 p.m., 500 St. Peter St.
11.16.08, 9:05 a.m., 800 Burgundy St., exterior of auto
11.17.08, 11:15 a.m., 200 Bourbon St.
11.17.08, 12:20 p.m., 1000 Magazine St.
11.18.08, 10:45 p.m., 600 Bourbon St.
11.18.08, 11:45 a.m., 700 Carondelet St.
11.18.08, 12:00 p.m., 400 St. Charles Ave.
11.18.08, 5:00 p.m., 300 Canal St., shoplifting
11.19.08, 10:15 p.m., 600 Bourbon St.
11.19.08, 7:35 a.m., 700 Orleans Ave.
11.20.08, 10:30 p.m., 400 Bourbon St., shoplifting
11.20.08, 5:25 p.m., 900 Canal St., shoplifting
11.20.08, 9:15 p.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
11.20.08, 9:30 a.m., 500 Canal St.
11.21.08, 10:00 a.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
11.21.08, 2:43 p.m., 900 Canal St., shoplifting
11.22.08, 1:30 a.m., 500 Conti St.
11.22.08, 2:00 p.m., 300 Poydras St.
11.22.08, 2:30 a.m., 400 Bourbon St.
11.23.08, 4:30 p.m., 400 Decatur St.
11.23.08, 9:15 a.m., 600 Loyola Ave., bicycle
11.25.08, 11:30 p.m., 800 Bourbon St.
11.25.08, 12:49 p.m., 600 Royal St., shoplifting
11.26.08, 3:10 p.m., 1100 Poydras St.
11.26.08, 8:35 p.m., 100 Elk Pl.
11.29.08, 2:30 a.m., 700 Bourbon St.

Auto theft
11.01.08, 2:30 a.m., 800 Camp St.
11.01.08, 3:00 a.m., 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
11.02.08, 12:45 a.m., 1300 Burgundy St.
11.02.08, 5:00 p.m., 1000 Gravier St.
11.02.08, 6:12 a.m., 700 Canal St.
11.02.08, 7:00 a.m., 600 Burgundy St.
11.03.08, 8:06 p.m., 600 Canal St.
11.03.08, 9:00 p.m., 600 Dumaine St.
11.06.08, 11:00 p.m., Fulton St. & Julia St.
11.06.08, 12:30 p.m., Magazine St. & St. Joseph St., attempted
11.08.08, 11:00 a.m., Dumaine St. & Royal St.
11.08.08, 12:30 a.m., 500 Chartres St.
11.08.08, 12:30 p.m., 900 Toulouse St.
11.08.08, 3:00 a.m., 600 Tchoupitoulas St.
11.08.08, 3:15 a.m., 1400 Tulane Ave.
11.09.08, 1:15 p.m., 400 Poydras St.
11.09.08, 1:30 a.m., Ibervilleh St. & Bourbon St.
11.10.08, 10:00 p.m., Conti St. & Decatur St.
11.10.08, 10:30 a.m., Dumaine St. & Dauphine St.
11.10.08, 11:00 p.m., 1400 Bourbon St.
11.10.08, 7:23 p.m., 1000 Tchoupitoulas St.
11.10.08, 7:45 p.m., Notre Dame St. & Magazine St., attempted
11.11.08, 2:20 a.m., 200 Poydras St.
11.12.08, 3:00 a.m., 100 Canal St.
11.13.08, 3:00 a.m., 100 Canal St.
11.15.08, 6:45 a.m., Decatur St. & Elysian Fields Ave.
11.16.08, 2:00 a.m., 200 Burgundy St.
11.16.08, 7:05 p.m., 800 Chartres St.
11.17.08, 11:00 a.m., 800 St. Charles Ave.
11.17.08, 11:00 a.m., 1800 Burgundy St.
11.20.08, 10:30 p.m., Canal St. & Royal St.
11.20.08, 1:00 p.m., Loyola Ave. & Girod St.
11.21.08, 11:00 p.m., 2000 St. Claude Ave.
11.23.08, 11:00 a.m., 300 Carondelet St.
11.23.08, 1:15 a.m., 1000 S. Peters St.
11.23.08, 3:00 a.m., 600 Common St.
11.23.08, 3:30 a.m., 1000 S Peters St.
11.23.08, 3:30 p.m., 1200 N. Peters St.
11.24.08, 12:00 a.m., 1000 Barracks St.
11.24.08, 2:00 p.m., 900 St. Peter St.
11.25.08, 2:00 a.m., 1000 Conti St.
11.26.08, 2:20 p.m., 600 Gov. Nicholls St.
11.28.08, 2:00 a.m., 800 Burgundy St.
11.29.08, 10:30 p.m., N. Peters St. & Iberville St.
11.29.08, 10:30 p.m., 800 S. Peters St.
11.29.08, 1:30 p.m., Poydras St.
11.29.08, 2:00 a.m., 100 N. Rampart St.
11.29.08, 2:00 a.m., 500 Canal St.
11.29.08, 7:00 p.m., 600 Tchoupitoulas St.
11.29.08, 8:00 p.m., 300 Canal St., attempted
11.30.08, 12:00 a.m., 600 St. Charles Ave.
11.29.08, 5:00 a.m., St. Joseph St. & Tchoupitoulas St., attempted

Car break-in
11.01.08, 12:01 a.m., 100 S. Rampart St.
11.02.08, 12:01 a.m., 500 Poydras St.
11.02.08, 4:55 a.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave., attempted
11.04.08, 11:30 a.m., 1500 Poydras St.
11.04.08, 11:30 a.m., Baronne St. & Girod St.
11.04.08, 2:00 p.m., 1100 Annunciation St.
11.05.08, 9:00 p.m., Howard Ave. & S. Rampart St.
11.06.08, 9:30 p.m., 1000 Conti St.
11.07.08, 12:01 a.m., 1100 Burgundy St.
11.07.08, 2:00 a.m., Camp St. & Poydras St.
11.07.08, 2:30 a.m., 1600 Pauger St.
11.07.08, 3:00 a.m., Camp St. & Poydras St.
11.07.08, 3:30 a.m., Camp St. & Poydras St.
11.07.08, 4:00 a.m., Kerlerec St. & Chartres St.
11.07.08, 4:00 p.m., 100 S. Rampart St.
11.09.08, 2:30 a.m., 1900 N. Rampart St.
11.09.08, 4:30 a.m., Magazine St. & Poydras St.
11.09.08, 5:00 a.m., St. Anthony St. & Burgundy St.
11.09.08, 7:00 p.m., 400 Carondelet St.
11.09.08, 7:15 p.m., 1000 Burgundy St.
11.09.08, 7:30 p.m., 500 Natchez St.
11.10.08, 12:01 a.m., 300 Camp St.
11.10.08, 3:30 p.m., Barracks St. & Burgundy St.
11.10.08, 8:12 p.m., 400 Esplanade Ave.
11.11.08, 12:30 p.m., Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
11.11.08, 12:30 p.m., Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
11.11.08, 12:30 p.m., Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
11.11.08, 9:00 a.m., 1400 Pauger St.
11.12.08, 12:43 a.m., 500 Poydras St.
11.12.08, 4:45 p.m., 500 Ursulines Ave.
11.13.08, 12:01 a.m., 1000 Bienville St.
11.13.08, 2:30 a.m., 200 Baronne St.
11.13.08, 8:00 p.m., Burgundy St. & Iberville St.
11.15.08, 2:00 p.m., Dumaine St. & Decatur St.
11.15.08, 3:00 a.m., 1100 Bourbon St.
11.19.08, 8:30 p.m., 200 St. Charles Ave.
11.20.08, 10:38 p.m., 900 Toulouse St.
11.20.08, 4:55 a.m., 400 Elysian Fields Ave.
11.20.08, 10:00 a.m., Cleveland Ave. & S. Villere St.
11.21.08, 4:45 p.m., 1700 Perdido St.
11.22.08, 12:30 p.m., Decatur St. & Toulouse St.
11.22.08, 6:45 p.m., 300 Royal St.
11.24.08, 2:30 a.m., 600 Ursulines Ave.
11.25.08, 5:30 p.m., 100 Burgundy St.
11.27.08, 4:30 p.m., 100 Burgundy St.
11.29.08, 2:30 p.m., 900 Union St.
11.29.08, 4:15 p.m., 800 Baronne St.
11.29.08, 4:30 p.m., 900 Kerlerec St.

Women targeted again

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thom Kahler

Riley must go--NOW!

How much more evidence do you need than developments in the past week that Big Chief Warren Riley must go sooner than later?:

Ex-DA infuriated: After Riley's boondoggle in handing the evidence mess and the NOPD's failure to supply reports to the District Attorney that resulted in more than 500 suspects going free, no less an authority than former DA, Harry Connick Sr., had had enough:

"Riley is more than merely incompetent. He should be replaced immediately," Connick concluded in an outraged letter-to-the-editor in the Times-Picayune.

He prefaced that conclusion by writing: "There are two fundamental and essential responsibilities required of the superintendent of police: the safe keeping of evidence in criminal cases and furnishing police reports in a timely manner to the district attorney. Both responsibilities are clearly defined in police regulations.

"Riley has failed to perform both duties; he ignored repeated requests...to provide a safe place to store and protect evidence, and he failed to provide police reports to the district attorney."

Lack of reports=more crime: Not only has Riley been shutting out the public's knowledge of crime in the city, but he's been doing the same thing to the DA too.

In a recent study of cases by the Metropolitan Crime Commission, it found the NOPD's failure to submit timely reports to the DA's office resulted in 529 suspects being set free in just over 3 months. Worse, 185 of these miscreants were arrested again for committing new crimes.

"This laxity and negligence on the part of the NOPD has resulted in additional crime in this city," concluded Rafael Goyeneche, president of the crime commission.

Crime in city worst in U.S.: As if we didn't already know, New Orleans topped the list of cities in the U.S. with the highest crime rate.

Based on figures supplied to the FBI by the NOPD, the list showed New Orleans with 209 homicides and over 19,000 other crimes--far out distancing the next worst city.

Riley's reaction? He quibbled with the figures, calling them inaccurate and unscientific. Instead he blamed the city's crime problem on poor people and poor education. Then why didn't he become a social worker or teacher, instead of a cop? A cop's job is to remove from society those few whose mamas didn't teach them the difference between right and wrong.

The second worst city, Camden, NJ, took just the opposite approach. "The unacceptable level of crime has been the driving force behind our recent reorganization as well as the development of our crime-control plan," said the police chief there.

Riley ludicrously pointed out, "In the 1870s, New Orleans was considered...one of the most violent cities in the country." Yeah, and in the 1890s, an angry mob shot and killed New Orleans' police chief.

Evidence brouhaha: The NOPD's property and evidence room has long been a dumping ground for officers who couldn't cut it elsewhere in the department, or invoked the chief's wrath, or "desk duty" for officers being disciplined. And then they wonder why they wind up with calamities. (Remember the scene in the movie "Big Easy" where Remi gets the cop on duty to put an industrial magnet next to the tape showing him taking payoffs?)

The current case of the missing $19,000 in cash from the evidence room is just the latest malady. Back in 2004, the Times-Picayune ran a story about an internal NOPD investigation that showed 2 officers who were supposed to clean up the property room did such a thorough job from 1999 to 2002 that evidence ranging from marijuana to bicycles turned up missing when it came time for trial.

The results of their efforts were termed "catastrophic" and then-Chief Eddie Compass suspended the officers, Capt. Michael Sauter, commander of the Central Evidence and Property Division, and Capt. Michael Pfeiffer, his assistant commander.

But apparently Riley has let bygones be bygones. Riley has since promoted both officers to major. Sauter is now the department's chief technology officer and is responsible for those crime maps. Pfeiffer is in charge of implementing a consultant's report that called for community policing and is known as the "change manager," considered the "most pivotal position in determining the future of the NOPD." Scary, isn't it?

In 2006, the T-P ran another story (scroll down in the link to the article) about all that was lost from Katrina: "The stockpile included a vast inventory of critical forensic items: weapons, bloody clothing, bullet fragments, hair, fibers, bodily fluids from rapes and murders, countless baggies of narcotics, two-by-fours, even a kitchen sink or two ripped off in architectural thefts," said the article.

How could we forget?: When we mentioned several possible replacements for Riley last week, more than one NOcrimeline reader asked "What about Louis Dabdoub?"

Indeed, how could I forget. When I first 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.

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

Thom Kahler

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