(Some) order in the court

Cannizzaro caves in: Despite hopes to the contrary, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro appears to be kowtowing to the rich and powerful. He's decided that hitting someone so hard it puts them in a coma is no worse than jaywalking or spitting on the street.

He's decided Brett Lawson, aide to a Jefferson Parish councilman and son of the Gretna police chief, will only be charged with a municipal misdemeanor of simple battery, instead of a felony.

According to 8th District cops, Lawson punched Jaret Graham, 21, in the head in the 700 block of Canal Street around 3 a.m. on 8.22.09. When police found Graham, he was laying in a pool of blood. He spent 8 days in the hospital, 4 of them in a coma.

But the DA's flak says, "After conducting an extensive and thorough review of all of the evidence in this case--some of which is not available to the public..." that Cannizzaro agrees it's only a case of misdemeanor battery. This from a guy who promised to be tough on crime? And what's this crap about evidence "which is not available to the public"? This was the guy who was going to be so transparent--apparently that's a warning meaning "I'm going to lie to you."

Lawson's attorney says Graham, who was in town from Texas for a bachelor's party, was "drunk out of his mind" and surveillance tapes showed him "grabbing and inappropriately touching 2 girls" who were with Lawson. There was no indication Graham left the girls comatose, however.

So now we've got Cannizzaro on something less than a white horse, wearing less than a white hat. Let's hope he can find someway to redeem himself in the eyes of the public which put so much hope in him.

Oops, wrong guys: Cannizzaro also refused--without explanation--to prosecute the guys cops were sure held up Buffa's Bar & Lounge and St. Charles Bar & Billiards this summer:

• Buffa's: Darwin Hunter, 27, turned himself into 8th District NOPD headquarters on 8.5.09 after a warrant was issued for his arrest in the armed robbery of the bar at Esplanade Avenue and Burgundy Street on 7.31.09. The warrant was based on a photo line-up Det. Willie Jenkins showed to people at the bar.

Hunter, who has a long criminal history is a pretty distinctive dude, what with the tattooed cross on the bridge of his nose; whether patrons of a dimly lit bar are the best observers is debatable.

But because they "positively identified" him, Hunter sat in OPP on $160,000 bond for nearly 3 months before being released.

• St. Charles Bar: Travis Chapuis, 24, was arrested by 8th District Det. Maggie Darling for a robbery at the bar at 736 St. Charles Ave. on 8.5.09, the second robbery there in a month.

There's no indication what led the detective to Chapuis, but it wasn't good enough for the DA. But Chapuis spent over 2 months locked up in OPP on the charge, in lieu of a $150,000 bond.

Here's how Chapuis describes his ordeal, in his own words: "Hi an hello this is Travis Chapuis the acused robber of the 736 St. Charles bar &tavern it is ashame that the police and the juges are not doing there job putting inocent people behind bars with no hard evidence so that means I could call the police and tell them that somebody robbed me at gun point an I just pick somebody I dont kie an they will have to spend 60/120 day or longer depending on if there convicted or not this does not seem like justice it seems like you put a blind fold around my eyes and shot me in the chest my face an name is all over the computer saying I did something I didn't do I've been cleared of all charges why havent ya'll put that in your little story I would rather you asked me my side of what happend and what I went through during the time I spent in jail there or so many people in jail for things they didn't do but there is no justice for them I met a lot of people during my time in jail some guilty some inocent how would you feel if someone said you did something you didn't do an you had to sit in jail for it what would your reaction be I lost time with my family my children have grown so much Ihave missed so much that I cant get back an no one can make that right the system is rey screwd up please post a new comment that I have been cleared of all charges."

Others let go: Cannizzaro has been better about it than his predecessors, but he still occasionally nolle prosses some cases, or just flat out refuses to prosecute them. It would be nice if there was some explanation of why:

• Pursesnatching against Lenard Legania, 24, was nolle prossed 10.13.09. Legania was accused of being one of 3 black guys who robbed another black man of his coin purse as he sat on his stoop at St. Ann and Dauphine streets late last year.

• Aggravated battery against Shonede Kornbacher, 38, was nolle prossed 10.27.09. He was accused of going after a "friend" who was walking in the 600 block of N. Rampart Street in May with a baseball bat. When the friend disarmed him of the bat, Kornbacher allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his friend.

• Charges of aggravated assault, extortion and criminal damage of property against Joseph K. Allen, 43, were refused on 10.22.09. Hard to tell what this case was really about, but the police report said the victim was walking near St. Ann and Bourbon streets early one morning in May when he bumped into Allen, a stranger. They got into an argument and Allen allegedly pulled a knife and pointed it toward the victim in a threatening manner. The victim fled but Allen allegedly chased him down--until the police caught Allen.
  

Others guilty as charged, or nearly so: Most of the convictions come from defendants pleading guilty to the charge against them--often after it has been reduced to something less severe:

• Joseph A. Davis, 18, had several run-ins with the law in the last 6 months, but has managed to elude serious jail time.

He allegedly grabbed money from a customer in a business in the 500 block of Bourbon Street on 5.24.09. Then on 5.29.09 he was the guy who allegedly grabbed a cellphone from a tourist snapping pictures with it in the 600 block of Bourbon Street. Another incident on 8.8.09, for which there are no details, netted him another simple robbery charge.

But in the first case, he was allowed to plead guilty to attempted theft of less than $300. Judge Karen Herman gave him a 6-month suspended sentence.

In the second case, Judge Darryl Derbigny gave him a 2-year suspended sentence after he pled guilty to simple robbery.

So, despite the trend, Joseph A Davis walks among us--hang on to your money.

• Byron Asmore, 46, on the other hand, got 7 years in prison from Judge Laurie White for pursesnatching when he pled guilty after the DA agreed not to charge him as a career criminal.

He allegedly grabbed the purse of an Asian tourist at Canal Street and Convention Center Boulevard last April.

• Nicholas Duplessis (right), 24, and Charles Roy (left), 20, each received a 7-year suspended sentence from Judge Robin Pittman after they pled guilty to simple robbery.

They were arrested last July after they were identified as part of a 4-man gang who accosted a white guy at N. Rampart and St. Louis streets, grabbing his money after he obliged their request for a cigarette and pulled a pack of smokes from his pocket along with his cash.

• Purnell Madison, 62, was sentenced to 10 years in prison by Judge Lynda Van Davis as a multiple offender after pleading guilty to pursesnatching.

He was charged after he grabbed a woman's purse last April as she was walking in the 100 block of S. Peters Street.

• Jarred C. Simmons Jr., 18, was given a 3-year suspended sentence by Judge Ben Willard after pleading guilty to attempted simple robbery.

He was arrested last April after he asked a woman for some money in the 700 block of Royal Street and then tried grabbing her purse when she refused.

• Keri Ansley, 25, was sentenced to a year in jail by Judge Julian Parker after she pled guilty to aggravated battery for stabbing her boyfriend several times at 925 Common St. in July.

• Raymond Taylor, 41, was given a 6-month suspended sentence by Magistrate Rudy Gorrell after finding him guilty of aggravated assault.

Taylor was arrested after he got into an argument with a friend at Iberville and N. Peters streets last May and then pulled a pistol and pointed it at him.

• Romeo Alvarez, 21, was given a 2-year suspended sentence by Judge Karen Herman after he pled guilty to illegal use of a weapon.

Alvarez was arrested after cops responding to a call of gunshots in the 700 block of Kerlerec Street found Alvarez firing a handgun into the air.

• Aubrey Young, 23, didn't know when he was well off. Back in November last year he got a 2-year suspended sentence for a charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana that was whittled down to possession of marijuana.

So he was out on the streets when 8th District officers Anthony Bakewell and Brandon Ludwig came upon him involved in "suspicious activity" at Iberville and Decatur streets 3.19.09 which, they said, amounted to distribution of marijuana.

This time the charge was reduced to possession with intent to distribute and Judge Darryl Derbigny imposed a 10-year suspended sentence.

But, thanks to Judge Robin Pittman, Young's probation on his previous 2-year sentence was revoked and he's doing the time in OPP.

• Brandon Roussell, 18, was given a 3-year suspended sentence by Judge Karen Herman (doesn't anybody do time for the crime any more?) after he pled guilty to 2 charges of simple robbery.

Roussell, who was only 17 at the time, and 2 of his buddies were originally charged with 1st-degree robbery after they allegedly jumped 2 guys in the 1400 block of Canal Street back in April and robbed them after implying they had a guy. His 2 accomplices got only 4-month sentences for their role in the crime, equaling the time they spent in jail awaiting trial.

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

Thom Kahler

Haunting stories

What, where, when, who?: At 3:55 a.m. Sunday (11.1.09) a couple of 8th District cops went to University Hospital to talk with a black guy who was being treated for a gunshot wound who said he was the victim of an attempted hold-up in the French Quarter.

He said he was walking along when he was approached by a gang of 3 or 4 black thugs. When one of them pulled out a pistol and demanded his money, he took off running. He heard 2 gunshots and then realized he'd been shot in the right foot, and was given a ride to the hospital.

He told police he was unsure of where this happened, but thought it was in the 700 block of St. Ann Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets). Officers who canvassed that area found no one had reported hearing gunshots. The victim could only describe his assailants as wearing dark clothing.

Tricks, no treats: Pursesnatchers, and worse, continue to vex citizens trying to navigate the ghostly terrain of the French Quarter:

• Thursday (10.29.09) 5:40 a.m.: A white woman was standing on the corner of Canal and Carondelet streets when a white guy dashed up and grabbed her purse, then fled on foot with an accomplice into the CBD.

The robber was described as 25 to 30 years old, 5'6" tall, with a thin build, wearing a yellow hoodie, khaki pants and a white baseball cap; his accomplice was 5'7" tall, with a thin build, wearing a gray hoodie.

• Thursday (10.29.09) 9:15 p.m.: A white guy walking near Bourbon and St. Louis streets when a black dude came up behind him and grabbed his cellphone and fled on foot. (You know, if you put those damn things in your pocket and pay attention to your surroundings, those thefts would never happen.)

The thief was described as 6'1" tall, weighing 175 pounds, wearing a tan shirt, tan shorts and a tan baseball cap.

• Friday (10.30.09) 7:58 p.m.: A white guy with an obvious tourist's mentality invited his newest best friends--a black dude and 2 black chicks--up to his room at the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St. An argument turned into a fight. (What? Who's going to be on top? How much is an ounce? What?) The tourist was knocked unconscious and when he woke up he realized his wallet and cellphone were missing. (Though, happily, he wasn't sitting in a bathtub full of ice and his kidneys were intact.)

He could only described his assailants as a black guy wearing a brown shirt and blue jeans, and the girls as petite, wearing gray shorts and black shirts.

• Saturday (10.31.09) 5:40 a.m.: A white woman standing in the 900 block of St. Louis Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) was robbed of her purse by a black guy who grabbed it and ran toward N. Rampart Street.

He was described as 6' tall, weighing 240 pounds, wearing a tan sweater and a black baseball cap. (Say, wasn't that guy who made off with the cellphone Thursday night on St. Louis wearing tan too?)

• Sunday (11.1.09) 5:40 a.m.: (What's with all these robberies right at 5:40 a.m.? A malfunction of the 8th District's computer? Or a very punctual thief?) A white man standing in the 100 block of Royal Street (between Canal and Iberville streets) had his wallet jerked from his hand by a black man who fled on foot toward Canal.

Officers apprehended Owen Ginn, 30, and charged him with simple robbery. He is in OPP on $10,000 bond.

Story too common: One can only speculate on the motive in the murder of Dr. Edward Newsome inside his home in the 926 Toulouse St. early Saturday (10.31.09). But it fits a pattern seen in police reports many times before: A gay man is murdered/beaten/robbed by someone he invited in.

It's sad but reflects the dangers of what are often casual encounters. Sure, it can and does happen too among men and women who hook up casually in bars and clubs. But there is something more powerful and dangerous in the all-male dynamic that results in tragedy.

The only danger to the community as a whole--other than the loss of good citizens--is for all of us to choose our guests with caution.

Cops out, crime down: Big Chief Warren Riley is trying to convince you he reduced crime this summer by forcing about 60% of his force to work 12-hour shifts.

"More officers on the street clearly reduces crime," Riley asserts, and it's hard to argue with the apparent logic.

But the figures he uses for comparison of 8-hour shifts come from the Spring, while the figures for 12-hour shifts is for the Summer. Are the 2 different seasons comparable? Who knows?

You can't rely on the crime maps and stats Riley's NOPD out--they're nothing but cheat sheets. (The simplest way to tell--for those who doubt me--is to click here and set the map to report murders from 1.1.09 to the current date. You'll see 5 icons on the map, but only 2 listed--even Wendy Byrne's notorious murder last January has been expunged!)

But since Riley only forced 900 of his 1,550 officers to work mandatory overtime, what about the other 650? Why not get their fannies out of their comfy chairs at HQ and out on the street for 12 hours a day, or even 8? Why should the NOPD have gun-toting cops in the "public information" office who do nothing other than manufacture sound-bites for the TV crews? Or others who do nothing more than shuffle reports?

Did you see the brief TV tidbit a couple of weeks ago where Riley reassigned his "personal" photographer after he was accused in a domestic incident? He went to the Crime Prevention Bureau. Huh? Aren't all cops responsible for crime prevention?

It's all part of what's plagued Riley's mismanagement of the NOPD since day one--he doesn't properly utilize the manpower he had.

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

Thom Kahler

Security! Security!

Robbers everywhere: The one place you might think you're safe from robbers is in Harrah's Casino, considering the security guards, moonlighting cops, and the State Police contingent.

But late Saturday night (10.24.09) around 11 p.m. a fat black woman came up behind an Asian woman playing video poker there and pulled a knife, demanding the victim's money. The victim refused and the perp fled on foot out the S. Peters Street doors.

You'd think cops could catch up with a 250-pound, 5'8" tall woman, but she got away. She was wearing what sounds like a uniform of sorts: a green and black shirt, a black jacket and black jeans.

In 2 other attempted hold-ups over the weekend, 8th District cops did manage to haul in 4 culprits:

• Saturday (10.24.09) 2:17 p.m.: A black guy--armed with a shovel--tried holding up the Hispanic woman working at the parking lot in the 200 block of N. Rampart Street (between Iberville and Bienville streets). When she refused, he fled on foot but was scooped up by cops moments later.

Charged with attempted armed robbery was Justin Sailor, 19. He is being held in OPP on $75,000 bond.

• Sunday (10.25.09) 2:30 a.m.: A white couple had the hell scared out of them when a gang of 4 young black punks accosted them in the 300 block of O'Keefe Avenue (between Union and Perdido streets). One of the perps pulled a pistol and demanded their money, but when they refused, the gang turned tail and ran.

Cops caught 3 of them within moments: Jessie Simmons (right), 17, Jeromy Jackson, 18, and Terrence Howard (left), 19. Each was charged with attempted armed robbery; Simmons and Howard were also charged with flight from an officer, but Magistrate Gerard Hansen found no probable cause for Jackson on the same charge. Each is being held in OPP on $100,000 bond.

A couple of days later, detectives showed a photo line-up containing Jackson's mug shot to the victims in a robbery in the 800 block of Union Street on 10.17.09. The men positively identified Jackson as one of the 2 black thugs who robbed them. Police charged him with 2 counts of armed robbery. He is being held on $400,000 bond in this case.

Might one of Jackson's accomplices in the most recent robbery--only a couple of blocks from this one--be implicated too?

• Tuesday (10.27.09) 2:36 p.m.: A duo of black dudes pulled a daring daylight robbery of the Price Busters store, 867 St. Charles St., at the corner of St. Joseph Street. The robbers flashed pistols at the clerk and demanded the money from the cash register.

They fled in a black 4-door sedan. Both were described as in their 20's, 6' tall, one wearing a gray hoodie and the other a dark green one.

Purse and phone snatchers everywhere: The so-called "simple" robbers--those without weapons--were all over the place this past week, though the cops managed to snare one of them:

• Wednesday (10.21.09) 11:22 p.m.: Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, 701 Tchoupitoulas St., was the scene of another robbery in less than a month. A woman sitting at a table outside the bar was accosted by 2 black guys who grabbed her cellphone from her hand and ran.

One of the robbers was described as 6' tall, weighing 175 pounds, with dreadlocks, and wearing a dark shirt, red jacket and dark shorts; the other was only described as wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

On 9.27.09, a trio of young black boys snatched a woman's purse out of her lap right inside the bar around 2:30 a.m.

• Saturday (10.24.09) 3:19 a.m.: A white woman walking in the 500 block of Wilkinson Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) had her purse snatched by a Hispanic guy who fled on foot up down Decatur.

He was described as 5'6" tall, wearing a white T-shirt and a red baseball cap.

• Sunday (10.25.09) 12:45 a.m.: A white woman was robbed of her purse at Conti and Decatur streets by a black guy who came up behind her and then fled on foot.

He was described as 6'2" tall, medium build, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans.

• Sunday (10.25.09) 4:35 a.m.: A white man walking in the 700 block of Iberville Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) was approached from behind by a black man who grabbed his cellphone and ran.

Police arrested Jeremy Flemings, 23, and charged him with attempted simple robbery. He is being held in OPP on $10,000 bond.

• Monday (10.26.09) 9:57 p.m.: The next night, one block over in the 700 block of Bienville Street, another white man lost his cellphone to 2 black thieves who grabbed it and ran.

The perps were described as in their 20's, one 5'8" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with medium dreadlocks, wearing all-black clothing; the other as 5'9" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with short hair, wearing a white hoodie.

• Monday (10.26.09) 10:16 p.m.: A white man walking in the 300 block of St. Charles Avenue (between Union and Perdido streets) was approached from behind by a black guy who took his cellphone and fled on foot.

The robber was described as 5'7" tall, weighing 135 pounds, with a thin build, wearing a white hoodie and black baggy pants.

Violence in Jackson Square: What started as a catfight between 2 women in the square last Saturday (10.24.09) afternoon around 2:17 p.m., ended with 2 men trying to break it up. One man pulled the woman who was with him from the fight, at which point another man pulled a knife and swung it at the man and his woman.

He fled up Pirates Alley toward Royal Street, but was apprehended a short time later. Police charged Robert Jage, 28, aggravated assault and illegally carrying a weapon. He is in OPP on a $5,000 bond.

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

Thom Kahler

You call that justice?

Duo "not guilty" 2 years after arrest: Those working in the Orleans Parish "justice" system plod through their cases so slowly it's like they're afraid of working themselves out of a job otherwise. (Hardly likely, considering the number of defendants packed into OPP.)

But this case may set some sort of unofficial record for its snail-pace through Criminal Court:

Last Thursday (10.15.09), a jury found Edmund Gabriel (left) and Armand Watson (right) not guilty of armed robbery with a firearm--over 2 years after they were arrested for the crime.

While appearing in court no less than 2 dozen times over that span, they endured the usual delays requested by the prosecutors and their own public defenders. All the while, they were incarcerated in the hell-hole known as Orleans Parish Prison, held on a $125,000 bond each.

Neither Gabriel, 29 at the time of his arrest and a resident of the Iberville Housing Project, nor Watson, 34 then and a resident on nearby Basin Street, were strangers to crime. Gabriel was a fugitive from paying a fine for marijuana possession. Watson is a felon who had racked up numerous arrests and convictions for drug dealing and illegal possession of firearms.

They were arrested 9.13.07 after James Tomeny, 38, reported he was robbed at gunpoint by 2 black men in front of 929 Orleans Ave. just after midnight. He told 8th District cops they forced him onto the stoop and put a gun to his head while rifling through his pants' pockets.

NOPD Det. Scott Carroll, patrolling in the area, heard the description of the 2 suspects put out over the radio: one 6' tall, weighing 195 pounds, wearing a stripped polo shirt and dark colored jeans; the other wearing a white T-shirt and white and blue shorts.

He spotted Gabriel and Watson, who matched the description, in the 900 block of Conti Street. He detained them while the officers who took the report brought the victim there to see if he could identify them. Tomeny "positively identified" them as the duo who had robbed him, according to the police report.

After all the delays--through 3 district attorneys--their cases were set for trial on 9.8.09 in July this year. They sat in OPP another 2 months waiting. When September came, assistant prosecutors representing DA Leon Cannizzaro asked for another continuance. Judge Lynda Van Davis granted it and reset the trial for 10.14.09.

When that date (last Wednesday) rolled around, the public defenders representing Gabriel and Watson had 15 minutes for their opening arguments before the jurors were sent home for the night at 5:45 p.m. When the trial resumed the next day, the defense's closing argument began at 2:39 p.m. and wrapped up by 3:14 p.m.

All of a sudden it had become a speedy trial, taking a total of about 45 minutes after 2 years of delays. The jury quickly returned with a verdict of "not guilty" against each of the defendants.

Again, this might be a case of being found "not guilty" rather than "innocent". But if you believe in the American judicial system--as most of us profess to--we should agree that anyone left sitting in jail for over 2 years while they're innocent--or ultimately found not guilty--is a miscarriage of justice. Prosecutions and trials can be accelerated without sacrificing the truth.

Most cases in Orleans Parish Criminal District Court wend through a similar convoluted path--though not for as long. Most then end with the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge--which could have been accelerated from the initial appearance in court.

And no judge, prosecutor or public defender would have been in the unemployment line. But taxpayers would have benefited from justice quickly applied.

Nearly as long, different results: An 8th District detective thought for sure Eric D. Lewis was the guy who robbed Cosimo's bar just before Christmas in 2007 and then Good Friends Bar a couple of weeks later. But last Tuesday (10.13.09), a jury only partially agreed with him.

The jury voted 10-2 to convict Lewis, now 36, of 1st-degree robbery in the hold-up at Good Friends, 740 Dauphine St. on 1.6.08, but found him not guilty in the incident at Cosimo's, 1201 Burgundy St. on 12.23.07.

In both cases, Det. Jason Giroir had video surveillance tape from each robbery. But apparently eyewitness testimony was more persuasive from Good Friends.

Judge Camille Buras is due to sentence Lewis on 12.2.09. He faces 3 to 40 years in prison as the culmination of his 20-year career as a criminal.

More recently: A couple of white guys, one 23 the other 24, were robbed at gunpoint while walking in the 800 block of Union Street (between Carondelet and Baronne streets) at 11:30 p.m. Saturday (10.17.09). The robbers made off with the victims' cash and cellphones.

Both robbers were described as black guys, 20 to 25 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds; both were wearing black hoodies, both had dark complexions and were clean shaven; the only difference is, one had shoulder-length dreadlocks and the other short dreadlocks.

Trio arrested for thefts: 8th District cops arrested 3 suspects--including a woman and a man dressed like one--for 3 purse/pocket snatchings over the weekend:

• Friday (10.16.09) 9:05 p.m.: Joshua Argeyo, 17, was arrested for grabbing the purse of a white woman walking in the 900 block of Canal Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets). He is being held on $27,500 bond on charges of simple robbery and resisting arrest.

• Saturday (10.17.09) 12:10 a.m.: Nelson Segura, 24, who was dressed as a woman, was arrested after he allegedly accosted a white man in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets). He reached into the man's pocket, supposedly groping for the victim's money.

Segura, who has a long criminal history, including multiple charges for prostitution, was charged with simple robbery and simple battery. He is being held on $28,000 bond.

• Sunday (10.18.09) 4 a.m.: Keva Sims, 18, was arrested after she reportedly grabbed the purse of an Asian woman walking in the 500 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets). Sims was charged with pursesnatching and is being held on $25,000 bond.
  

Rough stuff: A trio of white guys were attacked after an argument with 2 Asian guys inside Red Eye Grill, 852 S. Peters St., on Saturday (10.17.09) around 12:46 a.m.

It wasn't until after the aliens fled that 2 of the white guys noticed they'd been stabbed. One, 30 years old, was stabbed several times in the torso; another, 27 years old, was stabbed in the right forearm.

The attackers were both described as 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds; one was wearing a long-sleeve black button-down shirt and the other a white short-sleeve button-down shirt.

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

Thom Kahler

Phones, purses, and pockets

Just when you think: We were saying not much was happening, crime-wise, when it goes kablooey in the last few days with pursesnatchings and muggings:

• Saturday (10.10.09) 1:51 a.m.: A white couple walking in the 900 block of St. Louis Street (between Burgundy and Dauphine streets) were accosted by 2 black dudes who grabbed their cellphones from their hands and fled toward N. Rampart Street.

The suspects were both described as 18 to 21 years old, 5'10" tall, weighing 160 pounds; one had short hair and a dark complexion, the other chin-length dreadlocks, a dark complexion, and wearing a white stripped shirt.

• Saturday (10.10.09) 4:14 a.m.: A white guy walking in the 700 block of Common Street (between St. Charles Avenue and Carondolet Street) had his cellphone grabbed from his hand by a black guy who fled on foot up St. Charles to Canal Street and then turned toward N. Rampart Street.

The perp was described as 5'6" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with chin-length dreadlocks, wearing an orange polo shirt.

• Sunday (10.11.09) 2:55 a.m.: A white female walking from the French Quarter to her hotel in the 1300 block of Canal Street (why doesn't someone tell these tourists to take a cab?) was robbed of her purse by a black guy who came up behind her.

She was too befuddled to give the police a description of her attacker or the exact location of the crime.

• Sunday (10.11.09) 4:10 a.m.: A white woman walking in the 700 block of St. Peter Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) had her purse snatched by a black guy who then fled toward N. Rampart Street.

He was described as tall, thin, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (10.12.09) 1:48 a.m.: A white man walking in the 1000 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Philip and Ursulines streets) was robbed by 2 black guys dressed in all-black clothing who threw him against the wall and emptied his pockets.

• Monday (10.12.09) 6:55 p.m.: A white woman walking in the 800 block of Toulouse Street (between Dauphine and Bourbon streets) was robbed of her purse by a black guy who fled down Bourbon.

A witness who gave chase flagged down an officer on patrol. The police arrested Michael Baptiste, 23, and charged him with pursesnatching and possession of 42 capsules of methamphetamine.

He managed to slink out of OPP on a measly $20,000 bond, so make sure you study his mug shot so you can avoid this thug if he decides to help himself to your purse.

What's the lesson here? If you "go out walking after midnight" (no matter what Patsy Cline croons) take a cab or take your firearm. Crooks are looking for victims--those walking alone, those on badly-lit streets, those who are a little (or a lot) tipsy.

The only robbery thwarted was the one that happened at dusk Sunday evening when a witness was around to purse the perp. You can't always count on that--so be vigilant, no matter the hour.

They're everywhere, they're everywhere: Just because the crime doesn't happen in the French Quarter doesn't mean the perps aren't walking our streets.

A suspect wanted for a murder in September, 2008, a few blocks across N. Rampart Street on Ursulines Avenue turned himself into 8th District cops last night (10.13.09) in the French Market at Barracks Street.

It's not known what prompted Steven G. Powell, 27, to suddenly give up yesterday, nor how long there's been a warrant out for his arrest, but his alleged accomplice surrendered on 8.28.09 after he learned of the warrant.

In the meantime, Powell has been in and out of the justice "system", which apparently was unaware there was a warrant out for his arrest on 2nd-degree murder charges.

• On 8.25.09 court records show Powell was in custody after peeing positive for the drug court, but no one--including Judge Ben Willard--knew of an outstanding warrant and set him free.

• On 9.2.09, Powell pled guilty to possession of a concealed weapon before Magistrate Anthony Russo, who gave him a 6-month suspended sentence and let him go. Again no one knew of a warrant.

Now Powell is sitting in OPP on a $500,000 bond for allegedly being one of two shooters who gunned down a 19-year-old black dude outside St. Peter Claver Catholic Church while a group--including Mayor Ray Nagin's wife--were meeting inside.

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

Thom Kahler

Up and running again

My computer's hard drive has been replaced, I've reconstructed all my files (I think), and my fear that NOcrimeline was passe has been assuaged by kind readers who responded en masse. A couple of them even offered to pay for the repair of my computer. Some renewed their subscriptions or subscribed for the first time; some sent donations. Others lamented that their lack of financial support for NOcrimeline had to do more with the hard economic times they're in, not the value of NOcrimeline to them; that works both ways, folks--it wasn't cheap to repair the computer I burned up generating 250 reports. Thank all of you for your support--now let's get on with the news...

You haven't missed much: In the past 3 weeks since the last NOcrimeline update, in the 8th District there have been a couple of armed robberies, less than 2 handfuls of simple robberies/pursesnatchings, and an attempted murder. Really, that's it.

Noting a similar lack of crime reports from other NOPD districts, I thought perhaps word had come down from HQ to curtail negative news. Not so, says Maj. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, at least in his bailiwick. He's reporting all that's happening, he says; and if Maj. Hosli says it, that's good enough for me.

Where each district used to put out 2 or 3 reports daily, it's dwindled to 2 or 3 a week. What's working?

• I rarely see blue-light patrols (though one did come by my place at 7:55 p.m. last night during the LSU game--the first I've seen in a long time).
• Officers working 12-hour shifts should mean more patrols on the streets, but I don't notice them in my neighborhood.
• Have the police locked up virtually all of the bad guys (see the long list at the right under "Arrested...waiting their next day in court"); they say you can't arrest your way out of crime, but at some point there must be diminishing returns where there are fewer bad guys to commit fewer crimes.

This is by no means a plea for a return to the bad old days, but you've got to wonder how long it's going to last. Long enough for us to step out onto the street without fear of becoming a victim of crime?

French Quarter fireworks: A black guy got into a beef with 2 other black dudes around 4 a.m. on a Saturday morning (10.3.09) in the 100 block of Bourbon Street (between Canal and Iberville streets). As he got into his car and tried to leave the scene, his adversaries pulled pistols and pumped his car door full of bullet holes. The police report doesn't indicate if the driver or anyone else was hit.

The shooters fled in their own car but where apprehended a short time later. Police arrested Joseph Dargin (top) and Kenneth G. Alexander (bottom), both 27.

Dargin was charged with 3 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder and is being held on $750,000 bond. Alexander, charged initially with one count of being a principal to attempted 1st-degree murder, had his charge reduced by Magistrate Rudy Gorrell to illegal discharge of a firearm and illegal possession of a firearm. He is being held on $35,000 bond.

No future: A pair of young black punks just about confirmed that their future will be spent in Angola after a joyride turned into one crime after another.

• First mistake: They pulled a gun on a valet parking cars at the Marriott Hotel on Convention Center Boulevard around 9:50 p.m. 10.1.09 and demanded the keys to a car and his cellphone. Charge: carjacking.
• Second mistake: ordered the valet to get into the car with them and then drove away. Charge: aggravated kidnapping.
• Third mistake: Going to an ATM and ordering the valet to retrieve money from his account before releasing him. Charge: armed robbery with a firearm.
• Fourth and fifth mistakes: Fleeing pursuing officers. Charge: aggravated flight from an officer, plus illegal possession of a stolen auto.

Arrested were: Robert J. Washington (right), 20, and Wayne Palmore (left), 18. Each was charged with the above counts and each is being held in OPP on over $1 million bond. We shall not see the likes of them again for a long time--I hope.

Pursesnatcher bagged: A suspected pursesnatcher was arrested yesterday (10.10.09) morning by 8th District detectives for an incident earlier in the week.

Corey L. Rogers, 29, was charged with attempted pursesnatching after allegedly trying to grab a woman's purse from her shoulder as she was walking to her hotel in the 200 block of Poydras Street (behind Harrah's Casino) last Monday (10.5.09) at 10:10 p.m.

The victim, who was approached from behind, fought off her attacker. She described him as a black man, 5'11" tall, weighing 180 pounds, wearing a pink shirt and blue jeans. Detectives showed her a photo line-up and she positively identified Rogers as her assailant. Rogers is being held without bond in this case; he was out on $2,500 bond on a theft charge from July.

It's not known if police have been able to link Rogers with a series of other robberies in the CBD:

• Tuesday (10.6.09) 6:45 a.m.: A black man pointed what may have been a gun at 2 white women walking in the 900 block of Gravier Street (between O'Keefe Avenue and Baronne Street) and ordered them to drop their purses. They refused and fled on foot.

Just 10 minutes later and 4 blocks away, a white woman walking in the 200 block of Magazine Street (between Common and Gravier streets) at 6:55 a.m. was accosted by a black guy who got out of a white car and demanded she drop her purse. She, too, refused and fled on foot.

In both cases, the would-be robber was described as 5'9" to 5'11" tall, with a thin build, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Tuesday (10.6.09) 5:40 p.m.: A black man standing near the corner of Elk Place and Canal Street was roughed up by 2 black dudes who pushed him against the wall while one rifled through his pockets for valuables.

The robbers fled on foot up Elk toward Common Street. Both were described as 25 to 30 years old; one 5'9" tall with a bald head, wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts; the other 5'9" to 5'11" tall with short twists in his hair, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jean shorts.

• Sunday (9.27.09) 2:35 a.m.: A trio of young black punks who shouldn't have even been out at that hour walked into Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, 701 Tchoupitoulas St., and snatched a white woman's purse right out of her lap. They fled on foot toward Girod Street.

The victim described them as 17 to 20 years old; one 5'10" tall, weighing 175 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans; another 5'10" tall, weighing 175 pounds, wearing a white tank top and yellow shorts; the other 5'6" tall.

Bad Bourbon: 8th District cops arrested 2 suspects in 3 purse/pocket snatchings in the past couple of weeks on Bourbon Street:

• Thursday (10.8.09) 11:30 p.m.: A white woman walking in the 800 block of Bourbon Street (between Dumaine and St. Ann streets) had her purse grabbed by a black guy riding by on a bicycle. As he fled up Dumaine toward N. Rampart Street, he was apprehended by the cops.

They charged Rodney Ross, 43, with simple battery and pursesnatching. He is in OPP on $25,000 bond.

• Sunday (10.4.09) 2:30 a.m.: A black chick standing in the 100 block of Bourbon Street got into a fight with another woman. After the fight, a black dude grabbed the woman's purse and fled. Her only description was that he was a black guy wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans. Very descriptive.

• Saturday (9.26.09) 12:17 a.m.: A white guy walking in the 600 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Peter and Toulouse streets) was accosted by a black guy who grabbed money from his pocket. When he resisted, the robber struck him in the face.

Investigating officers identified the perp as Ronald Haynes, 54, and issued a warrant for his arrest. They hauled him in on 10.2.09 and booked him with simple robbery. He's being held on $25,000 bond. He has a long criminal history, including a conviction for prostitution back in 1992.

Doing Dumaine: It took a little longer, but 8th District detectives think they finally solved the mystery of who robbed a man in the 700 block of Dumaine Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) on 8.25.09.

After Jesus Gallo, 41, was jailed on drug charges 10.2.09, detectives showed his picture to the victim of the Dumaine robbery, who positively identified him as his assailant.

The victim was walking on Dumaine around 3:40 a.m. when a Hispanic man whom he had met earlier that evening came up to him and put his hand inside his shirt, implying he had a weapon. The victim told him he didn't have any money and the perp fled.

Also on Dumaine: A little weird, but it was 5 a.m. 9.26.09 when a guy walking in the 1000 block of Dumaine (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets) passed 2 black chicks. Suddenly they grabbed him from behind, sprayed him with Mace, and fled with his purse. He could only describe them as 2 black women.

Whites do it too: A white guy walking in the 500 block of Dauphine Street (between Toulouse and St. Louis streets--pretty darn close to "Cocaine Corner") around 8:54 p.m. on 9.22.09 was robbed by 2 other white guys. They came up behind him, knocked him to the ground, and made off with his wallet and keys down St. Louis toward N. Rampart Street.

Cops later arrested one of them that night: Cody Bergeron (top), 21, and charged him with simple battery and simple robbery. He is being held on $27,500 bond.

His alleged accomplice was arrested 2 days later. He is Desmond Parker (bottom), 20, and is being held on $40,000 bond on the same charges.

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

Thom Kahler