No man's land

Bad place to be: What is it about the 400 block of Bourbon Street between Conti and St. Louis streets? Early Wednesday morning (9.15.10) a black punk took a potshot at 4 undercover detectives from the 8th District. That's the same block where a Gretna cop was killed during a fight in June.

No one was hit by the shot fired Wednesday, but the officers swarmed on Brandon Steen, 29, and arrested him on 4 counts of attempted first-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and illegally carrying a weapon; a few days later when they found he was a felon, they also charged him for possession of a firearm by a felon.

Here's how it went down: Around 12:30 a.m. that morning, a citizen told detectives working a narcotics detail about a black guy with a gun. Based on the description they got, Ofc. Joe Jefferson, Ofc. Travis Ward, Ofc. Alex Brady and Ofc. Marc Vazquez canvassed Bourbon Street and spotted the suspect in the 400 block. As they approached him, he allegedly pulled a handgun from his waistband and fired one shot toward the officers. The detectives immediately tackled the shooter and attempted to disarm him. The suspect tried to keep control of his weapon by keeping it under him while on the ground.

Bad move unless you like shocking electricity. Lt. Anthony Micheu arrived on the scene and Tasered the miscreant, which yielded the .38-caliber handgun from the suspect and allowed the officers to handcuff the now-docile Steen.

Steen is languoring in OPP on a $270,000 bond.

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Charges have been reduced against the kid's who's accused of killing Gretna police officer Brett Thomas. The charge of second-degree murder against Joshua Miner, 20, was reduced to manslaughter on Thursday (9.16.10) and his bond was reduced from $1 million to $350,000. He is accused of throwing a punch during an argument that landed on the back of Thomas' head, killing him instantly.

Otherwise, quiet: If you ignore the shot fired at the cops and another hail of bullets a few days earlier in which one man was wounded, it was a relatively quiet week in the French Quarter. One armed robbery and 3 unarmed ones was about it:

• Saturday (9.18.10) 3:51 a.m.: Three drunk women in their 20's were nearly robbed in the 1100 block of Canal Street (between S. Rampart Street and Elk Place) by a guy with his hand under his shirt, making like he had a gun. He demanded their money, they screamed and ran away. Noting that the victims, all white, ages 28, 22 and 21, appeared intoxicated during his initial interview with them, postponed further investigation.

The assailant was described as a white man, 25 to 35 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 180 pounds, with short blond hair

• Saturday (9.18.10) 5:30 a.m.: Must be something in the water--maybe bourbon. A 25-year-old white guy was walking near Iberville and Bourbon streets when 4 black thugs grabbed him and took his wallet from his pocket before fleeing on foot on Iberville toward N. Rampart Street.

He was unable to give an accurate description of his assailants during an initial interview.

• Saturday (9.18.10) 5:00 a.m.: This guy didn't bother to report being robbed until several hours after it happened and then couldn't give an accurate description of the robber either. The 31-year-old white fella said he was walking in the 700 block of Orleans Avenue (between Royal and Bourbon streets) when he was grabbed by a black dude who grabbed him and demanded his money. He complied and the robber fled on foot toward Bourbon.

• Tuesday (9.14.10) 6:25 p.m.: This lady was able at least to give somewhat of a description of the black boy who robbed her even though she was jabbering on her cellphone at the time. The victim, a 51-year-old white woman, was standing near Bourbon and St. Louis streets when the little punk came up and grabbed the iPhone right out of her hand.

She said he was 16 to 18 years old, 5'9" tall, with short twists in his hair.

Robbery solved: It took a couple of weeks, but 8th District detectives think it was Benjamin Kent, a 38-year-old black dude who also goes by the name of Michael Johnson, who robbed a 36-year-old white guy on Bienville Street near Royal Street on 8.31.10. A warrant for his arrest has been issued.

The suspect panhandled the victim for some money, but when the victim took his wallet from his pocket, the robber grabbed it and fled. The victim described his assailant as 5'6" to 5'8" tall, weighing 220 to 250 pounds.

If you know Benjamin Kent--or Michael Johnson--rat him out to Crimestoppers at 822-1111 and collect the $2,500 reward.

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Crimes last week in the 8th District
(Click on the map to enlarge it)

Sunday (9.12.10)

Auto Theft, 1420 Burgundy, 12:16 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Elysian Fields & Royal, 4:07 p.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 8:06 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1022 St Philip, 9:02 p.m.

Monday (9.13.10)

Theft, 930 Poydras, 9:42 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Iberville, 10:04 a.m.
Auto Theft, 700 Burgundy, 14:53 p.m.

Tuesday (9.14.10)

Theft, Julia & St Charles, 8:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Dauphine & Ursulines, 9:53 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1303 Burgundy, 10:55 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 St Philip, 5:48 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & St Louis, 6:43 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 735 Camp, 7:46 p.m.
Shoplifting, 800 Canal, 8:06 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 400 S Rampart, 8:24 p.m.

Wednesday (9.15.10)

Attempted Murder, 415 Bourbon, 12:36 a.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Conti, 10:50 a.m.
Theft, 932 Bourbon, 5:08 p.m.

Thursday (9.16.10)

Auto Theft, St Joseph & Tchoupitoulas, 5:56 a.m.
Business Burglary, 201 St Charles, 10:44 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 535 Tchoupitoulas, 1:22 p.m.
Theft, 909 Royal, 2:44 p.m.
Theft, 621 St Louis, 6:48 p.m.

Friday (9.17.10)

Auto Theft, Bienville & Chartres, 5:22 a.m.
Shoplifting, 902 Poydras, 10:38 a.m.
Theft, 515 Gravier, 11:13 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Camp & Canal, 11:29 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 12:29 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1700 N Rampart, 8:03 p.m.

Saturday (9.18.10)

Aggravated Battery, Bourbon & Iberville, 2:19 a.m.
Armed Robbery (Implied), 1100 Canal, 3:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 S Rampart, 5:05 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & Iberville, 5:40 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Orleans, 6:51 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 10:15 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1100 Port of New Orleans, 11:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1100 Port of New Orleans, 11:51 a.m.
Pickpocketing, Decatur & Toulouse, 1:29 p.m.
Auto Theft, 344 St Joseph, 7:14 p.m.

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

Thom Kahler