Escapees from OPP: Almost 48 hours later 2 inmates who escaped from OPP are still on the loose. Maybe they're somewhere near you--but who knows?
The 2 escapees
--Lester Jones (left), 26, and Arthur Johnson (right), 32--exited the House of Detention on Tuesday (7.22.09) around 9 p.m. through a fire exit that had only one lock and no alarm.
Jones is described as 6'1" tall, weighing 190 pounds. Johnson is 5'10" tall, weighing 170 pounds. Oh, did I mention they're black? Neither did the Times-Picayune nor the sheriff.
Jones had every reason to want to get out of town. Just Monday (7.21.09)--the day before the escape--Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson tacked on 3 additional years to the 12-year sentence she gave him in June after a jury found him guilty of dealing crack cocaine.
The whole episode points out how ineffective Gusman is as criminal sheriff. First, he bungles the office's computer system. Now, he can't generate any enthusiasm for capturing these convicts.
Bumbling bank robbery: Whitney Bank at 601 Poydras St. was robbed Tuesday (7.21.09) morning in a scenario more fitting of Ignatius J. Reilly.
DEA agent's killer: The man who beat a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent to death last August has pled guilty to 2nd-degree murder of a federal agent in exchange for only a 30-year prison sentence.
Sheriff Marlin Gusman is downplaying how dangerous these felons are, saying they're only wanted on drug charges. Yeah--big time dealing of dope in the city over the years. And though he said the escapees are "not the most violent type of people," one was charged with attempted murder. Sounds pretty violent to me.
The 2 escapees
--Lester Jones (left), 26, and Arthur Johnson (right), 32--exited the House of Detention on Tuesday (7.22.09) around 9 p.m. through a fire exit that had only one lock and no alarm.Installing an alarm "is one of the things were going to look at implementing on that door," Gusman said with his usual lack of enthusiasm while exhibiting his crime fighting acumen.
Jones is described as 6'1" tall, weighing 190 pounds. Johnson is 5'10" tall, weighing 170 pounds. Oh, did I mention they're black? Neither did the Times-Picayune nor the sheriff.
And the sheriff wouldn't tell what neighborhoods they came from because the escape is an "ongoing investigation." Huh? Just because they busted out of jail doesn't mean they won't pass by their mama's and 'em.
Don't you think citizens would keep a little bit better eye out for them if they thought they were from their neighborhood. You wouldn't want to run into these guys on the street or in the Walmart parking lot if they decided they liked your ride and figured it would get them further down the road.
Jones had every reason to want to get out of town. Just Monday (7.21.09)--the day before the escape--Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson tacked on 3 additional years to the 12-year sentence she gave him in June after a jury found him guilty of dealing crack cocaine.
Gusman has asked other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the 2 who are piling up frequent-felon miles. The U.S. Marshal's Service has posted a reward of $1,000 each for the 2. But considering how poorly witnesses fare in this city, that won't buy much Kevlar.
And I haven't seen any added patrols coming through my neighborhood searching for these fleeing felons, have you?
The whole episode points out how ineffective Gusman is as criminal sheriff. First, he bungles the office's computer system. Now, he can't generate any enthusiasm for capturing these convicts.
Let's hope a suitable candidate comes forward to replace this last of Marc Morial's henchmen. It's a great job--no term limits and about to be combined with the civil sheriff's office (and salary, presumably).
How about Ron Forman? He already runs the zoo.
Bumbling bank robbery: Whitney Bank at 601 Poydras St. was robbed Tuesday (7.21.09) morning in a scenario more fitting of Ignatius J. Reilly.
The robber entered the bank around 9:15 a.m. and stuck his pistol in the bank guard's back, took his weapon, and made him lie down on the floor. So much for vigilance. Then, according to the police report, he went to the teller and "demanded cash or whatever money she had." You mean, like pesos or something?
She gave him an undisclosed amount of money and he took off running down Camp Street toward Lafayette Square, strewing money from the exploded cash pack, dripping red dye and dollars, dropping the security guard's gun, and reportedly his own cellphone.
She gave him an undisclosed amount of money and he took off running down Camp Street toward Lafayette Square, strewing money from the exploded cash pack, dripping red dye and dollars, dropping the security guard's gun, and reportedly his own cellphone.
He was described as a black man, late 30's to early 40's, 6' tall, weighing 220 to 230 pounds, wearing a black baseball cap with a gold logo, a black short-sleeve button-down shirt and blue jeans.
DEA agent's killer: The man who beat a federal Drug Enforcement Administration agent to death last August has pled guilty to 2nd-degree murder of a federal agent in exchange for only a 30-year prison sentence.
Thomas J. Byrne, 40, of Houston was in town for a crime prevention conference and had gone out to dinner and to a few bars on Bourbon Street before wandering into deepest, darkest New Orleans.
About 12:45 a.m. on 8.28.09 he wound up at Elysian Fields and St. Claud
e avenues, near Gene's Po-Boys which had video surveillance cameras outside. The cameras' tapes showed Byrne walking down Elysian Fields followed by Ameal Parker Jr. (pictured). Less than 5 minutes later, Parker is shown coming back to the sandwich shop and trying to use Byrne's credit card from an ATM there.
e avenues, near Gene's Po-Boys which had video surveillance cameras outside. The cameras' tapes showed Byrne walking down Elysian Fields followed by Ameal Parker Jr. (pictured). Less than 5 minutes later, Parker is shown coming back to the sandwich shop and trying to use Byrne's credit card from an ATM there.Parker, 47, admitted to beating and robbing Byrne, but said he did not intend to kill him.
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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.comThom Kahler
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1 comments:
Installing an alarm "is one of the things were going to look at implementing on that door," Gusman said with his usual lack of enthusiasm while exhibiting his crime fighting acumen.
What a dummy. (I am being polite)
Yea...why don't you look into locking the doors over there at the prison. That sounds like a great idea. I bet he could think about that in his mobile control center while watching one of the 12 flat screens. Or use some of the time he is not using supervising his deputies. Cause (wah, wah) the lack of accountability for the staff at OPP is something he's been thinking about a little, too. You know...I think he really does deserve to be civil sheriff, too. It was hard during that big storm when he had to stay there and do his job...oh wait...never mind. Not a good example. How about how he tries really hard to make sure that people arrested on traffic and municipal charges are kept safe? Oh..again...not a good example.. Wait...now what's his deal, again? Why does he say he can get the job done? I can't remember.
What a dummy.
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