Catching up with the court

Compiling this took a lot longer than it should have, thanks to Sheriff Marlin Gusman tinkering with his computer system. Now, instead of one click on a link to get updated court or inmate info, you have to go through 4 or more steps and wait for the sheriff's ponderous computer system to catch up.

There's no apparent reason for the change other than to force you to go through Gusman's webpage and be reminded that he's to thank for his largess in supplying the information.

In truth, it's a discouraging task. Worse yet, Gusman's computer change in obtaining inmate information prevents you from seeing the circumstances under which a suspect is released from OPP. Now, you don't know whether the inmate bonded out or might have been released on his own recognizance by a judge who thought he was cute.

If you're tired of the sheriff's shenanigans, you'll have the opportunity to replace the last henchman remaining from the Morial era.

Some good news: Despite sniping back and forth last week between District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro and Big Chief Warren Riley, the DA is getting more convictions than not, most by plea deals when the charges have been reduced.

While this is not a scientific sampling and is restricted only to cases covered by NOcrimeline in the 8th District, there are far fewer cases "nolle prosequi" (where the DA is unwilling to purse the charges) or where the charges are refused by the DA (often because there's not enough evidence to win a conviction).

A "701 release"--a staple in the Eddie Jordan era when the DA wasn't able to get his you-know-what together within the time limit allowed by law--hasn't been seen in recent history.

Not so good news: Because a couple of cops failed to show up in court, 2 suspects in 2 different robberies went free.

• Dale Kyles, 42, who has a rap sheet a mile long, beat the rap for an attempted robbery when Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson (a former DA) set him free because the arresting officer didn't show up in court.

She denied the DA's request for a continuance, noting this was the 4th time a court date had been set and the officer had not shown up.

Kyles was arrested after he allegedly jumped into a 60-year-old woman's car as she was parking it in the 1000 block of Chartres Street on 9.16.08 around 7 a.m. and began rummaging through her purse.

• Clarence Andrews, 20, may or may not be standing trial. The detective who arrested him, Ofc. Brian Mulvey, was himself charged with contempt of court when he failed to show up for Andrews' preliminary hearing and was sentenced to 10 days in OPP by Magistrate Gerard Hansen, though the sentence was suspended.

Then 3 days later when he did show up, the court found probably cause in the arrest of Andrews, based on Mulvey's testimony.

But 3 days after that, based on the testimony of another witness, no probable cause was found against Andrews and he was released. But now, a show-cause hearing has been scheduled 8.5.09. Stay tuned.

Andrews was arrested in March for a pursesnatching that happened 12.27.08 around midnight in the 1100 block of Dauphine Street when an Uptown white woman was accosted by 3 black men, one of whom bumped into her while the other grabbed her purse.

GUILTY OF ROBBERY:

• Jesse Akmin, 19, pled guilty to attempted armed robbery after the charge was reduced from armed robbery with a firearm. He was sentenced to 5 years in prison by Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson.

Akmin was arrested for the robbery 4.29.08 around 10:40 p.m. of a white man walking in the 1400 block of Chartres Street, just across Esplanade Avenue in the Marigny Triangle. His 2 accomplices remain at large.

• James Brown Jr., 54, was convicted by a jury of attempted 1st-degree robbery and was sentenced by Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson to 10 years in prison.

Brown was arrested 6.10.08 for holding up a white man with a knife at Carondolet and Gravier streets at 12:40 a.m. The victim refused to turn over his wallet and the 2 struggled until Brown ran away.

• Duane E. Lawless, 35, pled guilty to 2 charges of armed robbery after the original charges of armed robbery with a firearm were reduced and the DA agreed not to file a "multiple bill" which would have attached extra years to his sentence. Judge Camille Buras sentenced him to 10 years plus 1 day in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Lawless was charged for a robbery 12.17.07 around 7 p.m. in the 900 block of Frenchmen Street when 2 white men, one 52, the other 47, were walking to their home in the 2000 block of N. Rampart Street.

Lawless has numerous previous arrests for robbery and drug offenses. His accomplice in this robbery is still at large.

• Keith Perkins (right), 18, and Willie Sorden (left), 19, each pled guilty to one count of attempted armed robbery and were sentenced to 3 years and 6 months in prison by Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson.

The duo was arrested for attempting to rob a man returning home to his residence in the 1000 block of Barracks Street around 12:40 a.m. on 8.17.08. He noticed one of the boys standing between 2 parked cars urinating. When he chastised the boy, the other pulled a pistol and demanded the man's money. The man refused and the boys fled on their bicycles.

• Tony Pollard (right), 17, and Vontraz Pollard (left), 20, each pled guilty after charges were reduced from attempted armed robbery: Vontraz to 5 counts of aggravated assault with a firearm; Tony to 5 counts of aggravated assault. Judge Julian Parker sentenced Vontraz to 1 year in jail on each count, to run concurrently; Tony to 137 days on each count, suspended. He was released from jail.

The 2 brothers' arrest may have been a practical joke that went too far. A little after 7 p.m. on 12.21.08 they were flirting with 5 black girls who were walking near Canal Street and Elk Place. When the chicks spurned their advances, Vontraz pulled out a semi-automatic handgun and demanded their money. The girls took off running toward Tulane Avenue where they flagged down a cop and pointed out the 2 boys who were trying to flee on a RTA bus.

• Chiquita Blaise, 23, pled guilty to attempted simple robbery and got a 2-year sentence, which was suspended by Judge Terry Alarcon, who put her on probation instead.

She was arrested 11.22.08 as one who 2 black women who tried to rob a white woman in the 200 block of N. Rampart Street around 9:30 p.m. Both allegedly struck the victim while trying to wrest her purse from her. The victim fought back and the culprits fled empty-handed.

Though Judge Alarcon gave her credit for time served since last November, she's been out gallivanting around for almost 6 months since Judge Julian Parker released her on her own recognizance so she wouldn't have to post a $20,000 bond.

• Mikhail Singleton, 20, didn't fare as well. He pled guilty to pursesnatching and was sentenced by Judge Frank Marullo Jr. to 2 years in prison.

Singleton was arrested 10.20.08 for grabbing the purse off the shoulder of a woman walking in the 200 block of O'Keefe Avenue around midnight.

GUILTY ON OTHER CHARGES:

• John L. Clowney, 50, was found guilty by a jury of aggravated battery, but acquitted of a charge of attempted 1st-degree robbery. He is due to be sentenced 5.29.09 by Judge Frank Marullo Jr.

Clowney was arrested 11.14.08 after an attack 2 days earlier on a 55-year-old white man who was going into his house at 727 Burgundy St. According to the police, the attacker was armed with a boxcutter and tried to rob the man.

A man in the house came to the victim's aid and was stabbed in the neck, but wrested the knife away from the attacker and slashed the attacker several times in the face, severely enough to hospitalize the perpetrator.

• Calvin Brown Jr., 17, got off easy when he was allowed to plead guilty to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal damage instead of the carjacking he had originally been charged with. Judge Julian Parker gave him a 2-year suspended sentence and put him on probation.

Parker was arrested 2.6.09 after he stole a delivery vehicle left running in the 800 block of Decatur Street around 5 p.m. while the deliveryman went into a business. When the victim attempted to stop him, Brown struck the man and fled in the vehicle, striking several parked cars along the way.

It's hard to understand Parker's leniency. Brown was arrested just 4 months before on similar charges, but those were dropped by the DA on 12.29.08.

• Frank Moody, 49, may be going away for a very long time after a jury convicted him of aggravated burglary, which was a terrifying experience for a young French Quarter woman.

Based on his previous convictions, a hearing is set for 6.4.09 in Judge Julian Parker's courtroom to determine if Moody is a habitual criminal. If he is, he faces doubling of the 1-to-30-year sentence he already faces.

Moody was arrested 12.3.08 after he broke down the front door of a 26-year-old woman in the 800 block of St. Ann Street just before 2 a.m.

She awoke to find Moody looming over her in her bedroom. He made her face the wall and told her he would kill her if she moved or made a noise. He repeatedly asked her where she kept her money and she repeatedly told him there was no money in the house. He stole her TV set and a laptop computer before finally fleeing.

Moody should have never been on the street in the first place. When a hung jury in Criminal District Court this spring failed to convict him on a charge of burglary of an inhabited dwelling in 2007, Judge Ben Willard allowed Moody to plead guilty to the lesser charge of simple burglary.Willard gave him a suspended 4-year sentence and put him on probation designed to treat alcoholism and drug addiction.

After Moody violated probation, Willard required Moody to wear an ankle monitor, obey a 6 p.m.-to-6 a.m. curfew, and perform 500 hours of community service. A lot of good that did.

• John D. Petrie III, 38, didn't know when he had a good deal, but he did agree to plead guilty to a simple burglary charge when the DA agreed not to charge him for multiple burglaries--all of the same business. This time Judge Julian Parker gave him 5 years in prison.

He was arrested 2.2.09 for breaking into the Dragon's Den Social Aid and Pleasure Club, 435 Esplanade Ave.--just one week after he pled guilty to twice breaking into the same business the previous fall.

Judge Parker, apparently trying to give a break to a man with obvious problems, sentenced Petrie to a 3-year suspended sentence on each count, sending him instead to drug court for presumed rehabilitation.

But just a week later, the bartender at the Dragon's Den heard noises coming from the bar area around 9:40 a.m., before the bar was open. When 8th District cops showed up, they found Petrie behind the bar and arrested him for burglary of a business. They also charged him on a warrant for another burglary a few days earlier.

AND OTHERS WENT FREE:

• James H. Dawson (right), 23, and Tony Graps (left), 21, were freed when the DA nolle prossed charges against them of armed robbery with a firearm.

They had sat in OPP for nearly 9 months after being arrested a few days after the vicious beating and robbery of a 58-year-old man in the early morning hours of 6.19.08 outside the New Orleans Silversmith Shop at Toulouse and Chartres streets.

Reportedly, video recorded by security cameras outside the shop clearly showed Dawson and Graps were not the perpetrators.

• An armed robbery charge against Allen M. Jones, 22, was nolle prossed by the DA. He had been arrested last June after a victim of a robbery at Tchoupitoulas and Gravier street "positively" identified him from a photo line-up as one of 3 black men who held him up with a knife.

• Russell Bernard, 19, was freed after 5 months when the DA refused the case against him of attempted armed robbery. Bernard and a 16-year-old boy were arrested last October after an Asian man walking in the 1000 block of Conti Street fought off 2 would-be robbers and then identified Bernard as one of them.

• A charge of pursesnatching against Emery Thompson, 52, was nolle prossed by the DA. Thompson was arrested last October for allegedly grabbing a woman's purse as she was standing inside Razzoo Club & Patio, 511 Bourbon St.

• A charge of simple robbery against Joseph Blouin, 21, was refused by the DA. He was arrested last October after a Hispanic man had his wallet snatched from his pocket as he walked in the 700 block of Iberville Street.

• A charge of attempted simple robbery against Byron Millet, 28, was refused by the DA. He was arrested in February as the man who allegedly tried to grab money from a man's pocket at Toulouse and Royal streets.

• A charge of aggravated battery against Marcus Martinez, 33, was refused by the DA. Martinez was arrested last November after he allegedly slashed a male friend on the arm after they got into an argument at The Roundup Bar, 819 St. Louis St.

• A charge of aggravated battery against Savonna Stewart, 19, was refused by the DA. She and a friend allegedly got into a fight with a 17-year-old girl 10.31.08 at Bourbon and Conti streets around 6 a.m. and cut the victim above her eye with a folding knife.
  

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

Thom Kahler

Kids running amok

What's wrong with kids today?: We've often chided the cops for not being more vigilant against teen curfew scofflaws, and then when a cop tries to crack down he gets shot at.

It happened Monday morning (5.11.09) around 2 a.m. when a NOPD sergeant noticed 3 boys who looked like juveniles hanging around a car in the Chevron gas station at N. Rampart and St. Louis streets, across from the 1st District headquarters and the French Quarter.

When they got in the car and it drove off, the sergeant tried to pull them over, but the chase was on. He caught up with the car near N. Derbigny and Spain streets when 2 of the boys bailed out of the car and be pursued them on foot.

One of the boys, a 15-year-old, pointed a pistol at the officer, who fired twice at the punk, missing him both times. (Get the sights fixed on those Glocks and we could have a little 40mm adjudication.)

After backup and a K-9 unit arrived, the 15-year-old and an 18-year-old buddy were arrested. The young thugs were charged with, among other things, possession of a stolen auto.

That's the good news. The bad news is that their accomplices--3 other young punks who hang around the French Quarter--are still on the loose.

Just a few hours before that, a white woman walking near Bourbon and Orleans streets in the Quarter around 9:16 p.m. on Sunday (5.10.09) was attacked from behind by 2 black boys.

One knocked her cellphone from her hand (pay attention while you're walking--save the talking for later!) and the other punk picked it up. The 2 thieves fled on Orleans toward N. Rampart Street.

Officers managed to apprehend one of them and charge him with simple robbery, but because he's underage his name isn't being released. The other perp who escaped was described at 17 to 25 years old, 5'6" to 5'8" tall, weighing 130 to 140 pounds, with short hair, and wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.

Be careful out there! You hate to do it, but presume any kid you see on the streets of the Quarter after dark is too young to be there and call 911 to report curfew violators. Let the cops sort it out--don't wait to be the next Wendy Byrne.

Day to night: When the Days Inn at Canal Street and S. Claiborne Avenue became the Canal Street Hotel a few months ago, maybe it should have been renamed the Nights Inn. It's fast developing a reputation as a haven for prostitution, drug dealing and the homeless. And based on recent crimes there, there's no reason to dispute it.

This morning (5.12.09) at 4:18 a.m., a 25-year-old black guy entering Room #411 was robbed by 2 black dudes armed with pistols who came up behind him and took his gold chain, wallet and cellphone.

8th District officers later nabbed Javeion Baldwin (right) and Darren Singleton (left), both 19, and charged them with armed robbery.

Last month, a 20-year-old black guy standing outside the hotel with a buddy around 1 a.m. was wounded when a dark-colored SUV pulled up and 2 black dudes opened fire with handguns, shooting the victim in the right hand, abdomen and thigh.

Later the same day, a 18-year-old black chick sitting in Room #340 around 5 p.m. was allegedly stabbed in the head and arm with a small knife by Brittany Smith, 14, of Baton Rouge.

In another hotel not so far away: Early on Mother's Day (5.10.09), 4 chicks got into an argument around 9 a.m. at the Queen & Crescent Hotel, 344 Camp St., that turned uglier than 4 chicks without makeup at 9 a.m.

One girl struck the victim, a white chick, with her closed fist and the other 2 girls began hitting the victim as well. One of the girls picked up the hotel phone and struck the victim, knocking her unconscious. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital.

An arrest warrant for aggravated battery was issued for the only black girl in the group: Chemeka Downs, 26. Still wanted are 2 unnamed white girls: one in her 20's, 5'5" tall, weighing 120 pounds, with shoulder-length brown hair; the other 5'3" tall, weighing 120 pounds, with long dark hair and dark eyes.

Other warrants out there: 8th District detectives have also developed suspects in these cases and issued arrest warrants:

• Monday (5.11.09): A warrant was issued for Bryan Gray, 21, described as a black male, 5'9" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a goatee and shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a black T-shirt and dark jean shorts. He was arrested and booked into Central Lock-Up just before noon on Wednesday (5.13.09).
  

He was positively identified in a photo line-up by the victim, a black man, who was robbed 4.10.09 in the 300 block of Tchoupitoulas Street about a block from Harrah's Casino. The victim was accosted by another black guy had his hand in his shirt, like he had a weapon. He said he had a gun and demanded the victim's wallet. The perp then hopped into an older model maroon Nissan driven by a black chick and fled.

• Friday (5.8.09): A warrant was issued for Kellen Hall, 25, a black male, 5'11" tall, with a dark complexion and medium-length dreadlocks.

He was positively identified in a photo line-up by the 2 victims of a robbery 4.23.09 around 3 a.m. at St. Philip and Royal streets, a 40-year-old Asian man and 27-year-old black woman.

Robbery arrests: A couple more suspected thieves were taken off the street last week:

• Wednesday (5.6.09): When detectives arrested Allen Stribling, 19, they believe they solved a whole host of crimes, including a pursesnatching at Esplanade Avenue and Decatur Street on 4.19.09.

The victim, a white woman, positively identified Stribling in a photo line-up as the black man who cruised up on a bicycle and grabbed her purse around 2 a.m. that night as she stood on the corner.

In the course of 4 days, the detectives linked Stribling to a list of crimes in addition to that simple robbery: a burglary that netted over $11,000, 3 charges of theft over $500, and 2 charges of possession of stolen property over $500. He's being held in OPP on $57,500 bond.

• Friday (5.8.09): Carl May, a 20-year-old black man, was arrested around 2 a.m. after allegedly robbing a white man and a couple of his relatives in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets).

As the victim removed some money from his pocket he was struck from behind by his assailant who grabbed the money and ran, down St. Louis toward N. Rampart Street.

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

Thom Kahler

Don't let your guard down

Crime spree in Lower Quarter: We were bragging about how crime had become non-existent in the Lower French Quarter in the past 3 months. I guess we forgot to knock on wood.

A couple of armed robberies yesterday (5.4.09) and other robberies over the weekend put an end to that tranquility and makes it look like the Lower Quarter is now targeted by thieves:

• 4:34 p.m. yesterday: A white guy walking in the 1100 block of Burgundy Street (between Gov. Nicholls and Ursulines streets) was robbed by a black dude who had his hand under his shirt as if he had a weapon. (What? Are the bad guys so poor these days they can't afford the real thing? There's been a lot of posing like this lately. One of these days a robber is going to meet up with a victim who has the real thing.) The robber fled on foot on Ursulines toward N. Rampart Street to make his get away.

He was described as 18 to 21 years old, 6' tall, weighing 155 pounds, with a dark complexion and shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a baggy black T-shirt and dark shorts.

• 10:32 p.m. later that day: 4 white women in their 50's and 60's were walking in the 1000 block of Chartres Street (between Ursulines and St. Philip streets) were robbed of their purses by a black guy brandishing a pistol. He fled to Ursulines where he hopped into a dark-colored sedan and took off.

You'd think 4 mature women would be able to give a better description than this: no age, 5'7" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with short hair, wearing dark clothing. Not much to go on ladies--a little too much merlot?

So-called simple robberies: Because no gun is used (or the robber isn't pretending to have one), these crimes go down as "simple" robberies. But often the victim suffers more injuries than he would in an armed robbery:

• Saturday (5.2.09) midnight: A white guy (maybe a little too much merlot too) was meandering in the 700 block of Ursulines Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) when he was approached from behind and knocked to the ground. His assailant stole his wallet and cell phone.

Because he didn't get a look at his attacker (or hadn't yet sobered up), the victim didn't bother to report the incident to the NOPD until Monday. A lot of good he did to warn his neighbors of the danger in that area.

• Sunday (5.4.09) 2:50 p.m.: A white guy walking near Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets was approached by a black panhandler asking for money. When the victim took cash out of his pocket, the creep grabbed the money and ran.

The robber was described as 5'10" tall, weighing 170 pounds. What? No age? Not wearing clothes? That victim sure's not helping track down these scumbags!

• Monday (5.4.09) 12:01 a.m.: A white gentleman walking near Dauphine and Toulouse streets passed 2 black boys and their 'ho who asked if he wanted to "have a good time." The gentleman ignored her offer, then several seconds later heard footsteps coming from behind as he was struck by the 2 pimps. One took his keys and all 3 fled on Toulouse toward N. Rampart Street.

The victim flagged down a cop car and the officers managed to apprehend one of the boys, who turned out to be a juvenile so his name couldn't be released.

The other two suspects who got away were described as a black boy, 14 to 16 years of age, 5'6" tall, weighing 140 pounds, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans; a black girl, 14 to 16 years of age, 5'6" tall, a little on the chubby side, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a brown sundress.

Now the question is this: Didn't any of the cops on patrol notice this trio of underage kids violating curfew? That's what the curfew law is for--to get these punks off the street before they hurt someone and get themselves in trouble.

• Monday (5.4.09) 6:30 p.m.: Showing you can't let your guard down for even a minute, a white guy who stopped in the 600 block of Gravier Street (between St. Charles Avenue and Camp Street) left his car running and his doors unlocked as he and a woman with him got out to use an ATM. As he did, a black thug hopped in the car and ordered 2 other women who were in the car's back seat out of the car and he drove off in the vehicle.

Cops caught up with Keiron Jordan, 27, and charged him with a list of offenses: carjacking, possession of a stolen auto, resisting arrest, aggravated flight from an officer, and 3 counts of hit-and-run driving.

Jordan had at least one prior arrest for being a felon in possession of a firearm last year, but the DA didn't bother to prosecute that.

Taking it seriously, finally: The NOPD apparently has manned up and took responsibility for investigating a rape a week ago that 2 other police departments didn't want to touch because they couldn't be sure the offense happened in their jurisdictions.

Detectives from the NOPD's sex crimes unit drove to Jackson, MS to interview the 21-year-old victim. From her description of her attacker, they developed a composite sketch of the suspect.

He is described as being a light, white-skinned man, 25 to 30 years old, 5'10" to 6' tall, weighing 190 to 200 pounds, with diamond stud earrings in both ears, and last seen wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and black tennis shoes.

The victim accepted a ride with the stranger in a pick-up truck in the 1000 block of Canal Street (near Rampart) around 2 a.m. on 4.26.09. She asked to be taken to a friend's house, but the driver pulled a gun and order the woman to lie on the floor of the pick-up as he drove. She noticed they drove across the Crescent City Connection to the West Bank where he raped her before dropping her off in Gretna.

Neither the Gretna Police nor the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Department wanted to investigate the case because they didn't believe the crime was committed in their boundaries, leaving the NOPD to fill the void.

What's he look like?: Criminal Sheriff Marlin Gusman has been monkeying with his computer and it's playing havoc with our ability to bring you pictures of arrested suspects and their court cases.

Don't know why he's messing with it, but it's making it increasingly difficult to get suspects' mugshots, see what happened in previous cases, or link to court cases.

Surely the sheriff has better things to do than mess with a system that worked well before he started screwing with it.

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

Thom Kahler

Murder suspect surrenders

Husband gives up: The man who allegedly gunned down his estranged wife and another man in the Erin Rose bar yesterday morning surrendered to NOPD officers early this morning, less than 24 hours after the murderous rampage.

According to reports from the scene, 5 shots were fired shortly after 4 a.m. Saturday (5.2.09) in the bar at 811 Conti St. The 23-year-old woman, Veronica B. Parker, and an unidentified 25-year-old man, each suffered multiple gunshot wounds in the popular Irish pub where they were having a drink shortly after their shift ended at the Royal Sonesta hotel just down the block on Bourbon Street.

They were transported by EMTs to University Hospital, where the woman was pronounced dead a short time later and the man underwent surgery and was reported in critical condition.

Roy J. Parker Sr., 25, who was identified by Homicide Det. Robert Long as the person responsible for the murder, turned himself into 7th District NOPD officers in New Orleans East.

He was booked into Central Lockup just before 3 a.m., charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

In his first court hearing today, Magistrate Court Commissioner Anthony Russo set his bond at $500,000 on the attempted murder charge and denied bail on the murder charge. Parker is scheduled to appear before Magistrate Court Commissioner Rudy Gorrell on 7.2.09 for a hearing to determine if there is probable case to charge him for these crimes.

Parker is 5’10” tall, weighs 255 pounds, with medium complexion and a tattoo on the right side of his neck. His last known address is 5236 Timber Haven Lane in Algiers.

Parker was arrested last Tuesday (4.28.09) for domestic abuse battery for an incident that occurred at the same bar. His bond was set then at $5,000 by Magistrate Court Judge Gerard Hansen and he bailed out of jail after a protective order was issued and signed.

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported in April

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

Crimes reported: April 2009

This is a list of the crimes reported during April, 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.

Murder
4.02.09, 7:12 a.m., Gravier St. & S. Rampart St., shooting

Robbery
4.01.09, 8:40 p.m., 100 S. Peters St., pursesnatching
4.01.09, 11:10 p.m., 700 Royal St., attempted pursesnatching
4.02.09, 3:05 a.m., 400 Gravier St., armed
4.08.09, 5:55 a.m., 800 Chartres St., armed, knife
4.09.09, 5:20 a.m., 700 Bienville St., armed, knife
4.10.09, 9:20 p.m., 300 Tchoupitoulas St., armed
4.11.09, 2:35 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., simple
4.12.09, 11:30 p.m., 700 St. Louis St., attempted simple
4.17.09, 3:35 a.m., 1400 Canal St., armed
4.17.09, 9:07 p.m., 300 Notre Dame St., armed, gun
4.19.09, 2:13 p.m., Decatur St. & Esplanade Ave., pursesnatching
4.20.09, 9:45 p.m., St. Peter St. & Chartres St., armed
4.23.09, 3:02 a.m., Royal St. & St. Philip St., armed, gun
4.22.09, 10:45 p.m., 2000 Chartres St., armed, gun
4.24.09, 9:40 a.m., Girod St. & Loyola Ave., armed, gun
4.24.09, 8:50 p.m., 1400 Cleveland Ave., armed, carjacking
4.25.09, 1:04 a.m., 800 Common St., simple
4.25.09, 2:40 p.m., 1400 Cleveland Ave., attempted armed carjacking
4.29.09, 10:30 a.m., 1200 Burgundy St., armed, gun
4.27.09, 2:00 a.m., 2100 Chartres St., armed, gun
4.28.09, 3:22 a.m., Canal St., pursesnatching
4.29.09, 5:15 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., simple
4.29.09, 10:30 a.m., 1200 Burgundy St., armed, gun
4.08.09, 5:55 a.m., 800 Chartres St., armed, knife

Assault & battery
4.03.09, 4:20 a.m., 100 Royal St., aggravated assault
4.07.09, 8:10 p.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave., aggravated battery
4.11.09, 10:45 p.m., Bourbon St. & St. Louis St., aggravated battery, cutting
4.17.09, 1:30 a.m., 800 St. Louis St., aggravated battery
4.17.09, 8:45 p.m., 200 Bourbon St., aggravated battery, cutting
4.19.09, 1:03 a.m., S. Villere St. & Canal St., aggravated battery, shooting
4.19.09, 4:49 p.m., 1600 Canal St., aggravated battery, cutting

Burglary
4.03.09, 9:00 p.m., 800 Camp St., residence
4.07.09, 3:30 a.m., 600 Chartres St., business
4.07.09, 11:30 p.m., 1600 Canal St.
4.09.09, 5:00 a.m., 200 Decatur St., business
4.09.09, 10:00 p.m., 1000 Toulouse St., residence
4.10.09, 11:30 p.m., 1000 Constance St.
4.13.09, 1:30 a.m., 1100 N. Rampart St., business
4.15.09, 4:45 a.m., 1300 Decatur St., business
4.17.09, 3:35 a.m., 1200 N. Rampart St., business
4.17.09, 3:22 p.m., 1000 St. Peter St., residence
4.19.09, 2:06 a.m., 1100 Decatur St., business
4.21.09, 7:00 p.m., 300 Dauphine St., business
4.24.09, 9:30 p.m., 2000 Royal St., residence
4.24.09, 11:30 p.m., 2000 St. Claude Ave., residence
4.27.09, 6:30 a.m., 1100 Decatur St., business
4.29.09, 10:00 a.m., 1000 Orleans Ave., residence

Theft
4.01.09, 10:15 a.m., 100 Carondelet St.
4.01.09, 9:50 p.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
4.02.09, 4:30 p.m., 800 Royal St., bicycle theft
4.04.09, 8:30 a.m., 800 Camp St.
4.04.09, 9:00 a.m., 2000 Royal St.
4.04.09, 3:45 p.m., 800 Tchoupitoulas St., bicycle theft
4.04.09, 8:00 p.m., 1100 Decatur St.
4.04.09, 9:50 p.m., 500 St. Peter St.
4.05.09, 1:20 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
4.05.09, 2:10 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
4.05.09, 3:45 a.m., Bourbon St. & Bienville St., pickpocketing
4.05.09, 4:00 a.m., 700 Bourbon St.
4.05.09, 6:35 p.m., 300 Bourbon St.
4.05.09, 9:36 p.m., 800 Canal St., shoplifting
4.05.09, 10:30 p.m., 500 Bourbon St.
4.05.09, 11:45 p.m., 800 Toulouse St., shoplifting
4.06.09, 9:20 a.m., 900 Canal St., shoplifting
4.06.09, 3:16 p.m., 900 Decatur St., shoplifting
4.06.09, 12:30 p.m., French Market Place
4.07.09, 4:00 a.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave.
4.07.09, 3:00 p.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
4.06.09, 8:40 p.m., 200 Decatur St.
4.08.09, 1:10 p.m., 1300 Canal St.
4.09.09, 10:17 a.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
4.08.09, 11:00 p.m., 900 Canal St.
4.09.09, 10:00 a.m., 700 Orleans Ave.
4.10.09, 8:30 p.m., 1000 Toulouse St.
4.12.09, 12:50 p.m., 1200 N. Peters St.
4.12.09, 12:30 a.m., 700 Orleans Ave.
4.12.09, 3:00 p.m., 200 Carondelet St.
4.12.09, 2:45 a.m., 800 S. Peters St.
4.12.09, 6:20 p.m., 900 Decatur St., shoplifting
4.13.09, 4:08 p.m., 400 Decatur St., shoplifting
4.14.09, 5:15 a.m., 300 Magazine St.
4.14.09, 6:58 p.m., 800 Toulouse St., shoplifting
4.15.09, 4:30 p.m., 1100 Chartres St.
4.16.09, 3:30 p.m., 300 Poydras St.
4.16.09, 5:51 p.m., 300 Royal St., shoplifting
4.17.09, 1:20 a.m., 300 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
4.17.09, 12:15 p.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
4.17.09, 1:26 p.m., 900 Canal St.
4.17.09, 10:30 p.m., Bourbon St. & Bienville St., pickpocketing
4.17.09, 9:36 p.m., 300 Exchange Alley
4.17.09, 10:30 p.m., Bourbon St. & Bienville St., pickpocketing
4.18.09, 12:30 a.m., 200 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
4.14.09, 8:54 p.m., 400 Bourbon St.
4.19.09, 3:30 a.m., 500 Gravier St., pickpocketing
4.19.09, 7:00 a.m., 2000 St. Claude Ave., bicycle theft
4.21.09, 5:00 p.m., 800 Decatur St., shoplifting
4.21.09, 5:00 p.m., 500 Canal St.
4.21.09, 2:00 p.m., 500 Canal St.
4.22.09, 2:24 a.m., 500 Bourbon St.
4.23.09, 3:05 p.m., 300 Royal St., shoplifting
4.24.09, 2:00 a.m., 400 Bourbon St.
4.24.09, 3:50 p.m., 1200 Decatur St., shoplifting
4.26.09, 1:50 p.m., 800 N. Rampart St.
4.26.09, 9:00 a.m., Poydras St.
4.26.09, 8:18 p.m., 200 N. Peters St., shoplifting
4.27.09, 5:38 a.m., Conti St. & Dauphine St.
4.27.09, 8:30 a.m., 1500 Poydras St.
4.28.09, 2:39 p.m., 300 Bourbon St.
4.28.09, 4:15 p.m., 800 Royal St., shoplifting
4.29.09, 12:05 p.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
4.29.09, 4:15 p.m., 800 Chartres St., shoplifting
4.29.09, 4:05 p.m., 500 Royal St., shoplifting
4.27.09, 4:05 a.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave.
4.05.09, 4:00 a.m., 700 Bourbon St.
4.09.09, 10:17 a.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting

Auto theft
4.01.09, 7:30 a.m., 700 Carondelet St.
4.03.09, 9:50 a.m., 1000 Bienville St.
4.03.09, 8:00 p.m., Burgundy St. & Toulouse St.
4.03.09, 7:00 p.m., 400 St. Joseph St.
4.04.09, 4:45 p.m., 700 N. Rampart St.
4.05.09, 12:15 a.m., Conti St. & Chartres St.
4.05.09, 6:10 a.m., Canal St. & Burgundy St.
4.05.09, 3:10 a.m., Cleveland Ave. & S. Saratoga St.
4.06.09, 1:45 a.m., 500 Wilkinson St.
4.06.09, 12:12 a.m., 1000 Loyola Ave.
4.11.09, 1:00 a.m., 400 Elysian Fields Ave.
4.12.09, 1:00 a.m., 300 Girod St.
4.12.09, 11:45 a.m., 2000 N. Rampart St.
4.12.09, 2:00 p.m., 500 Ursulines Ave.
4.13.09, 12:31 a.m., 600 Canal St.
4.14.09, 12:10 p.m., 900 St. Ann St.
4.13.09, 12:15 p.m., 300 Canal St.
4.15.09, 1:30 a.m., 900 Dauphine St.
4.18.09, 12:30 a.m., 100 S. Villere St.
4.18.09, 1:00 p.m., 1700 N. Rampart St.
4.18.09, 1:00 a.m., 100 N. Rampart St.
4.18.09, 1:00 a.m., 100 N. Rampart St.
4.18.09, 3:30 p.m., Burgundy St. & Iberville St.
4.19.09, 10:50 p.m., 600 Canal St.
4.18.09, 11:30 a.m., St. Joseph St. & S. Peters St.
4.23.09, 1:30 a.m., Gravier St. & Camp St.
4.23.09, 11:30 p.m., 500 Decatur St.
4.25.09, 12:47 p.m., Elysian Fields Ave. & N. Rampart St.
4.26.09, 1:30 a.m., 500 Bienville St.
4.25.09, 10:00 p.m., 1400 Royal St.
4.25.09, 8:00 p.m., 200 Dauphine St.
4.26.09, 12:00 p.m., 100 Dauphine St.
4.28.09, 10:30 a.m., 600 Elysian Fields Ave.
4.29.09, 2:30 p.m., 400 O'Keefe Ave.
4.29.09, 8:00 a.m., Conti St. & Dauphine St.

Car break-in
4.01.09, 8:30 p.m., Carondelet St. & St. Joseph St., interior
4.02.09, 6:20 p.m., 1000 N. Peters St., interior
4.04.09, 1:30 a.m., Julia St. & Commerce St., interior
4.04.09, 1:00 a.m., 200 Burgundy St., interior
4.04.09, 4:30 a.m., S. Peters St. & St. Joseph St., interior
4.04.09, 3:30 a.m., 900 Orleans Ave., exterior
4.06.09, 5:30 a.m., Poydras St. & S. Rampart St., interior
4.08.09, 7:30 a.m., 300 Notre Dame St., interior
4.10.09, 3:00 a.m., Chartres St. & Wilkinson St., interior
4.10.09, 1:00 a.m., Burgundy St. & Ursulines Ave., interior
4.10.09, 1:30 a.m., 700 Union St., interior
4.10.09, 4:00 a.m., 300 Notre Dame St., interior
4.10.09, 2:30 a.m., Toulouse St. & Decatur St., interior
4.12.09, 12:30 a.m., 100 Conti St., interior
4.12.09, 4:15 a.m., 300 O'Keefe Ave., interior
4.13.09, 5:00 p.m., 2000 Chartres St., interior
4.15.09, 1:30 p.m., 300 Burgundy St., interior
4.17.09, 4:00 a.m., 400 Canal St., interior
4.18.09, 5:00 p.m., 900 Magazine St., interior
4.19.09, 2:00 a.m., 100 N. Rampart St., interior
4.19.09, 12:00 p.m., Tchoupitoulas St. & Lafayette St., interior
4.20.09, 6:12 p.m., 800 Chartres St., interior
4.20.09, 11:45 p.m., 1400 Burgundy St., interior
4.22.09, 2:00 a.m., 600 St. Ann St., interior
4.24.09, 8:37 p.m., 900 Union St., interior
4.25.09, 2:30 a.m., 600 Conti St., exterior
4.25.09, 2:40 p.m., 100 S. Villere St., interior
4.26.09, 7:30 p.m., N. Peters St. & Esplanade Ave., interior
4.27.09, 4:00 a.m., 400 Canal St., interior
4.27.09, 7:07 p.m., 400 Conti St., interior
4.28.09, 3:00 a.m., 1600 Canal St., interior

Low down on stick ups

Spoke too soon: Just when we thought crime might have been tamed a little, a couple of incidents say otherwise:

• Monday (4.27.09), 2 a.m.: A white woman walking in the 2100 block of Chartres Street (between Frenchmen Street and Elysian Fields Avenue) was robbed of her purse by a black dude armed with a pistol.

The victim didn't do anything to help catch the crook--she waited 15 hours to call 911. She described the robber as in his early 20's, 5'7" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a dark complexion, clean shaven and a short haircut. What was he wearing? Oh, that's right: kind of hard to remember after 15 hours of sleeping it off.

• Wednesday (4.29.09), 10:30 a.m.: A white couple walking in the 1200 block of Burgundy Street (between Barracks and Gov. Nicholls streets) were robbed in broad daylight by a giant of a white man with a toy pistol. He made off with their purse and wallet, fleeing on foot down Gov. Nicholls toward the river.

The robber was described as in his 20's, 6'4" tall, weighing 200 pounds, muscular build, wearing a long black shirt and khaki shorts. Surveillance cameras in the area captured this photograph (right) of the perpetrator as he fled the crime scene.

Pursesnatchers caught up: A couple of pursesnatchers weren't as lucky as the armed robbers. They were apprehended immediately after their crimes--of course, they were older:

• Tuesday (4.28.09), 3:25 a.m.: An Asian woman standing near Canal Street and Convention Center Boulevard had her purse grabbed from her shoulder by a black guy who fled on foot down Canal toward St. Charles Avenue. Cops caught up with Byron Asmore, 45, and charged him for the crime. He is being held in OPP on $25,000 bond awaiting a hearing 6.13.09.

• Wednesday (4.29.09), 5:27 a.m.: A while guy walking in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets) was approached by a black panhandler who asked him for some money. When the victim took his wallet from his pocket, the panhandler grabbed it and fled on foot up Bourbon, turning on Conti toward N. Rampart Street.

Cops caught Kenneth Wiley, 50, and charged him with simple robbery and flight from an officer. He's sitting in OPP on a $50,500 bond awaiting a hearing 6.30.09.

Did you hear the one about?: You probably read the story this morning in the Times-Picayune about a rape that was not so much a who-done-it as a where-was-it-done.

Seems a 21-year-old Mississippi woman accepted a ride in the 1000 block of Canal Street (near Rampart Street) on Sunday (4.26.09) around 2 a.m. and asked to be taken to a friend's house. But the driver went another direction, then pulled a gun and ordered the woman to lie on the floor of the pick-up truck as he drove. She could see that he drove across the Crescent City Connection to the West Bank. He raped her shortly after that but she doesn't know where they were; he then dropped her off in Gretna.

Because the exact location of the rape can't be determined, neither the NOPD, Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office, nor Gretna Police want to touch the case. Bad for crime stats, you know.

In case anyone does investigate, the victim described her attacker as in his late 20's, with a shaved head, and wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and tennis shoes. She didn't say whether he was white or black, but did note his pick-up truck was silver or gray with 4 doors and a dark gray interior.

Then, to compound confusion, a similar case happened this morning (4.30.09) just before 5 a.m. when a 19-year-old black girl got into a truck with a black man on Canal Street at Bourbon Street. He drove her to New Orleans East around Chef Menteur Highway and I-10 East where he forced her at gunpoint to perform various sexual acts.

There was no description of the perpetrator or the man's vehicle, but what are the odds? This kind of thing go on all time on Canal Street?

Strike up the band!: The response to our call for support yesterday for The Roots of Music program, has struck an enthusiastic note in the community.

The first to respond with his $20 donation was Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District. You can contribute by clicking here on The Roots of Music.

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

Thom Kahler

SPECIAL: We can fight crime!

The face we put on crime is usually that of a young black boy. And it's accurate: most of the crimes committed in the French Quarter are by young black boys. Boys barely 20, boys in their teens, and boys even younger than that. Think of the two 15-year-olds and 14-year-old who are suspects in the murder of Wendy Byrne.

I can't help but think much of the crime these boys commit is due to being bored, due to lacking a challenge, due to wanting to fit in. It's no excuse, but what if that could be changed?

I hope you read Sheila Stroup's column in the Times-Picayune on Tuesday about The Roots of Music. If you didn't, please read it now.

There's more than a ray of hope as Derrick Tabb, the drummer for Rebirth Brass Band, tells how he formed The Roots of Music which has blossomed into a free after-school program that is changing the lives of 9- to 14-year-olds.

Tabb modeled it after the example of the band director he had growing up in Treme, claiming, "I think he saved my life." Indeed, an avid backer of The Roots of Music calls it an "anti-crime program."

A kid can't blow a trumpet and fire a gun at the same time or tap a drum while robbing someone.

The problem is, though Tabb has just shy of 100 kids enrolled in his program, he has a waiting list of 350 who want to join the band. He tells of one 7-year-old boy who calls him on his cell phone every day and says, "Are you the man with the band? I want to get in that band."

To expand the program, Tabb needs donations of money and musical instruments. All donations are tax-deductible, but that's not as important as giving something.

It's time for us to stop whining about crime in the French Quarter and start doing something positive that might prevent a kid from becoming a criminal.

If all the people who read NOcrimeline.com were to send The Roots of Music just $20 (you'd lose more than that in a robbery), we'd raise thousands of dollars. Of course, you can donate more. (To donate, click on "The Roots of Music" above for complete information.)

Many readers are cops and officials. Wouldn't it be better to prevent crime than fight it? How about it Big Chief? Will you send $20? Major? Lieutenants? Councilmen?

How about the businessmen? Just $500 will fully sponsor a student in the program. That's not too much for a hotel to put up. Or a restaurant. Or even a collection at a favorite bar.

What about the musicians who are in town this weekend for Jazz Fest? What if someone with connections to the Fest hit them up for $500 before they leave town to help create new musicians?

It's time, folks, to do something to try to change the future of the French Quarter. Why not give this a try? I've yet to see anything that inspires more hope. (For full details, click The Roots of Music or send your donation to: The Roots of Music, 929 Euterpe St., New Orleans, LA 70130 or call (504) 460-2611.)

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

Thom Kahler

Crime: Going down? Going up?

It all depends: Robberies in the 8th District (French Quarter, Marigny Triangle, CBD) are down a whopping 55% in the first quarter this year compared to 2008--30 this year verses 67 last year.

It will take a little longer for the public's perception to catch up with reality for them to feel safe in their neighborhoods again. Particularly in light of these incidents, nearly a robbery a day:

• Monday (4.20.09), 9:59 p.m.: A white guy--presumably a performance artist (guitar player? balloon sculptor? the police report didn't say)--sitting near Jackson Square at St. Peter and Chartres streets was robbed of the money in his tip jar by 2 scruffy white dudes wearing only blue jeans and no shirts. One insinuated he had a gun and though the artist struggled, the 2 bums made off with his tips, fleeing on foot.

Saturday (4.25.09) 8th District detectives showed a photo line-up to the victim and he positively identified Fred Miller, 41, as one of the guys who robbed him. Miller was booked into OPP on charges of armed robbery and public intimidation; he's being held on $85,000 bond.

• Wednesday (4.22.09), 10:45 p.m.: A white couple (she 26, he 23) were walking near Chartres and Frenchmen streets when they were robbed by 2 armed black thugs, who made off with the woman's purse and the guy's wallet and cellphone. The thieves took off on foot up Frenchmen toward St. Claude Avenue.

The victims lollygagged for 12 hours before reporting the incident to the NOPD, which gave the crooks plenty of time to get away.

The perps were described as 20 to 25 years old, one 5'7" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a dark complexion and medium-length dreadlocks, wearing a blue and white polo shirt and baggy blue jeans; the other was 5'9" tall, weighing 155 pounds, with a short haircut, wearing a baseball cap with a white bandana underneath and clad in a baggy T-shirt and baggy blue jeans.

• Thursday (4.23.09), 3:02 a.m.: An Asian man, 40, and a black female, 27, were strolling near St. Philip and Royal streets when a black thug, armed with a blue steel revolver, accosted them and demanded their money. The victims gave him everything, including their cash, 2 cellphones, ATM and debit cards, driver's license, purse--and the foreigner's green card.

The robber fled on foot up St. Philip, past McDonough 15 and onto Bourbon Street, past Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop. He was only described as having a dark complexion, medium-length dreadlocks, wearing a blue and white jersey and blue jeans. (Hmm. Sounds familiar: see the description from the robbery the night before.)

• Friday (4.24.09), 9:40 a.m.: A 59-year-old white man was getting out of his car parked in a lot at Loyola Avenue and Girod Street in broad daylight when a black guy armed with a pistol came up and demanded his money. The victim complied and the robber fled on foot on S. Rampart Street toward Julia Street.

The thief was described as in his 30's, 5'8" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with a medium complexion and a short haircut, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Saturday (4.25.09), 1 a.m.: A white couple walking in the 800 block of Common Street (between Baronne and Carondelet streets) were accosted by a trio of black thugs, one of whom slugged the man while his buddies grabbed the woman's purse from her shoulder.

The thieves were all described as in their late teens. One was 6'2" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with a thin build and a light complexion, wearing a white shirt. The second was 5'7 tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a thin build, short afro and brown complexion, wearing a red shirt. The third was 5'9" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a thin build, brown complexion and shaved head, wearing a lime green shirt.

Teen carjackers nabbed: A pair of teenage black boys were arrested for carjackings over the weekend in the CBD.

• Friday (4.24.09), 9:55 p.m.: A 33-year-old white man returned to his car parked in the 1400 block of Cleveland Avenue (between Marais and S. Liberty streets) and found the rear passenger window busted out. As he was checking the damage, a black punk tapped on the window with a gun and demanded the man get out of his car and give him the keys. The robber told the owner to run and the thief drove off in the car.

• Saturday (4.25.09), 2:51 p.m.: A white woman returning to her car at the same location the day after the previous carjacking was approached by 2 black punks who demanded her car keys. She told them to go to hell and sped off.

Officers who responded to her 911 call apprehended 2 black boys, both 16, and charged them with armed robbery. Because they are juveniles their names can't be released. (Old enough to wield weapons, but too young to have their names in the paper. Anyone remember Wendy Byrne?)

Detectives showed a photo line-up of the 2 boys to the first carjacking victim and he positively identified one of them as the thief who stole his car the night before.

Statistical skeptics: No more had Big Chief Warren Riley released his statistics showing crime--including homicides--was down significantly in the first quarter of this year compared with last year than the skeptics started sniping.

One even conjectured that the reduction in murders--from 43 to 41--might be attributable to "EMT services and emergency room staff doing a better job at saving the lives of people who have been shot."

Others still don't believe the NOPD is fully or accurately reporting the crimes as they happen. Big Chief Riley is responsible for such skepticism.

His failure to set up a uniform system for reporting crimes to the public leaves huge gaps in the information the public receives. Some NOPD districts try to fill the gaps, with varying degree of success. Some pick and choose too carefully the cases they report; others are incredibly vague in their reporting.

It's a simple problem to solve: release the Comstat log reports (like the 8th District used to before Riley put the kibosh on it when he got mad at NOcrimeline). The C-log reports list the date, time and place of the crime, the victims (so you'd know their age, sex and race), a gist of the crime, and description of any suspects. There's absolutely nothing in the reports that would jeopardize an investigation.

And the law says they're supposed to be public information. I guess that makes Riley a criminal for failing to obey the law.

Another way Riley had fudged the crime figures is ordering certain crimes to be reported as "municipal" offenses under the city code rather than "state" offenses under state statutes. The difference is the municipal offenses don't show up in the crime stats; the state crimes do.

We know of at least one case in the 8th District where that occurred (last fall when a teenager attacked an old man on his way to Matassa's Market). No explanation why it was a "municipal" offense and didn't make the crime stats. And if there's one case, who knows how many more there are? So many the skepticism isn't unwarranted.

But you know what? I'm willing to give the NOPD the benefit of the doubt now. It does seem like crime is down--particularly in the French Quarter, and especially in the Lower Quarter.

If any one out there knows of crimes that aren't being reported here, give me the date, time and place. Too often the reports I get from the public are thin on facts and heavy with speculation. I'll do the checking if you take the time to get the rudimentary information.

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

Thom Kahler