Justice, more or less

Murder charge revived: Cleveland Moore has been in stealth mode since New Orleans' first homicide after Katrina in November 2005. He was the subject of a manhunt until he was captured as a fugitive in Florida in October 2007. A 1st-degree murder charge against him was dropped in May 2008 and only a charge of aggravated battery against him remained from the vicious beating of a beloved bookseller in the French Quarter and the brutal murder of his neighbor.

Then, without fanfare, new charges of 2nd-degree murder and attempted 2nd-degree murder were filed a couple of weeks before Mardi Gras on 2.12.09 against Moore. Last Tuesday (3.3.09), Moore pled not guilty to the charges before Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson. He continues to sit in OPP on $1 million bond awaiting various hearings.

Moore, now 42, is accused in the savage beating of beloved French Quarter icon, Jon Newlin, 56, and in the stabbing death of Newlin's neighbor, Joyce Rader, at Newlin's home in the 700 block of Marigny Street.

Moore, best described delicately as a "friend" of Newlin's who occasionally stayed with the literary light at his home in the Faubourg Marigny, disappeared after the crime. According to the story we get, Moore allegedly beat Newlin in the kitchen of his home with an unknown object until the poet passed out. Then when Rader, a neighbor of Newlin's, came to investigate the commotion, she was stabbed or slashed by Newlin's assailant. Initially, an arrest warrant for Moore charged him only with aggravated battery in the assault on Newlin. Because Newlin had been rendered unconscious, he told police he had not witnessed the attack on Rader and so no murder charges were filed.

Eventually, NOPD Homicide Det. Erbin Bush developed enough evidence to issue a warrant for Moore on murder charges in October 2007, and a week later Moore was located in Tallahassee, Florida and arrested there by sheriff's deputies. He was extradited to Louisiana and booked into OPP in January and was being held without bond on charges of 1st-degree murder and aggravated 2nd-degree battery.

But then-DA Keva Landrum-Johnson--now the judge in the case--dropped the murder charge. It was for Johnson's successor as DA, Leon Cannizzaro, to resurrect the case with charges of 2nd-degree murder. It's not known if new information was developed or the charges resulted as a review of existing evidence.

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

He tried to shoot the deputy: Kyle Brown got off about as easy as you can for leveling a firearm at a police officer. Maybe the judge figured the bullet he took from the officer's shooting iron was, in some way, punishment enough.

Originally charged with attempted murder of a police officer, Brown, 22, was found guilty by Judge Laurie A. White of aggravated assault with a firearm against a police officer. She sentenced last Monday (3.2.09) him to a 3-year suspended sentence on inactive probation, plus a $5,000 fine. As a condition of his sentence, he must speak 3 times a year to youth groups "on the effect of alcohol and carrying weapons," and must supply the court with proof he has. If he fails to pay the fine within 3 years, he can be jailed.

Brown was shot by an Orleans Parish Criminal Sheriff's deputy in a parking lot at the foot of Conti Street near the riverfront. The deputy was one of 2 working a private security detail in the parking lot on 1.27.08 at 4:15 a.m. when they noticed Brown emerge from his car and walk toward them with a handgun. The deputies told him to drop his gun, but he refused and allegedly pointed it at them. One deputy fired his weapon, hitting Brown, who was taken to University Hospital in critical condition.

This shooter not so lucky: Christopher Nabonne, 18, might be known as the guy who couldn't shoot straight, but the judge was right on with the sentence she gave him Friday (3.6.09).

Judge Karen K. Herman gave Nabonne 20 years in prison for aggravated battery and aggravated assault with discharge of a firearm--then she tacked on another 5 years because he's a multiple offender.

Nabonne was convicted by a jury last month on the 2 charges. He was charged with shooting at at a black dude leaving Chris Owens' Club, 500 Bourbon St., last May, but instead he hit a woman standing outside the club in the leg.

Young robbers put away: 2 young robbers who terrorized the neighborhood last year are going to spend a few years upriver in Angola.

• Kevin McCoy, now 20, pled guilty Thursday (3.5.09) to 1st-degree robbery when the charge was dropped from armed robbery.

Judge Laurie A. White promptly sentenced him to 5 years in prison "without benefit of probation, parole or suspension."

He was apprehended 4.2.08 at Royal Street and Esplanade Avenue shortly after an armed robbery at 12:35 a.m. of a white guy walking toward N. Rampart Street in the 1000 block of Ursulines Avenue. McCoy allegedly pulled a pistol (later determined to be a BB gun) and demanded the victim's money. The victim dropped his cellphone and fled, then called in a description of the robber.

• Manuel McDonald, 20, got a lighter sentence from Judge Terry Alarcon, even though he pled guilty Friday (3.6.09) to 2 charges of 1st-degree robbery after they were reduced from armed robbery.

Judge Alarcon sentenced him to only 3 years total on both charges "without benefit of probation, parole or suspension."

McDonald was arrested after participating in 2 armed robberies within a half-hour of each other on 10.20.08 in the CBD. Just after midnight on that date, 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.

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

McDonald's alleged accomplice, William Gates, 19, is still contesting the charges.

Robbery suspects freed: 2 other alleged robbers were released from OPP by Judge Ben Willard after he found no probable cause to charge them when the District Attorney failed to present any evidence during their preliminary hearing recently.

James Dawson (left), 23, and Tony Graps (right), 21, were arrested 6.25.08 and charged with the robbery of a 58-year-old man at Toulouse and Chartres streets on 6.19.08 around 2:20 a.m. According to the police report, one perpetrator got behind the victim and began to strike him with his pistol, knocking him to the ground. The other perp took a wallet from the victim's pocket, which reportedly contained only $7.

There is no indication why the DA didn't present any evidence, but what we're hearing points to sloppy police work. Supposedly when detectives viewed the video surveillance tape from cameras outside the New Orleans Silversmith Shop on the corner where the robbery occurred, it clearly showed these 2 men were not the robbers, though the police issued warrants for them nonetheless.

Even though Dawson and Graps have been released from jail, they still face a hearing on motions 3.26.09, indicating that the charges have not been dropped.

Druggy goes free: Hard to say what would make Judge Terry Alarcon think is a serious offense. A defendant comes before him with almost 3 dozen arrests or convictions for about any kind of drug can think of (and a few you can't) over the last 5 years. The DA allows him to plead down to lesser charges. Judge Alarcon gives the defendant a 5-year sentence--suspended. Defendant goes on his merry way.

It makes the work of Ofc. Athena Monteleone of the 8th District's Taskforce seem futile. She single-handedly took down Cedric Franklin, 26, a little after 8 p.m. on 11.10.08 at Dumaine and Burgundy streets and charged his with possession with intent to distribute alprazolam (Xanax) and crack cocaine, and for the umteenth time, "1st offense" possession of marijuana.

The DA reduced those charges to mere "possession," eliminating the "with intent to distribute" that would have labelled Franklin as a drug dealer. Judge Alarcon set him free.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

End of blue light specials?

Not special any more?: I've noticed a sharp decline in the number of patrol cars going by my house with their blue lights flashing since Mardi Gras--which is to say, none in the last few days.

Those patrols apparently were quite effective; only 11 armed robberies in January this year versus 31 last year.

The bad guys--which had been held at bay by the blue lights--must have noticed a decline too. To wit:

• Armed robbery, yesterday (3.3.09), 1:24 a.m.: A white couple, he 37 and she 22, were walking on Kerlerec Street when they were stopped in front of 1028 (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets) by 3 black dudes. One pulled a knife and demanded their valuables, which they surrendered.

The victimized man pursued the robbers when they fled on foot up Burgundy toward Pauger Street until one of the perps turned and pointed a gun at him, quickly diminishing his enthusiasm for the chase. The robbers proceed toward St. Claude Avenue, then turned toward Elysian Fields, before disappearing into the night.

The suspects were described as in their late teens or early 20's, one 6' tall, weighing 160 pounds, with short hair, wearing a white sweatshirt with multi-colored designs and baggy blue jeans; the other 2 were 5'10" tall, with thin builds, both wearing multi-colored sweatshirts and blue jeans.

• Armed robbery, last Saturday (2.28.09), 3:45 a.m.: Two young black men in their early 20s were walking in the 1000 block of St. Louis Street (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets) when 2 armed black dudes accosted and demanded their money. The victims gave it up and the robbers fled toward Bourbon Street.

The suspects were both described as in their 20's, both 5'8" tall, both weighing 150 pounds, both wearing all black clothing--except one had a goatee.

• Armed robbery, last Wednesday (2.25.09), 9:50 a.m.: A rather dapper black man walked into the Iberia Bank, 601 Poydras St., and gave the teller a robbery note and implied he had a weapon. The teller gave him the loot and he departed through the Camp Street exit, headed for Natchez Street on foot.

The suspect was described as an older gentleman, 5'6" to 5'7" tall, medium build, wearing a tan jacket and pants, a cream colored shirt, and a tan driver's cap. No word whether the red dye in the money packet ruined his sartorial ensemble when it exploded.

• Pursesnatching, Monday (3.2.09), 11:50 a.m.: Two white women were walking in the 700 block of Union Street (near Carondelet Street) when a black guy came up from behind. He grabbed both women's purses, but managed to pull only one of them free from the women's grasp.

He fled up Carondelet toward Poydras Street while a concerned citizen gave chase and retrieved the victim's purse.

The robber was described as in his 40's, 5'7" tall, weighing 160 pounds, wearing a dark jacket and jeans.

• Violent robbery, Mardi Gras night (2.24.09), 11:15 p.m.: A white guy celebrating the waning hours of Carnival was attacked by a gang of 4 black punks while standing at Bienville Street and Exchange Place (between Chartres and Royal streets). They struck him, knocking him to the ground, then took his driver's license and bank card from his pocket.

When they attempted to flee, officers arrived on the scene and apprehended all 4 hooligans. But because 3 were only 16 years old and the other 15, we won't know their names until they strike again when they turn pro at 17. Or until they kill someone.

• Gunshots fired, last Saturday (2.28.09), 12:34 a.m.: Police found a 21-year-old Hispanic man wildly firing a pistol into the air in the 700 block of Kerlerec Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) near the R-Bar. Although he tried to flee when he saw the cops, they caught up with him.

They charged Romeo Alvarez with illegally carrying a weapon and with illegal use of a weapon. His bond was set at $20,000, but he was freed the next day on his own recognizance by Magistrate Harry Cantrell.

Suppose Judge Cantrell would do that if it happened in his own neighborhood? And where do you suppose those bullets came down? Not near a tourist from Boston, I hope.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Bang-up Mardi Gras

Whew!: The alert have noticed there have been no NOcrimeline reports for a week. Part of that has to do with getting my head around a nagging toothache; the bigger part of it has to do with getting my head around 11 shootings on Mardi Gras. 11!

• Add to that the fact one of the alleged shooters that day and one from the Wendy Byrne shooting were wearing ankle monitoring bracelets while on probation.

• Add to that rumors that Mayor Nagin may have had some shady dealings with the company supposedly monitoring the wayward suspects.
  

Whew, indeed. Where to begin?

• Only one in French Quarter: While bullets flew in other parts of the city, only one found a target in the 8th District's French Quarter. Less than a half hour after the mounted police and trash trucks moved down Bourbon Street to shut down Mardi Gras, officers heard gunshots and found a 21-year-old man laying on the sidewalk in the 100 block of Bourbon Street about 12:29 a.m. Wednesday (2.25.09) with a gunshot wound to his side.

He was taken to University Hospital in stable condition, but was so out of it that he fought with police and even denied he had been shot. And they said there's no such thing as too much booze. Detectives will attempt to interview him again, when he's more cognizant.

• 7th this year in Iberville: The police think a murder suspect is holed up in the Iberville Housing Project. They're looking for 25-year-old James Herbert in the shooting death of a man Thursday (2.26.09) at Conti and Treme streets.

No word yet whether they've collared Shateek Howard, a 16-year-old punk who escaped while leaving Juvenile Court a couple of weeks ago, who's suspected of murder and last lived in the notorious housing project, where there have been 7 shot so far this year.

• Too close for comfort: One of 3 hoodlums wanted in a shooting and killing rampage a couple of weeks ago in Jefferson Parish was apprehended Thursday (2.26.09) at noon at Canal and Baronne streets, right across from Dauphine Street in the Quarter. Steve Givens, 18, was charged with attempted murder.

Police say Givens and his 2 cohorts, all of whom live in New Orleans, were responsible for the murder of one man, the wounding of 2 others, and for shooting a 16-year-old runaway girl who is now paralysed from the waist down.

• So who was watching the bad guys?: It turns out the 2 punks charged with mowing down 7 people on the St. Charles Avenue parade route Mardi Gras afternoon were both on probation for other offenses. Lazone Lewis (right), 18, was already wanted on an arrest warrant for skipping a court date, and Mark Brooks (left), 20, the alleged shooter, was wearing an electronic ankle bracelet to monitor whether he was obeying his 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew.

• More disturbing was the revelation, from the investigation by Katie Moore of WWL-TV, was that one of the 2 juveniles being held for the murder of Wendy Byrne a month and a half ago was wearing an electronic ankle bracelet to enforce his house arrest. But it failed to keep Drey Lewis, 15, home the night Byrne was shot dead in the Quarter.

• More disturbing still is the revelation that Mayor Nagin and his supersecret screening committee (you know, the one he disbanded rather than have them meet openly to make the process transparent) picked a different--but politically well-connected company--to run the monitoring program in 2005.

Maybe Moore, or even the Times-Picayune (once it stops bailing out its sinking ship), can find out how the current company got the job. Either way, it appears Nagin's fingerprints are on this.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported: February 2009

This is a list of the crimes reported during February, 2009 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
2.15.09, 5:30 a.m., Iberville St. & Dorsiere St., gun
2.16.09, 12:00 a.m., 500 Madison St., carjacking
2.25.09, 9:52 a.m., 600 Poydras St.

Simple robbery
2.06.09, 4:50 p.m., 800 Decatur St.
2.07.09, 5:00 a.m., 100 Bourbon St.
2.12.09, 11:09 p.m., Toulouse St. & Royal St., attempted
2.14.09, 1:00 a.m., St. Philip St. & Bourbon St.
2.20.09, 8:15 a.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave.
2.21.09, 11:30 p.m., 200 N. Rampart St., pursesnatching
2.24.09, 11:15 p.m., Bienville St. & Exchange Alley

Assault & battery
2.07.09, 5:38 a.m., Bourbon St. & St. Louis St., aggravated battery, cutting
2.07.09, 9:20 p.m., 200 Royal St., aggravated battery, cutting
2.15.09, 5:00 p.m., Dumaine St. & Decatur St., aggravated battery, cutting
2.21.09, 2:30 a.m., 1100 Decatur St., attempted murder
2.22.09, 10:25 p.m., Julia St. & Carondelet St., aggravated assault
2.25.09, 12:20 a.m., 100 Bourbon St., aggravated battery, shooting

Burglary
2.02.09, 9:40 a.m., 900 Esplanade Ave., business
2.08.09, 3:30 a.m., 500 St. Joseph St., business
2.10.09, 11:46 a.m., 200 Bourbon St., business
2.24.09, 3:30 a.m., 1600 Canal St.
2.25.09, 4:00 a.m., 1600 Canal St.

Theft
2.01.09, 2:45 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
2.01.09, 3:15 p.m., 700 Kerlerec St.
2.02.09, 12:15 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
2.03.09, 12:20 p.m., 1000 Canal St.
2.04.09, 10:00 p.m., 200 Bourbon St., shoplifting
2.04.09, 2:45 a.m., 700 Dumaine St.
2.04.09, 3:00 p.m., 300 Camp St.
2.04.09, 9:15 p.m., 1600 Canal St.
2.05.09, 7:25 p.m., 1400 Tulane Ave.
2.06.09, 1:00 p.m., 500 Canal St.
2.06.09, 3:00 p.m., Poydras St.
2.06.09, 7:00 p.m., 500 Decatur St.
2.07.09, 11:40 p.m., Poydras St.
2.07.09, 1:15 a.m., 600 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
2.07.09, 7:45 p.m., 700 Orleans Ave.
2.07.09, 8:10 p.m., 600 Bourbon St., shoplifting
2.08.09, 3:00 a.m., Poydras St. & Loyola Ave.
2.08.09, 3:00 a.m., Poydras St. & Loyola Ave.
2.10.09, 12:15 p.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
2.10.09, 12:30 p.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
2.10.09, 12:35 p.m., 800 Decatur St.
2.10.09, 6:35 a.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
2.10.09, 8:00 a.m., 500 Canal St.
2.13.09, 12:01 a.m., 200 St. Charles Ave.
2.14.09, 3:00 a.m., 800 Chartres St.
2.14.09, 3:10 p.m., 600 Chartres St., shoplifting
2.15.09, 4:15 p.m., 200 Carondelet St.
2.15.09, 9:30 a.m., 800 Ursulines Ave.
2.16.09, 10:00 a.m., 1200 Poydras St., bicycle
2.16.09, 10:00 a.m., 1200 Poydras St., bicycle
2.17.09, 1:00 p.m., 1000 Conti St.
2.18.09, 12:01 a.m., 1600 Canal St., bicycle
2.19.09, 10:45 p.m., Canal St. & St. Charles Ave., pickpocketing
2.19.09, 2:00 a.m., 600 Common St.
2.20.09, 8:30 p.m., Canal St. & St. Charles Ave., pickpocketing
2.21.09, 3:05 p.m., 1000 St. Charles Ave., pickpocketing
2.21.09, 7:30 p.m., 1200 Chartres St.
2.22.09, 10:30 a.m., Bourbon St. & Canal St., pickpocketing
2.22.09, 1:00 p.m., 800 Decatur St.
2.22.09, 1:30 a.m., 900 S. Peters St., bicycle
2.22.09, 1:45 p.m., 500 Canal St., pickpocketing
2.22.09, 3:00 a.m., 1500 Poydras St.
2.22.09, 4:50 p.m., 800 Canal St., attempting pickpocketing
2.22.09, 7:30 p.m., Howard Ave. & St. Charles Ave.
2.22.09, 8:00 p.m., Bourbon St. & St. Louis St., pickpocketing
2.22.09, 8:15 p.m., 200 Poydras St.
2.23.09, 2:30 a.m., Bourbon St. & Conti St., pickpocketing
2.23.09, 4:06 p.m., 300 Canal St., shoplifting
2.23.09, 4:15 a.m., 500 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
2.25.09, 12:15 a.m., 100 Bourbon St.
2.26.09, 12:52 p.m., 900 Poydras St.
2.27.09, 11:00 a.m., 100 Royal St.
2.27.09, 1:20 p.m., Dauphine St. & St. Philip St., bicycle
2.27.09, 5:00 a.m., 1100 Bourbon St., shoplifting
2.27.09, 7:00 p.m., 700 Bourbon St.

Auto theft
2.01.09, 1:30 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
2.01.09, 4:00 a.m., 300 Loyola Ave., attempted
2.01.09, 5:00 a.m., Bourbon St. & Conti St.
2.01.09, 9:00 p.m., 800 St. Ann St.
2.02.09, 12:30 p.m., 500 Elysian Fields Ave.
2.02.09, 2:00 a.m., Magazine St. & Poydras St.
2.02.09, 2:00 a.m., Magazine St. & Poydras St.
2.02.09, 4:00 p.m., 800 Baronne St.
2.02.09, 6:30 a.m., 300 Burgundy St.
2.07.09, 3:15 a.m., 900 Royal St.
2.09.09, 1:00 p.m., 400 Esplanade Ave.
2.11.09, 10:30 a.m., 1100 Bourbon St.
2.11.09, 3:00 a.m., Esplanade Ave. & N. Peters St.
2.13.09, 10:45 p.m., 400 Common St.
2.13.09, 11:45 a.m., 400 N. Rampart St.
2.13.09, 2:30 p.m., 1000 St. Peter St.
2.14.09, 11:00 p.m., Burgundy St. & Esplanade Ave.
2.14.09, 12:01 a.m., Elysian Fields Ave. & N. Rampart St.
2.14.09, 4:00 a.m., 400 Julia St.
2.15.09, 5:00 p.m., Baronne St. & Julia St.
2.15.09, 5:00 p.m., Baronne St. & Julia St.
2.18.09, 10:00 a.m., Esplanade Ave. & Decatur St.
2.20.09, 1:30 p.m., 300 St. Joseph St.
2.21.09, 10:30 p.m., 1000 Elysian Fields Ave.
2.21.09, 11:15 a.m., S. Rampart St. & Poydras St.
2.21.09, 11:15 a.m., S. Rampart St. & Poydras St.
2.21.09, 11:59 p.m., N. Front St. & Conti St.
2.21.09, 12:01 a.m., Canal St. & S. Rampart St.
2.21.09, 4:00 a.m., 1000 Common St.
2.21.09, 8:10 a.m., 1100 Annunciation St.
2.22.09, 10:00 p.m., Canal St. & Elk Place
2.22.09, 4:00 a.m., Camp St. & Gravier St.
2.22.09, 7:30 p.m., 100 S. Rampart St.
2.23.09, 11:00 a.m., 1600 Canal St.
2.23.09, 12:15 p.m., 600 St. Philip St.
2.23.09, 8:30 p.m., Julia St. & S. Rampart St.
2.24.09, 1:00 p.m., Julia St. & Tchoupitoulas St.
2.24.09, 9:30 p.m., Dauphine St. & Ursulines Ave.

Car break-in
2.01.09, 11:00 a.m., 1000 Bienville St.
2.01.09, 2:00 a.m., 100 Iberville St.
2.01.09, 2:10 a.m., 100 Exchange Alley
2.04.09, 2:30 a.m., Burgundy St. & St. Ann St.
2.05.09, 2:30 a.m., St. Joseph St. & Constance St.
2.12.09, 5:00 p.m., 100 University Place
2.14.09, 11:30 p.m., Gravier St. & O'Keefe Ave.
2.15.09, 5:15 p.m., 900 Julia St.
2.17.09, 6:40 p.m., 1000 St. Louis St.
2.19.09, 6:30 p.m., Gravier St. & Picayune Place
2.21.09, 12:30 a.m., Common St. & O'Keefe Ave.
2.21.09, 12:45 a.m., Picayune Place & Natchez St.
2.22.09, 4:30 a.m., 600 Gravier St.
2.23.09, 12:30 p.m., Baronne St. & Union St.
2.23.09, 1:30 a.m., S. Rampart St. & Common St.
2.23.09, 3:00 a.m., 1100 St. Anthony St.
2.23.09, 3:00 a.m., Canal St.
2.24.09, 4:00 a.m., 400 Notre Dame St.
2.25.09, 2:00 a.m., St. Joseph St. & Tchoupitoulas St.
2.27.09, 12:01 a.m., Esplanade Ave. & Decatur St.

Crimes February 2009

We've compiled the latest list of crimes reported during February, 2009 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.

Who's the man in the mask?

Could be a killer on the loose: It's a scary thought, but that Mardi Gras masker next to you at the parade could be one of the suspected killers running the streets of the French Quarter.

It took the cops more than a week to round up Nathaniel Payton after his alleged victim croaked, but it took Payton less than 2 days to make bond on a 2nd-degree murder charge and leave the not-so-friendly confines of Central Lockup.

Why? Could it have been that Magistrate Gerald Hansen set his bond at only $220,000 on a murder charge? By contrast, the 2 juveniles arrested in the French Quarter murder last month are being held without bond--even though they turned themselves in. And a guy just charged with attempted murder (see below) had his bond set at $250,000; when Payton was charged with only attempted murder, his bond was $75,000.

Makes you wonder if there aren't some wrinkled robes in Orleans Parish.

Payton, 26, posted a surety bond around 5 p.m. last Thursday (2.19.09) and walked out of OPP, free until his next court date on 4.18.09. Payton had been free on a $75,000 bond since last 8.2.08 when he was arrested for allegedly pumping 7 or 8 gunshots into Cyril Roussel, 34, around 3:40 a.m. at the corner of Bienville and Decatur streets. Roussel clung to life for 6 months before succumbing to his wounds 2.9.09 at Interim LSU Public Hospital where he had been hospitalized since being gunned down. The coroner said he died from the gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.

Payton isn't the only suspected killer roaming the streets. As far as we know (the police are tight-lipped on arrests of juveniles), cops still haven't caught up with 16-year-old Shateek Howard who escaped custody 2.11.09 and is a suspect in a murder last fall Uptown.

He may be lurking in the Iberville Housing Project where he last lived. Howard escaped from custody when he bolted while being escorted from Juvenile Court in the 1400 block of Loyola Avenue. He made a beeline for Canal Street, just a hop, skip, and jump from his last known address in the 1400 block of Iberville Street.

Howard is described as 5'11" tall, with a thin build, dark brown skin, and wearing a white shirt and black pants. Police consider him "dangerous and possibly armed."

He is suspected of murdering Darrielle Rainey, 18, and shooting Brandon Tucker, 19, in the 1900 block of Amelia Street on 9.21.08. He allegedly pumped several shots into each of the youths as they sat in a car in the Uptown neighborhood.

What's the argument?: It's hard to believe the 2 workers at Fiorella's Cafe were arguing over who had the best chicken in town because, according to many, Fiorella's does, hands down.

But Joshua Roden, 20, and a co-worker got into an argument of some sort early Saturday (2.21.09) morning around 2:30 a.m. at the restaurant at 1136 Decatur St. According to the police, Roden struck the victim several times. When the 2 were separated, the victim noticed he had a cut on his neck from the fight. He didn't know what he'd been cut with, but restaurant kitchens being what they are, take your choice.

Roden was arrested and booked with attempted 1st-degree murder. He is being held on a $250,000 bond in Central Lockup.

It's a strange charge in a case like this (unless there's more to it the police aren't revealing), since a charge of aggravated battery is more common. That's what Payton (see above) was initially charged with and a bond of $75,000 set--after he allegedly shot a guy 7 or 8 times.

Tourist trapped: A local would know better, but a white woman was walking in the 300 block of O'Keefe Avenue (near Union Street) around 3:15 a.m. Friday (2.20.09) when a man came up and offered to give her directions to her hotel. Then he pushed the woman and grabbed her purse, pulling it from her grasp.

The robber was described as a dark-skinned male, possibly Asian, 5'7" tall, weighing 155 pounds, and wearing all dark clothing.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Murder suspects rounded up

Jailed at last: Just before midnight last night (2.17.09), NOPD officers booked Nathaniel Payton into Central Lockup on a charge of 2nd-degree murder.

Payton, 26, had been floating around town on a diminutive $80,000 bond since being charged with attempted murder after a shooting last summer.

His case caused a public uproar after he was initially charged with only aggravated battery although cops said he pumped 7 or 8 gunshots into Cyril Roussell, 34, on 8.2.08 around 3:40 a.m. at the corner of Bienville and Decatur streets.

Roussell clung to life for 6 months before finally succumbing to his wounds 2.9.09 at Interim LSU Public Hospital where he had been hospitalized since being gunned down. The coroner said he died from the gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.

Now Payton is being held in OPP on $220,000 bond awaiting his first appearance in court on 4.18.09 on the 2nd-degree murder charge.

Homeless homicide: NOPD detectives last night (2.17.09) also arrested a man in the murder of a homeless man who died of his wounds a week after being stabbed.

Dale Pigford, 59, was arrested shortly after 8 p.m. at his home at 2415 Columbus St. He was charged with 2nd-degree murder and is being held in OPP on $500,000 bond awaiting a court hearing on 4.18.09.

He was charged for the murder of Gary Sing, 44, who was stabbed in the back on 1.30.09 after an alleged argument with Pigford at S. Claiborne Avenue and Gravier Street.

Sing checked himself into University Hospital, where he died 2.6.09. The coroner ruled his death a homicide as a result of the knife wound.

Still at large: The NOPD still hasn't caught up with the 16-year-old boy who escaped custody last week and is a suspect in a murder last fall Uptown. He may be lurking in the Iberville Housing Project where he last lived.

Shateek Howard escaped from custody last Wednesday (2.11.09) around 10 a.m. when he bolted while being escorted from Juvenile Court in the 1400 block of Loyola Avenue. He made a beeline for Canal Street, just a hop, skip, and jump from his last known address in the 1400 block of Iberville Street.

He is described as 5'11" tall, with a thin build, dark brown skin, and wearing a white shirt and black pants. Police consider him "dangerous and possibly armed."

Howard is suspected of murdering Darrielle Rainey, 18, and shooting Brandon Tucker, 19, in the 1900 block of Amelia Street on 9.21.08. He allegedly pumped several shots into each of the youths as they sat in a car in the Uptown neighborhood.

Updated info: You might want to check the details on some of the crimes we reported Monday. There are some major discrepancies between what was reported from Chief Warren Riley's office and the actual reports from the 8th District. The local district reports were delayed until Tuesday due to the funeral for Maj. Edwin Hosli's son on Monday.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Murderers on the loose

Too close for comfort: The NOPD thinks a 16-year-old black boy who is suspected of murder may be hiding in the Iberville Housing Project--the popular criminals' gateway to the French Quarter.

Shateek Howard escaped from custody last Wednesday (2.11.09) around 10 a.m. when he bolted while being escorted from Juvenile Court in the 1400 block of Loyola Avenue. He made a beeline for Canal Street, just a hop, skip, and jump from his last known address in the 1400 block of Iberville Street.

He is described as 5'11" tall, with a thin build, dark brown skin, and wearing a white shirt and black pants. Police consider him "dangerous and possibly armed."

Howard is suspected of murdering Darrielle Rainey, 18, and shooting Brandon Tucker, 19, in the 1900 block of Amelia Street on 9.21.08. He allegedly pumped several shots into each of the youths as they sat in a car in the Uptown neighborhood.

Also still on the run is Nathaniel Payton, 26, who is now wanted for 2nd-degree murder after the man he allegedly shot 8.2.08 at Bienville and Decatur streets, Cyril Roussell, 34, died last Monday (2.9.09). The coroner ruled the victim's death was the result of the gunshot wounds and classified the death as a homicide.

Payton, who was initially charged with aggravated battery and eventually attempted 2nd-degree murder after a community outcry, had no trouble putting up the puny $80,000 bond set by Magistrate Rudy Gorrell.

Foot patrol aids capture: A white man walking near Toulouse and Royal streets last Thursday (2.12.09) around 11:09 p.m. was accosted by a black guy who tried to grab money from his pocket. As the suspect fled up Royal toward Canal Street, the victim hailed 2 NOPD officers who were on foot patrol on Bourbon Street.

They broadcast a description of the suspect over the police radio and officers quickly apprehended Byron Millet, 28, and charged him with attempted simple robbery. He is sitting in OPP on $80,000 bond (hmmm...the same as the guy charged with attempted murder--see above).

Must have been some fancy duds: A white guy walking near Bourbon and St. Philip streets around 1 a.m. Saturday (2.14.09) was jumped by a gang of 4 black thugs who said they wanted his shirt. When he refused, they beat him up, knocked him to the ground, and took his money, his shirt, and his shoes, before fleeing on foot up Bourbon.

One of the perps was described at 22 to 23 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans (no wonder he wanted to upgrade); the other 3 hoodlums were only described as in their early 20's.

Who let the dogs out?: Hundreds of dogs turned out for the Barkus Parade on Sunday (2.15.09) and nary an unkind bark was heard. But let 2 curs (and their keepers) collide on the Moonwalk and all hell breaks loose.

A white man out for a walk along the river on his 36th birthday with his dog was near Dumaine Street when he encountered a gang of Hispanics. The man's dog and a dog belonging to one of the Hispanics began fighting. The man pulled a knife to try to defend his dog and did finally manage to pull his pooch away from the alien's mongrel. As he tried to leave the area, the gang surrounded him and one of the Hispanic's pulled a knife of his own and stabbed the victim in the left side.

His attacker was only described as 6'3" tall and weighing 230 pounds.

Black on black crime: Can't say anymore it's just white folks who are getting robbed:

• Sunday (2.15.09): A 21-year-old black woman was walking on Iberville Street near Dorsiere Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) around 5:30 a.m. morning when a black dude came up behind her with a gun and robbed her of her purse.
  

The robber was described as 30 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a blue and gray windbreaker and blue jeans.

• Monday (2.16.09): A 34-year-old black woman had just parked and locked her car in the 500 block of Madison Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) around 1 a.m. morning when a black guy came up and stuck a gun in her back and demanded her car keys. He fled in her car.

The suspect is described as 5'10" tall, with shoulder-length dreadlocks, and wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.

Let us know about rapes: A 22-year-old white woman who fell asleep in her car in a parking garage at 501 Convention Center Blvd., behind Harrah's Casino, was awakened about 7:38 a.m. this morning (2.16.09) by a black man who got in her car and forced her to perform sexual acts.

Residents of the 8th District are already distraught by such acts, because they just learned today of a rape that happened over a week ago just after midnight on 2.8.08 at Bourbon and Ursulines streets.

Rapes rarely get reported in the media because while the initial report goes to the local NOPD district, the Sex Crimes Squad then takes over and their information stays out of the public pipeline. But it's understandable how residents would want to know if there's a rapist running amok in their neighborhood.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes in December

We've compiled the latest list of crimes reported during December, 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.

Tragedy upon tragedy

Maj. Edwin Hosli's youngest child, his 11-year-old son, Jacob, passed away in his sleep early Thursday (2.12.09) morning. His son reportedly had a heart condtion doctors discovered recently which would require surgery, but they didn't think it was urgent. Visitation is Monday (2.16.09) at St. Louis Cathedral from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a funeral mass at 1 p.m. Your prayers for Maj. Hosli and his family would honor a good man and a good cop.

Maj. Hosli, commander of the 8th District, is no stranger to tragedy. His father, Sgt. Edwin Hosli Sr., was gunned down in the line of duty as a K-9 officer on New Year's Eve 1972 while searching for the sniper who killed 4 other NOPD officers while perched on the roof of the Downtown Howard Johnson's. Edwin Jr. was 12 years old.

Murder suspect on the loose: Some good news and bad news for Nathaniel Payton. The good news is: The guy Payton apparently wanted dead last summer--cops say he pumped 7 or 8 gunshots into the guy--now is. The bad news is: The NOPD will now charge Payton with murder--when they catch up with him again.

Cyril R. Roussel, 34, who was shot 8.2.08 around 3:40 a.m. at Bienville and Decatur streets died Monday (2.9.09) at Interim LSU Public Hospital where he had been hospitalized since being gunned down. The coroner said he died from the gunshot wounds and ruled his death a homicide.

After the shooting, a witness pursued the alleged shooter on Clinton Street to Iberville Street toward N. Peters Street. As the perp crossed N. Peters, the witness flagged down a passing NOPD K-9 unit which apprehended the suspect at Bienville and Front streets and recovered the weapon allegedly used in the crime.

Payton, 26, who has drug arrest after drug arrest, going back to nearly the turn of the century, was arrested.

When he was charged initially with only aggravated battery, the neighborhood was in an uproar which was all over TV. Eventually, Payton was charged with attempted 2nd-degree murder.

By that time, Magistrate Rudy Gorrell had already set a measly $80,000 bond on him, which Payton easily paid and got out of jail. He has been roaming the streets of the city ever since.

The "scam" that wasn't: Last week, emails circulated by 2 prominent attorneys implied that NOPD officers were somehow in cahoots with hookers in the French Quarter and were rolling tourists.

The attorneys were a little short of due diligence and should have quizzed their cohort more thoroughly before sounding the alarm. In essence, the conclusion is that this was another case of tourists too intoxicated to tell what was going on.

After an investigation by the NOPD's Public Integrity Bureau, this is what they found, as reported by Maj. Hosli in his own words:

"This...is in reference to a recent email that has been circulating about an individual known as Alex (a young attorney from Knoxville, TN). I’ll have to admit that after reading this email, I was deeply disturbed and troubled regarding its contents. The email contained very serious criminal allegations against members of the NOPD and members of the 8th District.

"In the email, Alex allegedly stated through a third party that he was victimized by an elaborate criminal scam while on a recent visit to New Orleans. The email claims that he was approached by 2 females while in the elevator of the Ritz-Carlton. He believed these females were, in fact, prostitutes, who stole his wallet from him while he was in the elevator. He then dropped his jacket and informed the staff that he was just robbed. According to Alex, 2 New Orleans police officers appeared almost immediately and surrounded him and begin to browbeat him about soliciting prostitutes. When this failed, the 2 officers retrieved his wallet (allegedly from the prostitutes), and had him removed from the hotel.

"Because the allegations involved police officers, the investigation was handled by the NOPD’s Public Integrity Bureau. After conducting a preliminary investigation, the PIB discovered that the story in the email was captured on the Ritz-Carlton’s surveillance video.

"On the surveillance footage, a gentleman believed to be Alex is seen coming into the lobby of the hotel carrying a drink. He appeared visibly intoxicated and even ran into the door. He was followed by 2 females who entered behind him and it appeared that they were attempting to converse with him. Alex, the 2 females and another hotel guest entered the elevator. Alex is then seen getting off the elevator by himself. He is observed approaching the Front Desk Clerk, appearing to be very irate. He was throwing his hands up and frantically patting and searching his pants as if he lost something. Alex then throws some of his belongings on the front desk and is then observed walking back towards the elevator. He exited on the ground floor, not wearing his jacket, and was apparently attempting to locate the 2 females.

"The investigators discovered that Alex removed his jacket and threw it on a chair in the lobby prior to getting on the elevator and going downstairs. Once the hotel security staff became aware of the incident, they located Alex’s wallet in his jacket pocket. This discovery was made by a female hotel security officer and not a New Orleans police officer. The police were called by hotel security and did not appear almost immediately as stated in the email. It was also learned that Alex was asked to leave the hotel by the management because of his belligerent behavior and intoxicated state.

"While the email cites this instance and asserts that New Orleans police officers are working with prostitutes to shake down tourists, it could not be further from the truth. Video documentation clearly shows that Alex’s wallet was not taken by anyone. Hotel security found his wallet in his jacket, which he threw on the ground. The alleged theft of his wallet is baseless.

"Moreover, the accusations that New Orleans police officers were a part of this theft are totally unfounded. I am deeply concerned that one individual, through the use of the internet and email, can spread unsubstantiated and unverified mistruths about the New Orleans Police Department.

"It is my belief that based on the video footage, our officers acted in a proper and professional manner. I can assure you that misconduct in any form will not be tolerated as long as I am commander of the 8th District. Thank you for taking the time to learn the facts regarding this incident before rushing to judgment."

Hasta la vista, baby: A young punk, suspected of robbing several bars in and around the French Quarter just before Christmas of 2007, is going away for 25 years--for another armed robbery Uptown.

Terrell Anderson, 19, was sentenced by Judge Camille Buras to 25 years in prison "without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension." He was found guilty by a jury last September of armed robbery with a firearm.

The robbery he was convicted of involved a 58-year-old man who was robbed in front of his house in Hollygrove. Anderson wasn't prosecuted on the charge he robbed John Paul's bar on Elysian Fields. He was also suspected in the robbery of Cosimo's bar at Burgundy and Gov. Nicholls streets and The John at Burgundy and Frenchmen streets.

Anderson's adult criminal record goes back to when he was 17 and arrested several times as a drug dealer.

The community won't miss him. He's a nice looking boy--he'll make lots of new friends in Angola.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler