Cops 2, crooks 2

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(Click on the crime map below to enlarge it)

Sunday (7.18.10)

Simple Robbery: S Rampart & Tulane
Auto Theft: 1300 N Peters
Auto Burglary: 820 Poydras
Theft: 817 Common
Theft: 300 Canal

Monday (7.19.10)

Auto Theft: 500 Andrew Higgins
Auto Burglary: 826 Camp
Theft: 225 Bourbon
Theft: 725 St Peter
Shoplifting: 601 Royal
Shoplifting: 800 Canal

Tuesday (7.20.10)

Simple Robbery: Chartes & St Ann
Auto Theft: John Churchill Chasr & Poe
Auto Theft: 300 Gravier
Auto Burglary: N Rampart & St Philip
Shoplifting: 839 Decatur
Theft: 823 Fulton

Wednesday (7.21.10)

Auto Theft: 300 N Peters
Auto Theft: Chartres & Toulouse
Bicycle Theft: 650 Poydras
Theft: 216 Bourbon

Thursday (7.22.10)

Armed Robbery: 1100 Dauphine
Pursesnatching: 1000 St Peter
Auto Theft: Decatur & Elysian Fields
Auto Burglary: 400 Canal
Auto Burglary: 1029 Bienville
Auto Burglary: 116 University
Shoplifting: 924 Canal
Shoplifting: 800 Canal
Theft: 300 Poydras
Theft: 2 Poydras
Theft: 1005 Canal

Friday (7.23.10)

Armed Robbery: Burgundy & St Peter
Auto Theft: 1200 Bourbon
Auto Burglary: 869 Magazine
Auto Burglary: 414 Canal
Bicycle Theft: 200 N Rampart
Bicycle Theft: 1515 Poydras
Theft: 401 Baronne
Theft: 614 Canal

Saturday (7.24.10)

Auto Theft: 700 Burgundy
Shoplifting : 717 Canal
Theft: 917 Decatur
Theft: 931 S Peters

Another bike bandit bagged: Though the description was scant, it didn't take 8th District detectives long to nab the guy they think robbed a woman at gunpoint last Thursday (7.22.10) after he swooped down on her on a bicycle.

The robber was on a small BMX-style bike when he made off with the 30-year-old woman's purse around 11:54 p.m. while she was walking on Dauphine Street near Gov. Nicholls Street. He was described as black, with a thin, build, shoulder length twists in his hair, wearing a black T-shirt.

On Monday (7.26.10) detectives arrested Lionel Hudson, 24, after he was positively identified by the victim. A profound bad boy, Hudson was charged with armed robbery and his bond was set at $300,000.

Apparently the magistrate setting the bond noted Hudson could hardly wait for the big time--his first adult arrest was just 4 days after he turned 17 when he was charged with illegal possession of a stolen auto, illegal possession of a weapon, flight from an officer and resisting an officer.

Dollars to donuts he has a long juvenile rap sheet--enough argument for summary executions of juvenile offenders.

In broad daylight: We often point out these dirty deeds happen in the wee hours. But not always. Not far away the day after the bike bandit struck, a 40-year-old woman walking on Burgundy Street near St. Peter Street was robbed on Friday (7.23.10) at 4:10 p.m. by a black punk who pulled a pistol and demanded her purse. He fled in a red Chevy truck.

The robber was described as 5'8" tall, with a medium build and gold teeth, wearing a black tank top, blue jeans, a red hat and white shoes.

Yakkity yak: "You talk too much..." Remember that song from the '60s? It seems to apply in this case:

Two more oblivious phone users had their electronic appendages ripped away by crooks. Two more down, a million or more to go.

Listen to this: put the damn phones down, stop talking/texting/apping and pay attention--attention to your fellow man, or at least your surroundings. Whatever happened to "be here now"--living in the moment?

Okay, enough rant. Here are the facts:

• Sunday (7.25.10) 12:00 a.m.: A 27-year-old guy was standing in the 200 block of Bourbon Street (between Iberville and Bienville streets) when a black dude ran up, grabbed the iPhone out of his hand, and ran down Bourbon.

The robber is described as 5'8" tall, with a bald head and dark complexion, wearing a black shirt and black pants.

• Tuesday (7.27.10) 1:13 a.m.: A 22-year-old white man was standing in the 400 block of Bourbon (between Conti and St. Louis streets) when he suffered the same fate. The robber fled down Conti.

But police soon caught up with the alleged robber, Justin R. Lewis, 18, who was charged with simple robbery when he was booked into Central Lockup on Tuesday (7.27.10) around 2 p.m.

He was another one who couldn't wait to get his adult record rolling: He was arrested less than 2 weeks after he turned 17 in 2008 for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle (read "auto theft"). The DA wound up dismissing the charge.

Crime walk: Never quite sure what these things are about (my son calls them "cookies against crime"). But Thursday evening (7.29.10) in every NOPD district across the city, police officers will be "walking the beat" with citizens to, I guess, show solidarity in the fight against crime.

The 8th District's walk will begin at Jackson Square at 6:30 p.m., going down Decatur Street to Dumaine Street, over to Bourbon Street, crossing Esplanade Avenue to Kerlerec Street, to Chartres Street, then left on Frenchmen Street, and disbanding at Washington Park.

Wouldn't it be great if they could get one of those embattled brass bands to lead the way?

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

Thom Kahler

Don't let your guard down

Crime's down, but... You can't be too careful. Two women were robbed Thursday (7.22.10) night by black boys on bicycles and a man was robbed in Jackson Square on Tuesday (7.20.10) morning:

• Thursday (7.22.10) 11:54 p.m.: A 30-year-old white woman was walking in the 1100 block of Dauphine Street (near Gov. Nicholls Street) when she was approached by a black thug on a small BMX-style bicycle. He pulled a pistol and demanded her purse. She gave it up and he fled on the bike on Gov. Nicholls toward N. Rampart Street.

He was described as having a thin build, with shoulder-length twists in his hair, and wearing a black T-shirt.

• Thursday (7.22.10) 10:15 p.m.: About an hour and a half earlier, 2 black punks swooped down on a 53-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of N. Rampart Street (near St. Peter Street) and grabbed her purse. They rode off into Treme, across N. Rampart on St. Peter toward N. Claiborne Avenue.

Both robbers were said to be in their teens, one wearing a white T-shirt.

• Tuesday (7.20.10) 12:59 a.m.: A 59-year-old Hispanic man was jumped from behind at Chartres and St. Ann streets by a black dude and black chick. The dude struck the victim and pulled his wallet from his pocket before fleeing on foot. His girlfriend was less fleet afoot and was apprehended by police.

They charged Yamon Bennett, 24, with simple battery and simple robbery. She is being held in OPP on $30,000 bond. Hey, here's a thought, Yamon: Turn in your boyfriend and collect the $2,500 reward.

Brazen burglar brought down: It didn't take long for the NOPD--and technology--to catch up with an old-time criminal earlier this week. After a Gentilly business in the NOPD's 3rd District was the victim of an aggravated burglary the morning of 7.13.10, a renter suffered a similar fate that afternoon when a robber walked into his apartment on Frenchmen Street in the 8th District and left with his wallet.

This past Monday (7.19.10), Det. Jeruska Hillman obtained a warrant for Eugene Forrest after identifying the getaway car from video surveillance tapes. The next day, 4th District officers in Algiers collared him. Forrest, 54, who's been charged with at least 43 crimes in the past, is now charged with one count of aggravated burglary and one of simple robbery. He is sitting in OPP on $200,000 bond.

Ah, ha: Remember earlier this month when NOcrimeline.com chastised a robbery victim for waiting 12 hours to report the crime? We reasoned that maybe if she had reported the crime immediately it might have prevented 3 other robberies that followed that same morning. Then we dismissed it because her description of the guy who robbed her didn't fit the descriptions in the other cases.

But this past Monday (7.19.10), 8th District detectives charged Darren Cole--who was charged for the other 3 robberies--with the first robbery that same morning after all. He's now in OPP on $500,000 bond.

Cole, 25, was charged initially with 2 counts of attempted simple robbery, one count of armed robbery, and one count of aggravated 2nd-degree battery in these cases, all on 7.2.10:

• 2:30 a.m.: A 27-year-old man walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) was accosted by a black man armed with a pistol who demanded his money. He said he didn't have any and attempted to flee. The perp fired once, hitting the victim. The shooter fled and he victim was hauled to the hospital.
  

• 5:50 a.m.: A 23-year-old white woman walking near Burgundy and Conti streets was held up by a robber who said he had a gun. She gave it up and he fled on foot.
  

• 5:55 a.m.: A 44-year-old woman walking in the 1000 block of Toulouse Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) was struck by a black thug who attempted to pull her purse from her grasp. She resisted and he fled on foot.

The latest charge for the first robbery that same early morning involved a 32-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of Iberville Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) around 1:30 a.m. was targeted by a black thug who pulled a pistol and demanded her purse. She refused to give it up and started to walk away. The gunman followed her and grabbed the purse from her shoulder.

Had she reported the robbery immediately, it might have prevented the 3 other robberies. Who knows? But it's something to think about next time you think it's not important enough to report a crime.

A "new" way to fight crime: Chief Ronal Serpas sent a missive to his troops earlier this week exhorting them to go after crime before it comes to them. In the bad old days, it seemed like the cops sat around waiting for a 911 call to come in and then they'd go see what the matter was.

Now, says Serpas, "...our crime fighting plan will be straightforward: a combination of PROACTIVE and REACTIVE policing." The proactive approach would involve "self-initiated activity": checking on warrants, pedestrians, vehicles, following up tips, and "actively engaging the community in problem solving." Reactive policing is responding to CFS demands (Calls For Service, i.e. 911 calls) and he emphasizes: "Note that the proactive concept is listed first!"

While calls for service require an immediate and efficient response, "...we should remember that a CFS means just that: we are already late as a crime has already occurred." Or in other words, "We are simply the fastest at being late..."

What a refreshing concept: Get the bad guys before they get you! Thanks, Chief--that's what we've been waiting for.

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

Thom Kahler

Woeful weekend

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(Click on the crime map to enlarge it)

Sunday (7.11.10)

Auto Theft: Chartres & Frenchmen
Auto Burglary: 200 S Rampart
Auto Burglary: Magazine & Notre Dame
Auto Burglary: 400 Union
Theft: 365 Canal
Pickpocketing: 511 Bourbon

Monday (7.12.10)

Business Burglary: 515 St Louis
Auto Theft: 843 Camp
Auto Theft: Loyola & Poydras
Auto Theft: Commerce & St Joseph
Auto Burglary: 1501 Girod
Pickpocketing: Iberville & Royal
Theft: 740 Burgundy
Theft: 1001 S Peters

Tuesday (7.13.10)

Armed Robbery: 1700 Pauger
Aggravated Burglary: 2101 Burgundy
Simple Burglary: Esplanade & the River
Theft: 650 Poydras
Bicycle Theft: 1000 St Charles
Bicycle Theft: 100 Iberville
Shoplifting: 414 N Peters
Shoplifting: 839 Decatur
Auto Theft: 200 Clinton
Auto Burglary: 618 Julia

Wednesday (7.14.10)

Armed Robbery: Barracks & Dauphine
Rape: 500 Canal
Business Burglary: 233 N Peters
Bicycle Theft: 1515 Poydras
Shoplifting: Bienville & Burgundy
Pickpocketing: 8 Canal
Theft: 727 Bourbon

Thursday (7.15.10)

Simple Robbery: 515 St Philip
Auto Theft: 1000 Orleans
Auto Theft: 701 Tchoupitoulas
Auto Theft: 1100 S Peters
Auto Burglary: 413 Carondelet
Bicycle Theft: 633 Carondelet
Theft: 219 Carondelet

Friday (7.16.10)

Armed Robbery: 1014 Ursulines
Auto Theft: Frenchmen & Royal
Auto Theft: Bienville & N Peters
Auto Theft: 900 Dumaine
Theft: 900 Poeyfarre
Theft: 500 Camp
Theft: 700 Tchoupitoulas
Theft: 509 Decatur

Saturday (7.17.18)

Armed Robbery: Iberville & N Peters
Simple Robbery: 800 Bourbon
Simple Robbery: Gravier & Magazine
Purse Snatching: 100 Carondelet
Auto Theft: Constance & John Churchill Chase
Auto Theft: 700 Burgundy
Auto Burglary: 8 Canal
Theft: 525 Fulton
Theft: 1 Poydras
Bicycle Theft: 701 Loyola

Only one with a gun: Of all the robberies over the weekend, only one involved an armed robber--and that a chick, to boot.

A 24-year-old white woman walking near the intersection of Iberville and N. Peters streets early Saturday (7.17.10) morning around 1:15 a.m. was robbed by a black woman who pulled a pistol and demanded her purse. She gave it up and the robber hopped into a white 4-door sedan which sped down N. Peters and across Canal Street.

The robber was described as 28 to 34 years old, 5'5" tall, weighing 160 to 180 pounds (chubby little devil), with a dark complexion, wearing an orange or pink shirt, neon green spandex pants, and a neon green scarf on her head (can't say you didn't see her coming).

Only one arrested: Of 4 simple robberies over the weekend, the police did manage one arrest:

• Saturday (7.17.10) 5 a.m.: After a black guy pulled a 25-year-old white guy's wallet from his pocket as he was walking near the intersection of Gravier and Magazine streets, police arrested Kenneth Reed, 50, and charged him with simple robbery. He is in OPP on $15,000 bond.

• Saturday (7.17.10) 2:15 a.m.: A white man walking in the 800 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Ann and Dumaine streets) was robbed by 2 Hispanic creeps who grabbed a chain from the victim's neck and fled on foot down Dumaine, turning on Royal Street toward Canal Street.

Both robbers were described as 20 to 25 years old, one 5'8" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with short dark hair, wearing a blue striped polo shirt and blue jeans; the other 6'1" tall, weighing 180 pounds, with short dark hair, wearing a dark orange shirt and blue jeans.

• Saturday (7.17.10) 8:20 p.m.: In another bicycle bandit incident, a 37-year-old woman walking with her husband in the 100 block of Carondelet (just across Canal Street from Bourbon Street) when the robber swooped by and pulled her purse from her grasp and fled on Common Street toward St. Charles Avenue.

The thief was described as a black guy, 25 to 35 years old, 5'8" tall, weighing 170 pounds, with short hair, wearing a black T-shirt and black pants.

• Sunday (7.18.10) 2:30 a.m.: A 22-year-old white chick (young and dumb, it seems) standing at S. Rampart Street and Tulane Avenue was being chatted up by 2 black dudes and a Mexican male when her iPhone rang. When she took it out to answer it (dumb mistake) one of her new-found friends grabbed it out of her hand and fled with his buddies on foot up S. Rampart toward Poydras Street.

Two of the suspects were described as black, one 18 to 22 years old, 5'6" tall, with a small build and short hair, wearing a black tank top, and the other as having a dark complexion, wearing a blue plaid shirt; the Hispanic dude was 5'10" tall, with a medium build and short hair.

Wanted very badly: 8th District detectives have issued an arrest warrant for Eugene Forrest, one real bad-ass dude. He is wanted for 2 incidents last Tuesday (7.13.10), a simple robbery in Gentilly and an aggravated burglary in the Marigny Triangle.

Forrest, who has been charged with over 43 crimes in the past--ranging from burglary to armed robbery--recently served a 15-year sentence without parole for a whole heap of offenses in 1991. As in the past, he has no qualms about walking right into a victim's business or house and trying to take whatever he wants.

Forrest was developed as a suspect by Det. Jerusha Hillman after he allegedly walked into an unlocked apartment at 2101 Burgundy St. (the corner of Frenchmen Street) around 2:45 p.m. while the 34-year-old male resident was home. The suspect had already lifted the victim's laptop computer when the tenant walked into the room, at which point the robber pulled a pistol and demanded the victim's wallet. The robber fled with the wallet and computer in a black 4-door sedan.

A surveillance video identified the car as a 2009 black 4-door Toyota Camry, bearing Louisiana license plate TIR095; it is registered to an address at 7833 Arcadia Lane in New Orleans East. The video also indicated the suspect may walk with a limp; Forrest, 54, is black, 6'1" tall and weighs 205 pounds.

In the first incident that day, a man believed to be Forrest walked into a business in the 3200 block of Gentilly Boulevard about 9:40 a.m. under the guise of wanting to fill out a job application. He started grabbing the business owner's possessions and then struggled with the victim before fleeing in the black sedan.

Citizens with information about Forrest or can help find him, are asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111. There is a $2,500 for information leading to his arrest and indictment. C'mon, turn this scumbag in and make a buck!

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

Thom Kahler

Spoke too soon

Another bike bandit: A 27-year-old white man walking in the 1700 block of Pauger Street (between N. Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue) last Tuesday (7.13.10) around 11 p.m. was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint by a black hoodlum on a red and white mountain bike.

The victim described the robber as in his mid-20's, 5'10" tall, wearing a dark shirt and tan shorts.

The robber is believed to be the same one who struck this morning (7.16.10) around 2:20 a.m., robbing a white woman walking in the 1000 block of Ursulines Avenue (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets). He too was on a bike and pulled a gun on his victim.

She described him as in his 20's, with short hair, wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts.

Violent robberies: A white couple walking near Barracks and Dauphine streets were robbed just after midnight Wednesday (7.14.10) morning by 2 black thugs who jumped out of a SUV, brandishing pistols.

The 22-year-old man gave up his wallet, but the robbers pistol-whipped the 24-year-old woman, striking her in the face with their guns. The assailants then fled down Barracks toward N. Rampart Street.

The next night, Thursday (7.15.10), a white guy walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) just after 10 p.m. was accosted by a black crook who demanded his money. When the victim refused to give it up, the black guy struck him and fled on foot on toward N. Rampart Street.

Police, aided by a witness, apprehended Alan Cousin, 27, who has a history of prostitution arrests, and charged him with attempted simple robbery and negligent injuring.

Last weekend, Saturday (7.10.10), a guy (had to be a tourist) came out of Harrah's Casino and several other bars in the French Quarter in a very inebriated state (imagine that). He accepted a ride in a white SUV with a black dude and 2 black chicks.

Then the black guy, a passenger in the front seat, demanded the victim's wallet. When he refused, the guy hopped into the back seat and, along with the black woman passenger in back, began punching the victim. The victim managed to jump out of the vehicle in the 1200 block of S. Saratoga Street (the other side of Calliope Street) with the black man and woman right behind him. They resumed punching and kicking the victim before finally fleeing in the SUV.

When all was said and done, "the victim was able to keep all of his possessions," according to the police report.

Finally after 5 years: A case sordid even by New Orleans standards--involving a gay man of arts-and-letters, a shady lady, and a male dancer at a club that advertises "world famous love acts"--came to a conclusion this week.

Cleveland Moore, 43, was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated battery, after originally being charged with murder and attempted murder.

The charges stem from a night of untold horror on 11.14.05 inside the home of Jon Newlin, a well-known clerk at a bookstore on Chartres Street in the French Quarter. In the course of the night in the residence on Marigny Street in Faubourg Marigny, Moore is alleged to have clobbered Newlin so hard on the head with a wine bottle that it shattered and knocked him out; then Moore is said to have used the same bottle to stab and slash the throat of Joyce Rader, 36, who reportedly had a history of drug and prostitution arrests.

She was he first known homicide in the city committed by a civilian after Katrina. The attack left Newlin paralyzed on his left side; he testified at the trial while strapped to a gurney.

Moore, who fled to Florida after the mayhem, was finally found and arrested in 2007 and returned to New Orleans.

A jury found Moore guilty of the lesser charges on Wednesday (7.14.10). He would have faced a mandatory life in prison sentence if convicted on the second-degree murder charge, but now is subject to a 40-year sentence. He is to be sentenced 8.16.10 by Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson.

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

Thom Kahler

Almost, not quite

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(click on the crime map to enlarge it)

Sunday (7.4.10)

Aggravated Battery: 934 Canal
Simple Burglary: 1130 N Rampart
Auto Theft: Convention Center & S Diamond
Auto Theft: Bienville & N Rampart
Auto Burglary: 700 Baronne
Theft: 221 Carondelet
Theft: 721 Iberville
Theft: 333 Poydras
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Monday (7.5.10)

Shooting: 1000 Canal
Auto Burglary: Annunciation & Poeyfarre
Auto Burglary: 800 Magazine
Auto Burglary: 301 Camp
Auto Burglary: Dauphine & Gov Nicholls
Auto Theft: Elysian Fields & Royal
Auto Theft: 2100 Burgundy
Auto Theft: 821 Gravier
Theft: 344 Camp
Theft: 344 Camp
Theft: 400 N Rampart
Theft: 711 Canal
Bicycle Theft: 222 N Rampart
Shoplifting: 729 Canal

Tuesday (7.6.10)

Theft: 214 Royal
Auto Theft: Canal & Convention Center

Wedesday (7.7.10)

Auto Burglary: 1010 Common
Auto Burglary: John Churchill Chase & S Peters
Auto Burglary: Camp & Poydras
Auto Theft: N Diamond & Tchoupitoulas
Shoplifting: 145 Elk
Bicycle Theft: 201 St Charles
Bicycle Theft: 600 Baronne
Bicycle Theft: 1000 St Charles
Theft: 623 Frenchmen

Thursday (7.8.10)

Auto Burglary: 100 Burgundy
Auto Theft: 416 Gravier
Theft: 100 Conti
Shoplifting : 410 Bourbon

Friday (7.9.10)

Auto Burglary: 900 Tchoupitoulas
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Saturday-7/10/2010

Armed Robbery: 440 N Rampart
Simple Robbery: 1000 Decatur
Theft: 333 Canal
Theft: 600 Bourbon
Auto Burglary: Perdido & S Rampart
Auto Theft: 400 Dauphine

Last-minute robberies: It was such a quite week, I was almost lulled into thinking we might actually get through a whole week with no robberies--a feat unheard of in the past few years. But on Saturday (7.10.10)--the last day of the crime reporting week--there were 2 to mar the tranquility:

• 2:59 a.m.: The 58-year-old man working the parking lot at 440 N. Rampart (between Conti and St. Louis streets) was held up by an armed black guy who fled on foot on Conti into the French Quarter.

Police quickly caught up with Eddie Bush, 28, and charged him with armed robbery with a firearm. He is in OPP on $100,000 bond.

• 5:15 a.m.: A 27-year-old guy walking in the 1000 block of Decatur Street (between Ursulines Avenue and St. Philip Street) was accosted by a gang of 3 scrawny white punks-- of the gutter variety?--who grabbed his wallet and fled on foot toward Jackson Square.

All were described as 18 years old, one 5'10" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a think build and short brown hair, wearing a black T-shirt and dark pants; the second, 6'2" tall, weighing 165 pounds, with short blond hair, wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts; and the third, 5'10" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with a thin build and short brown hair, wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.

Tackling crime head on: Perhaps one of the major reasons crimes are down is the vigorous use of traffic stops by 8th District cops, targeting particularly Dauphine, Burgundy and N. Rampart streets in the Lower Quarter and interviewing drivers and passengers and making arrests.

In a recent week, police entered 370 names into their computers, based on 252 traffic stops. The efforts of the regular uniformed car patrols and task force officers in plain clothes are on-going in all parts of the French Quarter.

Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, credits the stepped up patrols for reductions in robberies--particularly the cellphone thefts that were plaguing the Quarter.

But sometimes you just can't win: One late-nigh business proprietor complained to Capt. Hosli that police stopping cars in front of his business was chasing away customers.

Murderer roaming CBD?: Louisiana State Police have issued a bulletin that a suspect wanted for murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery in Arkansas may be somewhere in the CBD.

Kendell Nickelson, 26, was reported in the Luling area late last week where he has family and friends. When State Police learned his cellphone number from his mother, they traced a call to a cellphone tower near Lee Circle. Hotel security personnel in and around the French Quarter and CBD have been alerted.

Nickelson is described at 5'11" tall, weighing 160 pounds. He is said to be driving a black Chevy Silverado with Mississippi license plate LP1825.

Storming Jackson Square: The French Quarter Business Association and its cohorts are declaring war on graffiti on Wednesday (7.14.10).

Gene Saussee, a FQBA board member, is leading the campaign against what he calls an "out-of-control" problem in the Vieux Carre. He is calling on as many volunteers as possible to join at 3 p.m. that day to use a new product to eradicate graffiti from the walls of buildings in the Quarter.

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

Thom Kahler

COURT REPORT: Why aren't these convicts in jail?

Guilty, but no jail time: We've got a new District Attorney. We've got a new police chief. Now the weak link in New Orleans' criminal justice system is the criminal court judges.

The cops work hard to figure out who did the crime. The assistant DAs work hard to get a conviction. Then it's up to the judges to sentence the culprit--but they seem to be the least interested in justice.

Often after the long process (the judges are to blame for this too) the convict gets a suspended sentence, allowing him to go free on probation, to wander our streets again.

So the only time the guy serves in jail is between his arrest and when he's able to post bond. Where's the deterrent value in that?

You've read about their crimes, now here's what happened to them--most of which involved no, or little, jail time:

• Daniel Edwards, 21, slashed a couple guys last year in the House of Blues and after the case drug threw the courts for nearly 8 months, he pled guilty to 2 counts of aggravated battery.

Judge Benedict Willard sentenced him to 5 years in prison on each count, but then suspended the sentence. He did put Edwards on 5 years of probation--and, oh yeah, he's got to stay away from the House of Blues.

• Samuel L. Duncan Jr., 21, held up a parking lot attendant in the 1000 block of N. Peters Street last year and then fought a security guard when he tried to prevent the robbery. Duncan was originally charged with armed robbery with a firearm and simple battery, but that was bargained down to simple robbery and he pled guilty.

Judge Robin Pittman sentenced him to a suspended sentence of 7 years and set him free on 5-years probation and fined him $800, with the stipulation he must stay in school or be employed.

• Denira Labat, 23, got into an argument in a bar in the 300 block of N. Peters Street with her boyfriend. When he left the bar, she followed him outside and stabbed him. She was charged with aggravated battery but it was reduced to simply battery.

Judge Laurie White gave her a 6-month suspended sentence and required her to take anger management counseling.

• Rickie Dufrene, 56, was busted with dope paraphernalia and marijuana last summer at Dauphine and St. Philip streets, but Judge Karen Herman allowed him to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge of possession rather than the felony of possession with intent to distribute.

Then, showing she had little regard for drug laws, gave him a 6-month suspended sentence.

• Sylvester Renthrope Jr., 34, was arrested late last summer, charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and resisting a police officer with force in the 500 block of Dauphine Street. He was allowed to plead guilty to possession of cocaine.

Judge Frank Marullo gave him a 5-year suspended sentence and a 1-year suspended sentence for resisting arrest, and ordered him to drug court.

Though Renthrope avoided jail under Marullo, twice since the first of the year in drug court, Judge Lynda Van Davis found him in contempt of court for testing positive for drugs. She sentenced him the first time to 3 days in jail, and the second time to 7 days.

• Robert Jage, 29, got off with a 3-month suspended sentence from Magistrate Rudy Gorrell after pleading guilty to 2 counts of aggravated assault after slashing a young couple with a knife during a skirmish in Jackson Square last October.

But he failed to pay fines of $448 as of March and a warrant for his arrest has been issued with a bond of $20,000 when he's captured.

• Herbert Brown III (top), 18, and Keith McCrary (bottom),18, might be 2 of the few success stories that come out of the courts. Last August--on the "Night Out Against Crime" no less--they robbed Adam Shipley and Ben Jaffe by Washington Park in the Marigny Triangle. Initially each defendant was charged with armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

During trial in March, they were allowed to plead guilty to 2 counts each of simple robbery. In a plea deal recommended by the DA's office and agreed to by the victims, Judge Robin Pittman sentenced them to a 7-year suspended sentence with 5 years of active probation, plus the requirement that they be enrolled in high school or pass the GED test.

On 6.4.10, Brown brought proof to court that he had graduated from high school. On 7.2.10, McCrary brought his GED diploma to court.

• Nelson Segura, 25, who has a long history of criminal activity--mostly for prostitution--was spared a 1-year jail sentence imposed by Judge Karen Herman after he made restitution to his victim in a robbery last October.

Dressed as a female, Segura accosted a white man in the 400 block of Bourbon Street and reached into his pocket and relieved him of his money. Originally charged with simple robbery, the charges were dropped to attempted theft over $500 and he pled guilty.

• Corey Massingill, 21, a Florida fellow having too good a time at the Old Opera House, 601 Bourbon St., on New Year's Eve, didn't even have to come back to the Big Easy to plead guilty to a charge of aggravated assault resulting from his escapade.

He was asked by the bouncer to leave the club, but then tried to re-enter several times and was escorted out. He then allegedly pulled a knife and lunged at the bouncer, who managed to subdue him.

Massingill was allowed to plead guilty in absentia and Judge Frank Marullo gave him 1 year of unsupervised probation and $600 in fines.

• David Forley, 27, and David Guidry, 27, were charged with aggravated battery after they got into a fight with a guy last August in the Red Eye Grill, 852 S. Peters St. and conked him with a beer bottle.

Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson allowed them to plead guilty to lesser charges: Forly to simple battery in exchange for a 6-month suspended sentence, and Guidry to 2nd-degree battery for a 2-year suspended sentence.

• Steve Hollins (left), 19, and Darrien Johnson (right), 18, pled guilty to simple robbery after snatching a wallet last September in broad daylight from a tiny Asian female in the 600 block of Toulouse Street. Johnson got a 4-year suspended sentence from Judge Camille Buras and was ordered to pay $5 restitution.

Hollins was given one year in jail, but he'll sit there for some time yet--he's also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of 2 boys in New Orleans East a month earlier.

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

Thom Kahler

Fireworks of the wrong kind

Report it NOW: Got an email the other day from a NOcrimeline.com reader complaining about how terrorized a friend of hers was after he was robbed that he didn't report the crime to police until 2 days after the incident. Then she had the nerve to ask what it was going to take to get "my neighborhood back"?

Gee, for starters, how about telling your friend to man-up and report crimes when they happen. You get no sympathy from me when you won't report crimes that affect your safety.

Look at these robberies, all in the early morning last Friday (6.2.10):

• A 32-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of Iberville Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) around 1:30 a.m. was targeted by a black thug who pulled a pistol and demanded her purse.

She refused to give it up and started to walk away. The gunman followed her and grabbed the purse from her shoulder. The victim and her brother tailed the robber until he handed the purse to another black guy and fled on foot. The second guy gave the purse back to the victim.

But after all this, the woman waited 12 hours to report the crime to the police!

The armed robber in those lapsed 12 hours could have robbed all these people:

• At 2:30 a.m.--just an hour later--a 27-year-old man walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) was accosted by a black man armed with a pistol who demanded his money. He said he didn't have any and attempted to flee. The perp fired once, hitting the victim in the butt with a .38-caliber slug. The shooter fled and the victim was hauled to Tulane University Hospital.

• At 5:50 a.m.--just over 3 hours later--a 23-year-old white woman walking near Burgundy and Conti streets was held up by a robber who said he had a gun. She gave it up and he fled on foot.

• At 5:55 a.m.--only 5 minutes later--a 44-year-old woman walking in the 1000 block of Toulouse Street (just 2 blocks away, between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) was struck by a black thug who attempted to pull her purse from her grasp. She resisted and he fled on foot.

As it turned out, 8th District cops apprehended Darren Cole, 25, and he was positively identified by the victims in all 3 of these robberies that occurred within a few hours after the first one that morning.

The victim in the first robbery still hadn't reported the crime at the time Cole was arrested. When she did, she described the robber as 20 to 25 years old, 5'5" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a dark complexion and dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, wearing an oversized T-shirt and baggy blue jeans.

The description did not fit Cole. But had the first victim reported the crime against her as soon as it happened (isn't there an app for that?), the police might have been out hunting for her assailant and been able to prevent the robberies Cole is alleged to have committed.

Cole is sitting in OPP on $330,000 charged with 2 counts of attempted simple robbery, 1 count of armed robbery, and 1 count of aggravated 2nd-degree battery. (I don't know if it's a religious ritual or what, but Cole, who wears a Muslim-type beard, has been arrested 9 times in early July over the years: 7.10.2003, 7.3.2004, 7.4.2008, 7.2.2010.)

The wild bunch: While attendees at the Essence Fest were out setting a good example, their younger counterparts must have missed the message:

• Sunday (7.4.10) 11:05 p.m.: A 31-year-old black woman inside of McDonald's, 934 Canal St. (between Baronne Street and University Place) got into an argument with a young black chick that turned into a brawl. The younger girl and several of her friends jumped into the fray and allegedly inflicted lacerations to the older woman's abdomen and head.

Police booked Dajene Jefferson (top), 17, and Kenisha McNeal (bottom),17, with aggravated battery. The police report didn't indicate what type of weapon was used.

• Monday (7.5.10) 1:10 a.m.: A 17-year-old black kid in the 1000 block of Canal Street (between University Place and S. Rampart Street) heard several gunshots and then realized he'd been shot in the ankle.

Police apprehended a suspect, a 14-year-old black boy whose name could not be released, and recovered a firearm.

Fourteen-years-old?! Yes, it is fair to ask why kids were roaming the streets at this hour.

Rounding up drugs and guns: Capt. Robert Norton, commander of the 1st District (that hell known as Treme), is getting lots of kudos from Chief Serpas for his efforts in taking drugs and guns off the streets.

How's he doing it? With one of the Chief's favorite tactics--traffic stops. Serpas was criticized when he was in Nashville for the number of traffic stops that his officers made, though they were highly effective. But as he explained then (in effect), "There are no walk-by shootings--they're drive-by shootings."

So using that tactic, Norton and his men in the last few weeks have been targeting cars with tail lights out, improper tags, careless driving, etc. to stop drivers and passengers. In the process, they've rounded up any number of illegal firearms, concealed weapons, fugitives wanted on warrants, and drugs of all sorts.

But it might be argued that in the 8th District (the French Quarter and its environs) the problem IS walk-bys.

Once in a while a vehicle--or bicycle--is used. But most of the miscreants on this side of N. Rampart Street are on foot. So how do you legitimately stop them and check for weapons, drugs, or outstanding warrants?

Considering how young most of the robbers are here, maybe the place to start is to check for curfew violations--stop anyone who looks the least bit young.

They're kidding, right?: Did you see where the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame is going to induct former NOPD Chief Warren Riley as a member?

To avoid any embarrassment, they ought to wait until the feds get done with their investigation into the NOPD's shenanigans during Katrina. Riley was chief of operations when Katrina began and thus boss of the officers who've been indicted.

Ultimately, he may not escape blame. Even if he does, he'll still be remembered as the worst chief this city has ever had.

Crimes last week in the 8th District
(click on the crime map below to enlarge it)

Sunday (6.27.10)

Homicide: 400 Bourbon
Attempted Homicide: 1630 Canal
Auto Theft: 618 Magazine
Auto Theft: 334 Royal
Auto Burglary: 300 N Rampart
Theft: 600 Magazine

Monday (6.28.10)

Simple Robbery: 800 Gov Nicholls
Auto Burglary: 365 Canal
Auto Burglary: 900 Gravier
Theft: 830 Royal
Shoplifting: 301 Canal

Tuesday (6.29.10)

No crimes reported

Wednesday (6.30.10)

Theft: 1500 Poydras
Theft: 301 Canal
Theft: 1001 St Peter
Bicycle Theft: 333 Julia
Auto Theft: 1000 Constance
Auto Theft: 821 Gravier
Auto Burglary: 701 O'Keefe
Auto Burglary: 145 University

Thursday (7.1.10)

Auto Burglary: 600 Poydras
Auto Burglary: 210 N Rampart
Auto Burglary: 300 Canal
Auto Burglary: 333 Canal
Theft: 135 St Charles
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Friday (7.2.10)

Armed Robbery: 700 Iberville
Armed Robbery: 500 St Louis
Armed Robbery: Burgundy & Conti
Simple Robbery: 1000 Toulouse
Auto Theft: 350 St Joseph
Auto Theft: Canal & Royal
Auto Theft: 852 S Peters
Theft: 444 St Charles
Theft : 1010 Common
Theft: 900 Convention Center
Theft : 900 Convention Center
Shoplifting: 406 N Peters

Saturday (7.3.10)
Theft: 228 Poydras
Auto Theft: Andrew Higgins & Constance
Auto Theft: 900 Canal
Auto Burglary: 800 Baronne
Pickpocketing: 500 Bourbon
Shoplifting: 333 Canal

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

Thom Kahler