Shootout in the Quarter

No hush in the night: Wild, wild night last night (Sunday 7.12.09) just before midnight. Reading the various reports of what went on, it's hard to tell how many shots were fired, where all the shooting happened, or who the victim was. The NOPD says apprehensions were made, but don't say how many were arrested.

The official NOPD incident report says: 8th District officers arrived on the scene at 11:53 p.m. after receiving a call of gunshots fired at Bienville and Clinton streets (Clinton's essentially an alley running from Bienville to Iberville Street, between Decatur and N. Peters streets).

It goes on to say: "Witnesses observed several black males firing handguns at the location. Responding officers observed several black males fleeing the scene. These subjects were apprehended and are considered suspects in this case."

It also reports one gun was recovered near the scene. Police learned later that a 16-year-old black boy was taken in a private car to a local hospital with gunshot wounds to the abdomen and shoulder, and was undergoing surgery.

Another police report said the patrons were observed fleeing from Club Hush at Bienville and Decatur. The club is notorious for the violence that has flowed from there in the past year. French Quarter residents won an order from the alcohol beverage board last month that will force the club to shut its doors at the end of August. As a stipulation for allowing it to stay open for almost another 3 months, it was to institute all sorts of security measures, including posting off-duty cops outside, station 5 bouncers inside, scan all patrons with a metal detector as they entered. Sounds like that wasn't very effective last night.

Just for its sheer narrative energy, here's an eyewitness report from a correspondent of ours who works at a nearby club:

"Nothing like a good old-fashion(ed) wild, wild west shootout.

"We heard people screaming and running down Chartres near Iberville. Some guy walks by telling us there was a shootout on Decatur. We didn't hear any shots at all. He said some guy almost got hit crossing the street. He yelled, 'hey, asshole' (and) a bunch of Negroes jumped out and shot at him. Dunno if he was hit or not.

"Seconds later we hear 4-5 shots by Iberville and Decatur. An unmarked unit (NOPD police vehicle) flies up on the sidewalk in front of the old Rotolos (pizzeria), draws his gun and gets a Negro in a white T (shirt) on the ground. The cop hits the ground too for about 10 seconds. He throws him in the car and reverses down Iberville to Chartres.

"Two cops almost collide on Iberville and Chartres. A few more shots go off at Bienville and Chartres. I think a police SUV hit the building on that corner. One officer on a horse came by; we pointed him in the direction and he went. A few more shots.

"They apprehended 4 (need to find about 15 more) and the gun. We called a few cops on their cellphones to tip them off because 2 guys involved walked by us and was pointed out by some people. They met up with 4 others in front of Unique's Grocery (Unique General Store) on Royal (127 Royal St.) and got into a United cab and left.

"Three others continuously drove by in a red car till I finally left--pistol in hand, of course. Great New Orleans night."

Speaking of bars: Despite the 8th District putting out an arrest warrant on a guy they think robbed 4 bars in the past couple of weeks, another bar was robbed last Monday (7.6.09).

The robber struck at 11:50 p.m. at St. Charles Bar & Billiards, 736 St. Charles Ave. He pulled a pistol and demanded money from the female bartender.

The robber was described as a black male, 20 to 25 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with a thin build and light complexion, wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants. The description is close to those given in the other robberies, in which 8th District detectives believe Kerry Paul was the perpetrator, but word is, the detectives don't think it's related to the 4 in the Marigny Triangle and the Quarter.

Other robberies: Several "simple" robberies over the weekend terrified local residents:

• Sunday (7.12.09): A white woman walking near St. Philip and Bourbon streets around 11:10 p.m. was accosted by a white guy who pushed her against the wall and demanded her purse. She complied and he fled on foot on St. Philip toward the river.

He was described as 20 to 25 years old, 5'5" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with a thin build, unshaven and bald, wearing a white shirt and dark pants. The police later released this picture (above) from a private video surveillance tape from a residence on St. Philip. About all it does is, yes, confirm the robber was white and bald.

• Saturday (7.11.09): A Hispanic man working at Fat Catz Music Club, 440 Bourbon St., around 3:20 a.m. was robbed of his cellphone when 2 black dudes struck him and then attempted to flee on foot.

Police apprehended Jeffery Turner (pictured), 25, and a 29-year-old black man for whom the court and jail have no record of, and charged them with simple robbery.

• Friday (7.10.09): A black man walking near St. Joseph and Carondelet streets in the CBD was approached by another black man who implied he had a gun and demanded money. The victim fled and the suspect got away in a gray van which sped off on Howard Street toward Lee Circle. The would-be robber is described as 40 to 44 years old, 5'3" tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a multi-colored shirt and blue jeans.
  

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

Thom Kahler

Drink at your own risk

More bars robbed: More bars were targeted over the holiday weekend, but now 8th District detectives have pinned a bull's eye on Kerry Paul, a 28-year-old black thug with prior arrests for armed robbery, felon with a firearm, and drugs.

He got a 3-year sentence in November, 2007 that was supposed to keep him locked up for the full term--but apparently he's out and about and has resumed his old ways.

(If Sheriff Marlin Gusman hadn't botched up access to booking photos of miscreants on his computer, we'd be able to show you a picture of Paul. The sheriff just doesn't know how he's stifling justice.)

Court records show Paul once lived at 1514 Frenchmen St.; if that's his mama's and he's still staying there, it puts him very close to some of the bars that have been robbed recently.

In the last 10 days, at least 4 bars have been robbed in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle. The 2 latest:

• Friday (7.3.09): An employee taking out the trash at the R Bar, 1431 Royal St. (corner of Kerlerec Street), just before 6 a.m. was approached by black thug who pulled out a pistol and walked the employee back inside. The bartender saw the would-be robber and ran to the rear of the bar. The commotion sent the thug fleeing empty-handed.

The hoodlum was described as being under 35 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans.

• Saturday (7.4.09): Just before 6 p.m., the black robber entered Melvin's Bar, 2112 St. Claude Ave. (right near Frenchmen Street), and pulled a pistol and demanded the bartender hand over the money from the cash register and safe. The bartender complied and the robber fled on foot.

It was at this location, Detective Willie Jenkins developed Kerry Paul as a suspect. Now the police are trying to locate bartenders and patrons who were witnesses at the various bars to show them a photo line-up with Paul in it.

In the earlier bar robberies:

• 6.25.09 at Donna's, N. Rampart and St. Ann streets, the robber was described as black, 20 to 30 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a light complexion.

• 6.29.09 at The John, Burgundy and Frenchmen streets, the robber was described as black, in his mid 20's, 5'8" tall, weighing 180 pounds, clean shave, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

Don't trek to Toulouse: Black men walking in the 900 block of Toulouse Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) have been the victims of robberies over the weekend:

• Saturday (7.4.09): A 23-year-old man was approached from behind at 5:20 a.m. by a black dude who stuck a gun in his back and demanded his money and car keys. The victim gave them up and the robber fled on Toulouse toward the river.

The robber was described as 18 to 30 years old, 5'9" tall, 150 pounds, with short hair, wearing a black T-shirt.

• Monday (7.6.09): A black man in the same block of Toulouse was approached from behind at 3:40 a.m. by a black fellow who stuck what was thought to be a gun in his back and demanded money and his watch. The victim complied and the robber fled toward the river, as in the earlier robbery on Toulouse.

The thug is described as 22 to 30 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 230 pounds, wearing a blue baseball cap, and dark blue T-shirt and dark pants.

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

Thom Kahler

Murder? What murder?

Yes, there was one: Some may wonder why we didn't jump all over the murder at the Canal Street Hotel earlier this week.

If we consider NOcrimeline's mission as alerting residents of the 8th District to crime so they can take precautions against becoming victims, we figured the Canal Street Hotel as a place where our subscribers wouldn't be caught dead. Unless, of course, you went there to score drugs or pick up a hooker--and in our demographic view, that eliminates most of you.

You could almost see this tragedy coming. When I started to compile a list of police reports of crimes from the 1630 Canal St. address of the hotel, it became so voluminous I abandoned the project. Every time I read a report about a crime in "the 1600 block of Canal," I said "I'll bet it was the no-tell hotel"--and was universally right. The place is tantamount to the Iberville Housing Project--with neon.

When comments on TripAdvisor list it as "terrible" 65 out of 78 times, you get the idea. Expedia advertised it at "$38 a night"--those are flophouse rates. Many visitors talked about bums sleeping in the hallways, drug dealers roaming at will, hookers hanging around outside the entrance on Canal Street.

Forget the talk about the hotel being in violation of city codes. Management of this place allowed the illegal behavior to take place right under their noses. Supposedly the hotel had been ordered not to rent any rooms above the bottom 2 floors because of fire safety concerns. But the guy who was arrested for the homicide was staying in a room on the 4th floor where the murder occurred--and wasn't a registered guest.

Considering the dude who allegedly shot the 20-year-old black Algiers girl after reportedly shouting at her repeatedly "Where are the other girls?," it's easy to speculate he was pimping prostitutes out of the place, putting the "ho" in hotel.

A relentless investigation by the NOPD after Kenyra Johnson was shot in the abdomen during an argument at the hotel Tuesday night (6.30.09) and died at the hospital, led to the arrest Friday (7.3.09) of Troy Gloston-Phelps, 21. Gloston, who could have been nailed by the police any time before the shooting on a slew of outstanding warrants, was booked with 2nd-degree murder. He's being held in OPP on $500,000 bond.

Another bar robbery: After the robberies of Donna's on N. Rampart Street on 6.25.09 and Pal's in Mid-City on 6.27.09 where a patron was shot, a brazen robber knocked over The John bar at Burgundy and Frenchmen streets on Monday (6.29.09).

A black dude entered the bar at 1:20 p.m. and ordered a drink. Then he pulled a gun and demanded the money from the video poker machines before locking the 62-year-old female bartender in a supply closet and cleaning out the cash from the register.

He was described as in his mid 20's, 5'8" tall, weighing 180 pounds, clean shaven, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

Bad neighborhoods: Any one with a lick of sense would know that these are not nice places to be in the early morning hours, but they ventured forth and were robbed there. If they are locals, they should know better; if they were tourists, somebody needs to tell them the French Quarter is not all fun and games:

• Wednesday (7.1.09): A 27-year-old white woman walking in the 1000 block of Iberville Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) at 12:45 a.m. was robbed by gun-toting black dude who took her money and then fled in a dark red 4-door sedan which sped off on Burgundy toward Esplanade Avenue.

He was described as 20 to 24 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a long white T-shirt and blue jean shorts.

• Friday (7.3.09): A white guy standing near N. Rampart and St. Louis streets at 1:15 a.m. was approached by 4 black thugs. One asked his for a cigarette and when the victim reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes and some cash, he grabbed the money and fled with his rat pack.

8th District officers later nabbed 2 of them: Charles Roy (right), 20, and Nicholas Duplessis (left), 23. They were each charged with simple robbery and placed under a $15,000 bond to get out of OPP.

• Friday (7.3.09): A white woman who was near Bourbon and St. Louis streets at 3:45 a.m. was approached by a black guy who said he had a gun and demanded her money.

She refused and flagged down a cop who pursued the thug up Bourbon toward Canal Street and arrested Rakeem Holmes, 20.

On top of attempted armed robbery, he was also charged with possession of marijuana and crack cocaine. He is being held on $80,500 bond in OPP.

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

Thom Kahler

Crimes reported June 2009

This is a list of the crimes reported during June 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.

Robbery
6.04.09, 1:30 a.m., St. Louis St. & Burgundy St., simple robbery
6.07.09, 4:04 a.m., St. Philip St. & Bourbon St., simple robbery
6.08.09, 12:45 a.m., Dauphine St. & St. Philip St., simple robbery
6.11.09, 2:10 p.m., 100 Baronne St., pursesnatching
6.12.09, 12:25 p.m., 100 Bourbon St., simple robbery
6.13.09, 5:20 a.m., 1000 Conti St., armed robbery, gun
6.15.09, 2:00 a.m., Dauphine St. & Ursulines Ave., simple robbery
6.15.09, 10:04 p.m., 800 St. Ann St., armed robbery
6.15.09, 10:00 p.m., 800 St. Peter St., armed robbery
6.17.09, 3:00 a.m., Bourbon St. & Conti St., simple robbery
6.20.09, 3:00 a.m., 900 Conti St., simple robbery
6.20.09, 10:20 p.m., Royal St. & St. Philip St., armed robbery
6.21.09, 4:50 a.m., Cleveland Ave. & Elk Place, armed robbery, gun
6.22.09, 5:15 a.m., 800 Conti St., simple robbery
6.25.09, 9:18 p.m., 800 N. Rampart St., armed robbery, gun
6.27.09, 2:45 a.m., 700 Bourbon St., simple robbery
6.29.09, 2:00 a.m., Frenchmen St. & Chartres St., simple robbery
6.29.09, 4:35 a.m., Bourbon St. & Esplanade Ave., simple robbery
6.29.09, 1:20 p.m., 2000 Burgundy St., armed robbery, gun

Assault & battery
6.04.09, 8:30 a.m., 600 Frenchmen St., aggravated assault
6.14.09, 12:25 a.m., 700 St. Louis St., aggravated assault
6.21.09, 4:05 a.m., Dauphine St. & St. Louis St., aggravated battery
6.22.09, 3:45 a.m., 800 S. Peters St., aggravated assault
6.27.09, 1:55 a.m., Bourbon St. & St. Ann St., aggravated battery, cutting
6.27.09, 3:15 a.m., Canal St., assault, attempted murder

Burglary
6.05.09, 5:15 a.m., 800 N. Rampart St., business
6.10.09, 4:00 a.m., 600 Frenchmen St., business
6.12.09, 9:20 a.m., 900 Esplanade Ave.
6.20.09, 8:30 p.m., 2000 Royal St., residence
6.22.09, 7:45 a.m., 900 Esplanade Ave., residence
6.22.09, 9:30 a.m., 1000 Iberville St., business
6.22.09, 9:26 p.m., 600 Baronne St., business
6.27.09, 9:08 a.m., 900 S. Peters St., business

Theft
6.01.09, 12:11 p.m., 600 Decatur St., shoplifting
6.01.09, 11:00 p.m., 300 Camp St.
6.02.09, 10:30 a.m., 600 Canal St.
6.02.09, 12:50 p.m., 400 Magazine St.
6.03.09, 7:05 p.m., 300 St. Joseph St.
6.04.09, 1:45 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
6.03.09, 1:10 p.m., 200 Royal St.
6.04.09, 11:00 a.m., 800 Decatur St.
6.04.09, 1:45 a.m., 600 St. Peter St.
6.02.09, 8:40 p.m., Poydras St.
6.04.09, 3:45 p.m., 1300 Perdido St.
6.05.09, 11:28 p.m., 900 Bourbon St.
6.06.09, 4:40 a.m., 400 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
6.05.09, 3:00 p.m., 700 Barracks St.
6.07.09, 12:20 a.m., 600 Bourbon St.
6.07.09, 12:35 a.m., 200 Bourbon St., shoplifting
6.07.09, 4:46 a.m., Dauphine St. & Conti St., pickpocketing
6.07.09, 5:15 a.m., Dauphine St. & St. Louis St., pickpocketing
6.07.09, 1:00 p.m., 800 Canal St., shoplifting
6.07.09, 4:30 a.m., St. Joseph St. & Magazine St.
6.07.09, 5:55 p.m., 800 Royal St.
6.08.09, 10:00 p.m., 800 Chartres St., bicycle
6.08.09, 1:30 a.m., 800 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
6.05.09, 6:00 a.m., 1000 N. Peters St.
6.08.09, 9:00 a.m., 600 Decatur St.
6.08.09, 1:00 p.m., 600 St. Peter St., bicycle
6.10.09, 2:08 p.m., 500 Royal St., shoplifting
6.09.09, 10:00 p.m., 600 Dumaine St., bicycle
6.10.09, 9:20 p.m., 800 Canal St., shoplifting
6.11.09, 4:30 a.m., 100 St. Charles Ave.
6.11.09, 4:37 p.m., 300 Chartres St., attempted shoplifting
6.12.09, 12:01 a.m., 500 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.12.09, 11:30 a.m., 700 Touro St., bicycle
6.12.09, 1:45 a.m., 400 Bourbon St.
6.13.09, 2:00 p.m., 200 St. Charles Ave., bicycle
6.14.09, 2:15 a.m., 1600 Canal St.
6.15.09, 3:00 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
6.15.09, 7:50 a.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
6.15.09, 8:30 a.m., 300 Dauphine St.
6.15.09, 11:50 a.m., 400 N. Peters St., shoplifting
6.16.09, 12:10 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
6.16.09, 7:00 p.m., 800 Canal St., shoplifting
6.17.09, 11:15 a.m., 100 Elk Place, shoplifting
6.17.09, 9:30 p.m., N. Peters St. & Iberville St., bicycle
6.19.09, 11:30 p.m., 700 Fulton St.
6.20.09, 9:15 a.m., 100 Royal St., shoplifting
6.20.09, 1:30 a.m., 400 Bourbon St.
6.20.09, 3:15 p.m., 600 Baronne St.
6.21.09, 5:00 a.m., 900 N. Rampart St.
6.21.09, 11:45 a.m., Bourbon St. & Dumaine St., bicycle
6.21.09, 12:35 p.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
6.23.09, 4:00 a.m., 300 Canal St.
6.23.09, 3:30 p.m., 600 Baronne St.
6.24.09, 1:45 p.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
6.24.09, 12:41 p.m., Poydras St., shoplifting
6.24.09, 1:50 p.m., 700 Canal St., shoplifting
6.25.09, 3:38 p.m., Canal St.
6.26.09, 6:25 a.m., Canal St. & S. Peters St., pickpocketing
6.26.09, 1:15 a.m., 600 St. Ann St.
6.26.09, 5:45 p.m., 400 Lafayette St.
6.26.09, 11:08 p.m., 500 Canal St.
6.27.09, 12:15 a.m., 200 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
6.27.09, 3:15 a.m., 300 Bourbon St.
6.27.09, 3:30 a.m., 200 Royal St.
6.28.09, 12:15 a.m., 900 Bourbon St., pickpocketing
6.28.09, 11:45 a.m., 200 Carondelet St.
6.29.09, 6:30 a.m., 800 Bourbon St.
6.29.09, 4:15 a.m., 900 Burgundy St.
6.29.09, 2:07 a.m., 900 S. Peters St.
6.29.09, 12:50 p.m., 100 Iberville St.
6.29.09, 5:00 p.m., 500 Canal St.

Auto theft
6.02.09, 2:00 a.m., 400 Burgundy St.
6.03.09, 8:00 p.m., S. Peters St. & Notre Dame St.
6.04.09, 1:00 p.m., Constance St. & St. Joseph St.
6.05.09, 1:30 a.m., 1600 Canal St.
6.04.09, 11:00 p.m., Iberville St. & Burgundy St.
6.05.09, 11:00 a.m., Baronne St. & Lafayette St.
6.05.09, 3:15 p.m., St. Joseph St. & Camp St.
6.06.09, 1:00 a.m., 600 Dauphine St.
6.06.09, 1:10 p.m., 1000 Loyola Ave.
6.06.09, 11:00 a.m., 800 Dumaine St.
6.07.09, 3:00 a.m., 800 Commerce St.
6.07.09, 1:30 a.m., Bourbon St. & Ursulines Ave.
6.07.09, 11:00 p.m., Magazine St. & Julia St.
6.10.09, 1:00 p.m., 300 Baronne St.
6.12.09, 9:45 a.m., 500 Burgundy St.
6.12.09, 10:25 a.m., 200 S. Robertson St.
6.12.09, 9:45 a.m., 500 Burgundy St.
6.10.09, 1:00 a.m., Conti St. & Dauphine St.
6.10.09, 2:30 a.m., Iberville St. & Burgundy St.
6.13.09, 11:30 p.m., Royal St. & Dumaine St.
6.15.09, 1:00 a.m., 800 Bienville St.
6.14.09, 8:22 a.m., St. Peter St. & Dauphine St.
6.17.09, 8:07 a.m., 600 Bourbon St.
6.17.09, 4:00 a.m., Decatur St. & Madison St.
6.17.09, 8:00 p.m., 200 Burgundy St.
6.19.09, 11:30 p.m., 900 Bienville St.
6.20.09, 3:30 p.m., 1300 Dauphine St., attempted
6.21.09, 12:15 p.m., 2100 Royal St.
6.21.09, 8:30 p.m., 700 Esplanade Ave.
6.23.09, 1:05 p.m., 200 N. Rampart St., attempted
6.24.09, 10:00 p.m., 800 Royal St.
6.25.09, 5:00 a.m., 1400 Burgundy St.
6.25.09, 11:00 a.m., Magazine St. & Calliope St., attempted
6.26.09, 6:00 p.m., 1000 Tchoupitoulas St.
6.26.09, 11:15 p.m., 500 Chartres St.
6.27.09, 6:15 p.m., 800 S. Peters St.
6.28.09, 12:01 a.m., 900 Kerlerec St.

Car break-in
6.22.09, 3:30 a.m., St. Philip St. & Dauphine St.
6.03.09, 7:00 p.m., 1000 Bienville St.
6.03.09, 8:30 p.m., 1400 Canal St.
6.04.09, 2:00 a.m., 900 Dumaine St.
6.04.09, 4:50 p.m., Bienville St. & Burgundy St.
6.04.09, 5:05 p.m., Burgundy St. & Bienville St.
6.04.09, 1:00 p.m., Tchoupitoulas St. & Calliope St.
6.06.09, 9:00 p.m., Camp St. & Maestri PL
6.07.09, 4:00 a.m., 700 Barracks St.
6.07.09, 5:30 a.m., 1900 St. Claude Ave.
6.07.09, 12:00 p.m., 1200 Royal St.
6.07.09, 11:07 p.m., 700 Burgundy St.
6.08.09, 2:15 p.m., 800 Orleans Ave.
6.01.09, 4:00 a.m., 1900 Dauphine St., exterior of auto
6.10.09, 1:15 p.m., 900 Gov. Nicholls St.
6.11.09, 1:30 a.m., 1000 St. Ann St.
6.11.09, 11:00 p.m., 1000 Barracks St.
6.12.09, 11:30 a.m., 700 Barracks St.
6.12.09, 12:15 p.m., 500 Ursulines Ave.
6.12.09, 7:50 p.m., 200 Burgundy St.
6.13.09, 11:00 a.m., 1800 Dauphine St.
6.13.09, 3:00 p.m., 600 Elysian Fields Ave.
6.13.09, 6:13 p.m., 1000 Kerlerec St.
6.14.09, 12:30 a.m., 1400 Bourbon St.
6.14.09, 9:00 p.m., 900 Gravier St.
6.18.09, 10:30 p.m., 300 Baronne St.
6.19.09, 10:00 p.m., 400 Andrew Higgins St.
6.20.09, 5:30 a.m., 300 Burgundy St.
6.20.09, 1:00 a.m., 1000 St. Louis St.
6.21.09, 8:30 p.m., Esplanade Ave & N. Peters St., exterior of auto
6.22.09, 3:30 a.m., St. Philip St. & Dauphine St.
6.25.09, 3:35 a.m., 200 Loyola Ave.
6.26.09, 2:30 a.m., Chartres St. & Toulouse St.

In the heat of the night

Gunfire flares: A 22-year-old man standing outside Harrah's Casino was the victim of a drive-by shooting around 3:15 a.m. Saturday (6.27.09) morning in front of a crowd of witnesses.

Though several gun shots were fired, the victim was struck by only one bullet, in his thigh. He underwent surgery in a local hospital and was in critical condition at last report.

8th District cops chased down a black pickup truck that sped down S. Peters Street toward Esplanade Avenue. They arrested Rivers Jacques (right), 24, and Kyron Nelson (left), 20, and charged them with attempted 1st-degree murder during a crime. Magistrate Harry Cantrell slapped a $500,000 bond on each of them and they're sitting in OPP in want of big bucks.

6 robberies, 1 gun: A lone gunman held up 6 patrons of Donna's Bar and Grill, 800 N. Rampart St., around 9:16 p.m. Thursday (6.25.09) night. He collected an untold amount of loot from them before fleeing on foot.

He was described as black, 20 to 30 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a light complexion, wearing a white baseball cap, a tan and white button up shirt, and blue jeans.

Various other "simple" robberies in the past few days were actually more violent:

• Monday (6.29.09): A white guy riding his bicycle near Bourbon Street and Esplanade Avenue around 4:35 a.m. was robbed by 2 black dudes who hopped out of a black pickup truck, pushed the victim to the ground, and took his wallet and his bicycle.

Description of the robbers was scant, one only identified as wearing a dark T-shirt and dark shorts.

• Monday (6.29.09): A couple of hours earlier, around 2 a.m., a white man walking near Frenchmen and Chartres streets was pushed to the ground by a black thug who demanded his money. He complied and the robber fled on foot.

The victim didn't call the police until about an hour later. He described his attacker as 20 to 25 years old, 6' tall, weighing 190 pounds, and wearing a red shirt and black shorts.

• Sunday (6.28.09): A black man standing near N. Rampart and Dumaine streets around 4:45 a.m. was robbed by another black man who jumped out of a white Nissan pickup and grabbed the man's purse from his hand.

The robber was described as 25 to 30 years old, 5'11" tall, weighing 240 pounds, wearing a black T-shirt and black pants.

• Saturday (6.27.09): A white guy standing in the 700 block of Bourbon Street (near Orleans Street) around 2:45 a.m. was robbed by 2 white crooks who grabbed his money from his hand and fled on foot up Bourbon toward Esplanade Avenue.

Both robbers were described as 20 to 25 years old, one 6' tall, weighing 180 pounds, clean shaven with short hair, and the other, 6'4" tall, weighing 175 pounds, with a thin build, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (6.22.09): Police arrested Wayne Jones, a 41-year-old black man, and charged him with simple robbery after he struck a white man standing in the 800 block of Conti Street (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets) around 5:15 a.m. and took money from the victim's pocket.
  

Tempers flare too: A couple of arguments this week in the French Quarter fled to violence:

• Saturday (6.27.09): A 23-year-old black man standing near St. Philip and Royal streets around 1:55 a.m. got into a fight with another young dude he knew. His buddy allegedly took out a boxcutter and slashed him on his left forearm.

He was taken to University Hospital for treatment and released. Police arrested Renard Reese, 21, and charged him with aggravated battery.

• Sunday (6.21.09): A white man and his 2 white female companions got into an argument around 4 a.m. with a black dude and his white sidekick. A little while later while the trio was standing on Crack Corner (Dauphine and St. Louis streets), the black and white duo reappeared and attacked them. The black guy struck them with a baseball bat while his white accomplice sprayed them with pepper spray.

The black thug was described as 6'1" tall, weighing 200 pounds, wearing a yellow shirt; the white hoodlum was 5'6" tall, weighing 140 pounds, wearing a white shirt.

Tell it to the judge: In our previous column, in which we detailed the fate of several defendants in recent cases, we posted a link to each judge's email so you could let them know what you thought of the way they administered justice.

At least one reader (who copied us with her messages) wrote each judge--praising some, condemning others.

That's the whole idea--let the judges know you're watching what they do and you're not going to forget it the next time an election rolls around.

A list linking you to the email address of all the Criminal District Court judges and the Magistrate Court judges is in the blue column on the right hand side of NOcrimeline.com.

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

Thom Kahler

What the...?!

Accused killer's bond reduced: You'd think with all the commotion in the news the last couple of days about an accused killer Uptown killing again while out on bond that Judge Lynda Van Davis would have applied lessons learned to Nathaniel Payton.

But no. Payton's lawyer managed to sweet talk Judge Van Davis into reducing Payton's bond Tuesday (6.23.09) from $1.5 million to $1 million. No trifling amount, true. If the Uptown thug could round up that much to get out of jail, who's to say Payton can't?

Payton, 27, was charged with 2nd-degree murder in February and indicted in May after a guy he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 slugs into early one morning last August at Bienville and Decatur streets in the French Quarter died in the hospital after 6 months of lingering on life-support in the hospital.

Until last Wednesday (6.17.09)--when he was arraigned in Judge Van Davis' court and was jailed in OPP under the $1.5 million bond that had been set earlier by Judge Camille Buras--Payton has been roaming the city. He had no trouble making the $220,000 bond put on him in February when his victim died, nor the $75,000 bond when he was only charged with attempted murder.

Even in these economically distressed times, the drug trade must be good. But let's hope it's not been that good and that he'll remain behind bars--despite Judge Van Davis' aid.

We've got to start remembering judges like this when they come up for re-election and make sure they have an opponent.

Guilty, guilty, guilty: A good number of suspects rounded up by 8th District cops have pled guilty to numerous charges:

• Walter Black: Black, 41, may have gotten off easy last week despite his outlandish behavior after being arrested last October for attacking a man with his gold-lame boot outside the Double Play bar, 439 Dauphine St.

To avoid a lengthy sentence as a repeat offender, he pled guilty to assault, resisting arrest, and escape; charges of soliciting prostitution, lewd conduct, and loitering fell by the wayside. Judge Karen Herman sentenced him to 5 years in jail.

Not much of a sentence, considering when he was arrested in October, Black lifted his red dress despite being handcuffed to pee in the direction of arresting officer Brandon Ludwig. Then hauled in he peed again all over the floor of the 8th District station.

Black first achieved infamy in 2002 when he was convicted of extorting a priest with whom he was having a sexual affair.

• Kermit Ramagos: You don't hear much about canings these days, but Ramagos, 45, pled guilty last week to aggravated battery for using his during an argument one evening last March in Jackson Square when he struck the other fellow in the head. The blow was severe enough to send the victim to the hospital for treatment.

Judge Frank Marullo Jr. sentenced Ramagos to the time he's served since being jailed 4.1.09.

• Joshua Roden: Talk about dodging the bullet. Roden, 21, was originally charged with attempted murder after he got into a fight last February with a co-worker at Fiorella's Cafe, 1136 Decatur St., and cut him on the neck.

But he was allowed to plead guilty to a charge of aggravated battery last week. He was sentenced to prison for 5 years by Judge Lynda Van Davis.

• Ryan Toombs: If the wages of sin are death, what's the penalty for shooting at a police officer? Not much, if you go before Judge Julian Parker.

Toombs, 18, was arrested on Halloween last year after he fired at officers pursuing him. Lt. Otha Sandifer of the NOPD's 8th District came upon a fight at S. Peters St. and Julia Street around 3 a.m. As he went to intervene, he saw a muzzle flash and notified the dispatcher of shots fired and an officer's life in danger.

An untold number of other cops responded, and a foot chase ensued as the combatants fled with the officers in pursuit of the armed man who turned and fired at them, but missed the officers.

Toombs was apprehended and charged with 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, and single counts of resisting an officer, illegal use of a firearm, and being a felon with a firearm. (The last charge was later dropped.) He managed to post a bond of $35,000 a few days later and walked free until his court date last Thursday.

That's when Toombs pled guilty to resisting an officer and Judge Parker sentenced him to 7 days in OPP, but gave him credit for the time he had already served. Then Toombs pled guilty to the more serious charges of illegal use of a weapon and 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer with a firearm. For those 3 charges, Judge Parker gave Toombs 2 years in prison--then suspended the sentence, putting him on 2 years probation instead.

Total disregard for the cops who put their lives on the line every day! Another judge to remember in the next election.

• Kentrell Finister: This defendant didn't fare as well in front of Judge Karen Herman last week when he pled guilty to 5 charges of attempted armed robbery. She sentenced him to 7 years in prison "without benefit of probation, parole or suspension."

Finister, 18, and an accomplice tried to rob a man walking in the 100 block of Chartres Street but were scared off by another person walking by. They took off running and found another victim a few minutes later at Burgundy and Ursulines streets and took his money.

Police caught up with the duo and the victim positively identified them. The DA, for some reason, decided not to prosecute Finisher's alleged accomplice, Daryl Galle, 21, for the crimes.

• Terry Gibson: Gibson, 32, knew a good deal when he saw one. The DA agreed to not charge him as a career criminal despite amassing over 40 charges in the past 13 years, so he agreed to plead guilty to attempted simple robbery and attempted pursesnatching last week.

Judge Camille Buras gave him 7 years in prison on the first charge and 3 years and 6 months on the second charge, to run concurrently. Kind of like getting a free ride--if you commit one crime, you might as well commit another because it's not going to cost you any more time in the slammer.

Gibson was arrested in January for attempting to snatch the purse of woman walking near Conti and Burgundy streets in the middle of the afternoon. Failing at that, he went down a block on Burgundy and tried to rob a black man there.

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

Thom Kahler

Bullets, bombs, and bonds

Cop shot at: A suspect, who allegedly had already shot one man, reportedly took a shot at a cop who happened upon the scene Saturday (6.20.09) morning around 5:30 a.m. at Burgundy and St. Louis streets.

According to a report by a nearby resident, 2 black guys were getting into a SUV parked near 520 Burgundy St. when one guy opened fired on the vehicle's owner, chasing him up Burgundy toward St. Louis, firing again. As the duo rounded the corner on St. Louis toward Dauphine Street, a cop car on routine patrol was flagged down by the victim who had been shot in the shoulder. The victim told the officer he had been shot and pointed out the shooter standing at the corner. The alleged shooter took a shot at the patrol car and fled on foot.

Reinforcements called in apprehended the alleged shooter, Trevon N. Ebbs, 20, and charged him with 2 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder. He is being held in OPP on $1 million bond.

Speaking of bonds: Nathaniel Payton finally got his day in court last Wednesday (6.17.09) to plead not guilty to a charge of 2nd-degree murder and promptly had his butt thrown in OPP on a $1.5 million bond.

That's the good news on a thug who's been running loose for nearly a year on puny bonds set after he allegedly shot a guy. The bad news is he's got a bond hearing Tuesday (6.23.09) in Judge Lynda Van Davis' courtroom to try to get the bond reduced so he can walk free (or at least, less expensively) again.

Payton, 27, was charged with 2nd-degree murder in February and indicted by a grand jury in May after a guy he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 slugs into last August at Bienville and Decatur streets died in the hospital after 6 months on life-support.

If you don't think the bond amount is important, consider this: Telly Hankton, 33, who posted a $1 million bond last year (where does a street thug get that kind of money?) to get out of OPP after being charged with 2nd-degree murder for a revenge killing, is wanted again for another murder committed Saturday (6.20.09) Uptown in another revenge killing while he was free on bond. (He turned himself into the NOPD last night and no bond has been set yet.)

Judge Arthur Hunter refused repeated pleas by the District Attorney's office to increase Hankton's bond before the most recent murder. Citizen's should make sure this doesn't happen in Payton's case.

Told you it was a weird week: Last Monday (6.15.09) the 8th District station got a bomb threat, what they call one of those "F.U." calls (you can figure out what it means) around 11 a.m.

The man calling from a payphone said, "There's a bomb in the building, I'm going to kill all of you mother*******, I hate you mother*******, and I hate y'all!"

That happens every once in a while, and officers search in and around the building for suspicious packages. None were found.

Then the real crimes: The hot weather's bringing out the robbers again, but be glad you're not in the Garden District or Uptown--it's brutal up there. Here's what's been happening in the 8th District:

• Monday (6.15.09): A 16-year-old black boy was arrested for 2 armed robberies a couple of blocks and a few minutes apart.

• Around 10 a.m. a white man walking in the 800 block of St. Peter Street (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets) was stuck up by 2 black boys who demanded his money. When he told them he had none, they fled on foot.

• Just 4 minutes later, a white man walking in the 800 block of St. Ann Street was accosted by the same guys, who stuck a gun in his back and demanded his money. The victim complied and the punks fled.

Because the arrested perp is a juvenile, the police are not releasing his name. His accomplice, who is still at large was described as 18 to 20 years old.

• Wednesday (6.17.09): 2 black dudes were arrested for allegedly rolling 2 white guys who were having such a good time they didn't know what bar they were in when it happened, though they say it was near Bourbon and Conti streets (which narrows it down to a couple dozen).

One of the robbers knocked one of the victims to the ground and grabbed the goodies from his pockets while his buddy grabbed the wallet from the other victim's pocket.

Arrested were Cornelius Thompson (right), 28, who was charged with simple robbery and simple battery, and Jermaine Lewis (left), 26, who was charged with simple robbery. Thompson is being held on $30,000 bond and Lewis is held on $25,000 bond.

• Thursday (6.18.09): 8th District detectives arrested Ashley Fleming, 22, and charged her with simple robbery and a couple of drug charges.

She was picked out of a photo line-up by a white woman who had her purse snatched 10 days earlier by 2 black chicks while walking near St. Philip and Dauphine streets around 12:35 a.m.

• Friday (6.19.09): Detectives issued an arrest warrant for Joseph A. Davis, 18, who was picked out of a photo line-up by a man was robbed of his cellphone while taking pictures in the 600 block of Bourbon Street on 5.29.09.

He was described as a black male, 20 to 25 years old, 5'9" tall, weighing 140 pounds with a thin build, dark complexion, shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing a powder blue T-shirt and black shorts.

Just 4 days before the Bourbon street robbery, Davis was charged 5.25.09 with another robbery, but managed to get out of jail on a $15,000 bond set by Magistrate Harry Cantrell.

• Saturday (6.20.09): A white guy walking in the 900 block of Conti Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) around 3 a.m. said he was struck from behind by some one. He says he lost consciousness and when he awoke his pockets had been cleaned out.

• Saturday (6.20.09): A white man standing near St. Philip and Royal streets around 10:20 p.m. was accosted by 2 black thugs, who slugged him with some object and made off with his laptop computer.

Both suspects were described as 16 to 20 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 140 pounds, one wearing a dark-colored bandana, a red and black shirt and blue jeans, the other wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Sunday (6.21.09): A drunk white got into a van with 2 black chicks around 4:50 a.m. at Cleveland Avenue and Elk Place and agreed to pay them for a ride to Algiers. Instead they gave him a ride to the nearest ATM where a black dude emerged from the back of the van with a pistol, demanding his money. The trio made off with his credit card and cash as he exited the van.

The description of the perps involved "dreadlocks" and "cornrows" and not much else.

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

Thom Kahler

Shoulda known better

Every time I start to think, "Man, it's quiet...is the NOPD withholding reports, or what?" all hell breaks loose--and with weird stuff too. Someone go check the moon.

Not everyone in the Quarter is your friend: So it's 5 a.m., you've been drinking all night on Bourbon Street, and this young woman asks you to take a walk in the alley. Not smart, dude, not smart at all.

But that's what happened Saturday morning (6.13.09). A 29-year-old guy was walking a 18-year-old girl to her car in the 1000 block of Conti Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets). As they neared the vehicle, the chick makes a cellphone call. Almost out of nowhere, this black dude comes up from the rear and knocks the white guy in the back of the head with a handgun, knocking him to the ground, and lifts his wallet.

Police caught up with Natasha Eiden and arrested her for armed robbery. They're still looking for her accomplice, the black dude, in his 20's, 5'10" tall, weighing 160 pounds, with short hair, a light complexion and cleanshaven.

This incident bears some resemblance to an episode on Tuesday (6.9.09) when a 40-year-old guy met this woman in the French Quarter and they exchanged phone numbers.

She soon texted him and asked him to come to her room at the New Orleans Inn on Chef Menteur Highway, which he did. He wasn't there long before there was a knock on the door. When he opened it, he was looking down the barrel of a revolver which was held to his head by a guy. He fought the gunman and the woman bit him on the arm. They fled with the victim's possessions: money, watch and car keys.

Not friendly either: You wonder how something like this happens. A 29-year-old white guy was accosted Sunday night (6.14.09) around 8:30 p.m. at Madison and Decatur streets, near Tujague's by 2 Hispanic men. They pushed him to the ground and one held an "unknown object" to his head and anally raped him. Then the duo stole cash from the victim's pocket and fled.

How does something like that happen in such a busy area? The 8th District has no more details since the case is being handled by the NOPD sex squad.

The day before (6.13.09), a white woman who went to the casino with a Hispanic man was taken shortly after 2 a.m. to the Canal Street Hotel (the old Days Inn) at 1630 Canal St. There, she was forced to perform sexual acts by her evening's companion.

Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?: Gonna run, or try to, apparently. Sunday evening (6.14.09), Brandy Khamistos, 24, who had been hauled to the 8th District station in the 300 block of Royal Street around 7:30 p.m. by 2 officers tried to slip away from them by slipping out of her handcuffs.

One officer fell and injured his arm while pursuing the escapee. The other officer tasered the skinny girl and quickly had her back in custody.

The irony is, she was arrested initially on charges of theft and illegal possession of stolen things, but the magistrate found there was no probably cause to hold her on those charges. He did find cause on resisting an officer and escape; she's sitting in the hoosegow in lieu of $7,500 bond on those charges.

Shiner: After a number of complaints of shoeshine "boys" robbing patrons, the police finally nabbed one early Friday (6.12.09) morning.

Around 12:55 a.m., a white guy was in the 100 block of Bourbon Street when a black guy came up and started to shine his shoes. Then when he asked for a tip and the victim took cash out of his pocket, the shiner grabbed the dough from the victim's hand and fled.

Officers on patrol saw the incident and apprehended Reginald Dove, 48, charging him with simple robbery and resisting an officer. He's in OPP on $17,500 bond.

The day before (6.11.09), a black woman walking in the 100 block of Baronne Street around 2:10 p.m. had her purse snatched by a black guy who fled toward Poydras Street.

He was described as in his mid-30's, 5'7" tall, weighing 165 pounds, with a dark complexion and short hair, wearing a white shirt and blue jeans.

This morning (6.15.09) around 2 a.m., a white man was near Dauphine and Ursulines streets when a black guy came up and struck him, then took his cellphone from his pocket.

The thief is described as in his mid-20's, 5'9" tall, weighing 160 pounds, wearing a black tank top.

The answer is "no": Just after midnight on Sunday morning (6.14.09) a black girl standing in the 700 block of St. Louis Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) sauntered over to a black dude sitting in his car and asked him if he would play some "bounce" music on his car stereo. Apparently he had different tastes in music and pulled a pistol and pointed it at her, then fled in his car.

Officers apprehended Adrion Allen, 19, and charged him with aggravated assault. He apparently posted his $10,000 bail and got out of jail, since the sheriff has no picture of him.

See you whenever: Nathaniel Payton didn't show up for court last Friday (6.12.09) when he was due to be arraigned on murder charges--never mind that there is a $1.5 million bond on his head.

No big deal, said Judge Lynda Van Davis, her court was closed that day, she said. (I didn't hear of any holiday, did you?) And so she reset his arraignment for Wednesday (6.17.09) and told her clerk to mail a notice to the defendant at the address on his bond. Yeah, sure--like a party invitation.

Payton, 27, was charged with 2nd-degree murder in February and indicted by a grand jury in May after a guy he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 slugs into last August at Bienville and Decatur streets died in the hospital after 6 months on life-support.

Am I the only one who's a little nervous about this vicious thug roaming the streets of the French Quarter? Shouldn't the cops have picked him up by now and thrown him back in jail? Surely the drug trade isn't that good that he'd waltz out again as he has before.

You can let the judge know what you think by clicking on her name above.

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

Thom Kahler