Bike bandit's back

Rash of robberies: A black bandit on a bicycle pulled off at least 4--and maybe more--robberies within minutes of each other around 8 p.m. Sunday (1.16.11) in the Marigny Triangle & Rectangle.

8th District detectives have put out a computer sketch of the suspected robber (at right), based on descriptions from the victims--and they believe he is the same perpetrator of similar robberies in the 1st and 5th Districts.

The robber is described as a black male, 18-25 years of age, 5'7" to 5'9" tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with a thin build and a brown complexion, wearing a white hooded zipped sweatshirt with pockets, black Dickie-type pants, black tennis shoes.

He is armed with small dark-colored handgun. His bicycle is described as a gray mountain bike with a basket on the front.

Here's what went down:

• 8:00 p.m.: A white couple, he 27 and she 23, were walking on Chartres Street between Esplanade Avenue and Kerlerec Street when the robber swooped down from behind on his bicycle and pulled a pistol, demanding their money. They complied and the robber rode off on Chartres toward Kerlerec.

• 8:10 p.m.: A 31-year-old white woman walking on Frenchmen Street near St. Claude Avenue was held up by a black robber with a pistol riding a bicycle while she blabbed on her cellphone. He demanded her purse and she threw it down and started screaming; he picked it up and fled on Frenchmen toward Burgundy Street.

• 8:23 p.m.: A 24-year-old white woman was walking to a lounge near Dauphine and Marigny streets in the 5th District when a black dude on a bicycle rode past her, then circled around and came back. He pulled a gun and demanded her purse, then fled.

• Others in the 5th District: Though the NOPD 5th District's crime map for 1.18.11 shows 3 armed robberies in the same neighborhood occurring after 1.16.11, sloppy reporting by cops in that district (lack of time, dates, victims' sex and age, etc.) make it impossible to determine who did what to whom when.

Some have counted as many as 11 robberies and 4 or more homicides in the Marigny and St. Roche neighborhoods of the 5th District in the past 3 weeks.

• Earlier in the week: A 27-year-old white woman was walking on Esplanade Avenue (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) on Thursday (1.13.11) around 8:30 p.m. when a black guy fitting the description the robber in the Sunday night incidents rode up on a bicycle and demanded her purse. He fled on Burgundy toward Kerlerec Street.

If you see this punk peddling around the Marigny or French Quarter, contact 8th District Det. Tindell Murdock at 658-6080 or make a buck (2,500 of 'em) by claiming the reward through CrimeStoppers at 822-1111.

And others: Not all robberies last week fit the "bike bandit" MO. Here's what else went down:

• Wednesday (1.12.11) 7:40 p.m.: A 21-year-old white guy walking in the 1600 block of Pauger Street (between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) was robbed at gunpoint of his wallet and cellphone by 2 black punks who then fled on foot.

He didn't report the crime until 2 hours after it happened--guess he didn't care if the cops catch his assailants or not. He did describe them as 16 to 19 years old, one 5'9" tall, weighing 130 to 135 pounds, with a thin build, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt; the other was 6' tall, weighing 135 to 140 pounds, with a thin build, wearing a black trenchcoat and blue jeans.

• Sunday (1.9.11) 5:30 a.m.: A 45-year-old white man was walking in the 500 block of Tchoupitoulas Street (between Poydras and Lafayette streets) when a dark-colored SUV pulled alongside of him. The driver, a black female, called the victim over to ask for directions. When the victim walked over to the SUV, a black guy got out of the back seat and grabbed the victim's wallet.

The victim was unable to give a description of either perp.

Trick and/or treat: A transvestite prostitute on his way to work in the French Quarter may have bit off more than he could chew when he eschewed an RTA bus for a "free" ride.

The working stiff was standing at Tulane Avenue and S. Cortez Street at about 2:20 a.m. on 1.9.11 when he flagged down a white dude he recognized as a previous trick who was driving by in a van.

When he got in, the driver demanded sexual acts in exchange for the free ride. The duo haggled over the "price" until the driver pulled over near St. Louis and N. Derbigny streets and attacked the victim, ripping one of earrings out. When the victim tried to fend off his attacker, the driver pulled out a knife and slashed the victim's fingers.

The attacker, who is now wanted for aggravated battery, is described as a white male, in his 40's, with a muscular build. He has short sandy-colored hair, is 5'9" tall, weighing 170 to 200 pounds.

The van is described as an all-white cargo-style van with no windows in the back. The back had lots of quilted blankets (like those used by moving companies). The weapon was a pocket-style knife, about 4" long, with a serrated blade.

Sad anniversary: Ever wonder what happened to the killers of beloved French Quarter bartender Wendy Byrne? Last Monday (1.17.11) was the 2-year anniversary of when she was slain at Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets.

If "justice delayed is justice denied", then Wendy Byrne is being denied justice. Gladstone may have had defendants in mind when he propounded the maxim, but it can just as easily apply to victims awaiting a just conclusion to crimes against them.

But now, more than 2 years since the heinous crime, the 2 young black thugs accused of murdering her are no closer to going to trial than they were 2 years ago. The boys who were only 15 when Byrne was gunned down were due to have their heads examined last week.

Now the district attorney and defense attorney have changed their minds, yet Judge Benedict Willard still thinks the boys ought to have theirs examined. He reasons that since both sides have raised the issue of whether at least one of the defendants was smart enough to understand his Miranda rights, the examination should go ahead "out of an abundance of caution."

Meanwhile, Reggie Douglas (top) and Drey Lewis (bottom), now both 17, sit in OPP on $500,000 bond a piece, each charged as adults with 2nd-degree murder.

A third boy who was even younger at the time of the murder--only 14--whom DA Leon Cannizzaro wanted to charge as an adult also, will now only be charged as a juvenile for an armed robbery that immediately preceded the murder.

According to the DA's office, they were not able to transfer Ernest Cloud to adult court on murder charges.

"As a 14-year-old, the standard for transfer requires this office to establish certain factors (unrelated to the crime committed) that we did not believe that we could establish," a spokesman for the DA explained.

The armed robbery case is expected to go to trial soon, and if convicted, Cloud could be imprisoned until he is 21.

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

Sunday (1.9.11)

Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville, 5:25 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 535 Tchoupitoulas, 5:32 a.m.
Theft, 124 Royal, 9:17 a.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 11:44 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 2100 N Peters, 4:50 p.m.

Monday (1.10.11)

Business Burglary, 513 Dumaine, 2:16 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Chartres & Iberville, 8:24 a.m.
Auto Theft, 100 Bourbon, 10:51 a.m.
Simple Burglary, 620 Decatur, 11:05 a.m.
Shoplifting, 414 N Peters, 1:13 p.m.
Theft, 240 Decatur, 1:49 p.m.

Tuesday (1.11.11)

Theft, 444 St Charles, 4:55 p.m.

Wednesday (1.12.11)

Armed Robbery, 1600 Pauger, 9:48 p.m.

Thursday (1.13.11)

Theft, 124 St Charles, 3:50 a.m.
Theft, 301 Dauphine, 6:06 a.m.
Theft, 301 Dauphine, 7:52 a.m.
Theft, 705 Camp, 6:03 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 900 Esplanade, 8:57 p.m.

Friday (1.14.11)

Shoplifting, 414 N Peters, 11:14 a.m.
Business Burglary, 735 St Louis, 2:50 p.m.

Saturday (1.15.11)

Theft, 200 Bourbon, 3:54 a.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Ho-hum

Quiet start to new year: Other than the usual spate of car thefts and burglaries, and some pickpockets during the Sugar Bowl, only one violent crime registered on the reports from the 8th District--and even that one was downgraded.

On Saturday (1.8.11) 3 black guys, one 18 and two 16 years old, walking on Canal Street near Bourbon Street got into a beef with a passel of other black boys. When one of the boys in the gang pulled a pistol and pointed it at them, they took off running.

Police caught up with Marcus Jackson, 17, and charged him aggravated assault with a firearm and illegal possession of a weapon after finding 2 guns at the scene. But when Jackson went before Magistrate Robert Blackburn, the judge found there was no probable cause for the assault and dropped that charge. Jackson is only charged with having a weapon and Blackburn cut him loose on $2,000 bond.

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(Click on the crime map to enlarge it)

Sunday (1.2.11)

Theft, 1100 Port of New Orleans, 10:28 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Commerce, 12:46 p.m.

Monday (1.3.11)

Shoplifting, 301 Canal, 11:03 a.m.
Auto Theft, Canal & LaSalle, 11:59 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 900 Poeyfarre, 3:09 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1500 Poydras, 9:52 p.m.

Tuesday (1.4.11)

Theft, 216 Bourbon, 1:29 a.m.
Theft, 300 N Peters, 3:16 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 1500 Poydras, 6:33 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 1500 Poydras, 7:05 p.m.

Wednesday (1.5.11)

Auto Burglary, 300 S Rampart, 10:07 a.m.
Auto Theft, Magazine & St Joseph, 11:06 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1300 Canal, 11:15 a.m.
Theft, 629 St Charles, 12:23 p.m.
Theft, 123 Baronne, 12:46 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1500 Poydras, 1:11 p.m.

Thursday (1.6.11)

Shoplifting, 333 Canal, 8:51 a.m.
Auto Theft, 2100 Decatur, 5:42 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Iberville, 11:38 p.m.

Friday (1.7.11)

Auto Burglary, 228 Poydras, 1:47 a.m.
Theft, 522 Bourbon, 2:27 a.m.
Auto Theft, 2100 Dauphine, 3:32 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Elysian Fields, 9:23 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Elysian Fields, 9:25 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Gov Nicholls, 3:33 p.m.

Saturday (1.8.11)

Theft, Camp & Poydras, 11:06 a.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 11:33 a.m.
Theft, 614 Canal, 11:48 a.m.
Aggravated Assault, 700 Canal, 5:37 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 300 Bourbon, 6:57 p.m.

Big bang? Not really

Another gun down: Though the NOPD took 104 calls about illegal gunfire on New Year's Eve, there were no reported injuries from falling bullets.

The NOPD did arrest 5 knuckleheads for gun violations that evening, including a 17-year-old black punk in the French Quarter who already appears destined for a life of crime.

Telly Hammond, 17, was arrested at Bourbon and Conti streets. He was booked with illegal carrying of a weapon, resisting an officer, and flight from an officer. A magistrate decided there was no cause for flight from an officer. Hammond's still sitting in OPP on $13,500 bond for his foolishness 5 days ago; his first court appearance is 2.15.11--a month away.

The NOPD says he has prior arrests for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of narcotics, possession of stolen property, and curfew violations--and he's only 17.

5 robberies, 3 arrests: Pretty good efficiency in bringing down those who tried to rob others of their celebrating over New Year's weekend:

• Saturday (1.1.11) 8:15 p.m.: A 31-year-old white man standing in the 600 block of Bienville Street (between Royal and Chartres streets) had his iPhone swiped out of his hand by a young black punk, who fled on foot.

Police soon apprehended the 15-year-old black boy and made his new year nothing to look forward to.

• Saturday (1.1.11) 3:00 a.m.: A 20-year-old white woman walking in the 1300 block of Royal Street (between Esplanade Avenue and Barracks Street) had her purse snatched by 2 black thugs. They fled on foot down Esplanade and turned onto Frenchmen Street.

One was described as having a thin build, dark complexion, short twists, wearing all black clothing; the other was described only as "black".

• Friday (12.31.10) 11:00 p.m.: A 44-year-old Hispanic man walking in the 500 block of Bourbon Street (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets) when a black chic came up and lifted his wallet from his pocket.

Mounted police saw her fleeing and apprehended Byronisha Bright, 18, and booked her with simple robbery. She is being held in OPP on $15,000 bond.

• Friday (12.31.10) 8:55 p.m.: A 30-year-old white man was in the 300 block of N. Rampart Street (between Bienville and Conti streets) when he was accosted by a black punk who struck him and grabbed his cellphone and ran.

Police caught Mario Martin, 19, and booked him with simple robbery.

Then Martin was positively identified as the suspect in a robbery 2 days before on Wednesday (12.29.10) at 5:30 p.m. at the exact same location with the exact same MO: Martin allegedly struck a 15-year-old black boy and took his cellphone. He was charged with simple robbery in that case too.

He is being held on a total of $85,000 bond on the charges, which also include illegal possession of a stolen auto.

• Friday (12.31.10) 4 a.m.: A 35-year-old white man who was held up and relieved of his wallet by 2 armed black guys at Julia and S. Peters streets didn't bother to report it until 10 hours later.

While not mindful that he could have helped solve the crime or at least protect other citizens from the same fate, the victim did manage to describe the robbers both as 30 to 35 years old, 6'2" to 6'3" tall, with thin builds and dark complexions, one with short hair, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.

More cops on the beat: Chief Ronal Serpas' newly-announced "Mission One" initiative should mean 9 to 11 more officers on the streets of the 8th District (French Quarter, CBD, Marigny Triangle) every Friday and Saturday from 3 to 11 p.m., beginning 1.14.11.

A force of 2 to 3 sergeants and 7 to 8 patrolmen will be assigned to the 8th District every week; 3 other forces will be signed in the other 7 districts on a rotating basis. The enhanced contingent will allow 8th District commander, Maj. Edwin Hosli, to assign regular 8th District officers to proactive patrols, community policing activities, warrant service, traffic enforcement, and generally increasing police visibility.

Let's see if we see the extra officers somewhere else other than on Bourbon Street. Everyone knows of the hubbub there, but the bulk of citizens live on the dark streets of the Lower Quarter.

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

Sunday (12.26.10)

Aggravated Battery, Chartres & Frenchmen, 1:15 a.m.
Theft, 212 Royal, 12:04 p.m.
Theft, 869 Magazine, 1:49 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 800 Decatur, 4:53 p.m.
Shoplifting, 633 Canal, 6:35 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 1000 block of St Charles, 6:52 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Magazine, 10:15 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Kerlerec, 10:15 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 1001 Esplanade, 11:45 p.m.

Monday (12.27.10)

Theft, 800 Iberville, 8:05 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1303 Burgundy, 6:46 p.m.

Tuesday (12.28.10)

Pickpocketing, 124 Royal, 2:47 a.m.
Theft, 214 Royal, 11:21 a.m.
Auto Theft, 400 Burgundy, 12:06 p.m.
Shoplifting, 907 Decatur, 5:39 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal, 8:19 p.m.
Auto Theft, Royal & St Peter, 11:21 p.m.

Wednesday (12.29.10)

Theft, 300 Canal, 11:33 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 300 N Rampart, 5:55 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Canal & St Charles, 6:57 p.m.

Thursday (12.30.10)

Auto Burglary, 1000 Barracks, 9:20 a.m.
Theft, 1010 Common, 11:17 a.m.
Theft, Julia & Loyola, 3:04 p.m.
Theft, 332 Julia, 3:07 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 5:41 p.m.
Shoplifting, 529 Bourbon, 9:49 p.m.

Friday (12.31.10)

Auto Burglary, 300 N Rampart, 1:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Esplanade, 2:32 p.m.
Armed Robbery, Julia & S Peters, 2:41 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bienville & N Rampart, 8:54 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 500 Bourbon, 10:57 p.m.

Saturday (1.1.11)

Aggravated Battery, 310 Andrew Higgins, 1:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Commerce, 10:26 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 100 Bourbon, 12:27 p.m.
Theft, 945 Magazine, 12:30 p.m.
Theft, 716 Iberville, 2:41 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 1300 Royal, 3:05 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Magazine, 4:25 p.m.
Auto Theft, 440 N Rampart, 6:34 p.m.
Auto Theft, 100 S Saratoga, 7:37 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 600 Bienville, 8:16 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 8:22 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Christmas Eve-il

Where was his momma?: What the hell was a 17-year-old black boy doing hanging out in a bar on Frenchmen Street in the wee hours of the morning?

That's supposedly what Shaquile Gilmore was doing before he was gunned down by another kid he got into a beef with in The Maison, a popular club just a few doors from Chartres and Frenchmen streets, where the shooting happened at 1:15 a.m. Sunday (12.26.10).

8th District detectives are calling it attempted murder after the shooter pumped 6 shots into Gilmore's stomach. Gilmore is hospitalized in critical condition.

Witnesses described the gunman as a black dude, 19 to 22 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 190 pounds, wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans. He fled in a dark-colored sedan, possibly a Nissan, down Chartres toward Elysian Fields Avenue.

Detectives are canvassing the area, looking for video that might help them identify the perp or his ride.

To ask the question again: What the hell are these kids doing running around at this hour of the night? Use the curfew laws to get them off the streets--and confiscate their guns.

Traffic stops runaway murderer: You hear all this talk about how the cops ought to ignore the minor crimes and concentrate on the major ones. Well consider this:

Last Wednesday (12.22.10) night 2 officers in the 8th District's "Canal Street Enhancement Unit" noticed the license plate on a vehicle was askew in some way.

Ofc. Kelsey Lewis and Ofc. Teddy McCann pulled the driver over in the 800 block of Canal and started writing a ticket for that and numerous other traffic violations. By the time they were done, they found the driver, Daniel McCravy, 22, was wanted for murder in Hot Springs, Arkansas--a killing that happened in September, 2009.

So the simple observation of a minor traffic infraction by these 2 NOPD officers took a wanted murderer--who had been on the lam for more than a year--off the streets.

Now it's murder: The Cameron brothers--who wreaked havoc on a Warehouse District night club last month--are in deeper trouble now.

Michael Cameron (pictured), 29, who was initially charged with aggravated battery and attempted murder after he allegedly stabbed a patron of Republic New Orleans on 11.29.10, was charged Thursday (12.23.10) with second-degree murder after his victim died last week.

According to investigators, Michael and his brother, Jeremy, 24, got into a ruckus with the club's bouncer. When patron Eric Roy, 26, tried to intervene, Michael allegedly stabbed him in the head; Jeremy allegedly bit the bouncer's ear off.

Michael is in OPP on $500,000 bond; Jeremy was set free on $7,500 bond.

How drunk can you be?: A fella who'd been drinking with some buddies in the French Quarter early Christmas Eve day got separated from them, so he tried to find their car. But when he couldn't, he decided to walk home. Since he lived in Slidell, he decided to walk toward I-10 eastbound. Makes about as much sense as you can when you're drunk.

When he got to N. Clairborne Avenue and Lafitte Street around 5:55 a.m., he was met by a native, who proved definitely unfriendly. The hood pulled a small silver-colored handgun and demanded the drunk's money. The misguided boozer gave up the last $48 from his pants pocket. The robber fled.

It's not known how or when the victim ever got home.

Muddled mayhem: You wonder just how long Super Chief Ronal Serpas is going to put up with sloppy police work--particularly from his Public Information Office. Here's a good case in point:

The PIO in a press release Sunday (12.26.10) trumpeted: "NOPD 8th District Patrol Officers Arrested a Repeat and Violent Offender Immediately after Stabbing on St. Charles Avenue." (Serpas is big on letting you know how quickly an arrest is made after a crime.)

Serpas crowed: "...another violent and repeat offender has been arrested and taken off the streets..." He should have waited to brag.

The press release claimed the officers had arrested "53-year-old Tyronne Miller" (with 2 "n"s) for stabbing his 44-year-old roommate several times in the back. It went on to state: "Miller has prior arrests for Armed Robbery, Attempted Armed Robbery, Theft, Simple Robbery, Resisting Arrest, Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, and Drug Law Violations."

The problem is: The only guy named "Miller" arrested for aggravated battery on 12.26.10 is a Tyrone Miller (with one "n") who is 54 years old, not 53.

And, in the records of Orleans Parish Criminal District Court, there is NO indication that this Miller has previously been charged for anything. There are other Tyrone or Tyronne Millers, but none of them have amassed the felonious record the PIO claimed.

It looks like Serpas was given him sloppy information by the PIO. They couldn't even spell the suspect's name correctly or give his correct age. And there's no evidence the guy might be the perp has any sort of criminal record.

And to say that the suspect was arrested by the swift action of the NOPD after the victim called 911 to report his roommate had stabbed him is a real stretch. C'mon, man!

(This sloppy PIO information occurs much more than you think good police work would allow. In the item above about the Arkansas murder fugitive, the PIO spelled the suspect's name as "McCarvy"; it's McCravy. The officers who made the collar were only identified as "Officer Kelsey and Officer McCann." When we asked for first names, it came back that "Kelsey" was the first name and "Lewis" was the last name; McCann's first name is Teddy.)

When you get so much misinformation, you can't help but wonder how much of the rest of it is accurate. If Super Serpas is really concerned about making the NOPD the best it can be, he needs to start paying heed to the information it is spewing out.

At it again?: Haven't we seen this movie before? Guy walks in to bar, pulls a gun, demands money from the cash register, bartender surrenders the loot, robber flees but is arrested short time later.

Yup. Happened again at Buffa's Bar & Restaurant, 1001 Esplanade Ave., just before midnight Sunday (12.26.10). It took 8th District officers responding to the scene no time at all to arrest Travis Chapuis, 25, and charge him with armed robbery.

Chapuis has been arrested before for a similar caper. He was charged after the St. Charles Bar & Billards, 736 St. Charles Ave., was knocked over by an armed robber using virtually the same MO in the summer of 2009.

Ironically, Buffa's was robbed about the same time that summer. And District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro refused the charges against both Chapuis and the accused robber of Buffa's without explanation. How about doing your job this time, Leon, and protect us from thugs like these.

Woman leads them astray: It's not the first time in history it's happened, of course. But 2 young men, 24 and 25, made the acquaintance of a petite blond in the 200 block of Bourbon Street early on Christmas Eve (12.24.10) morning around 12:39 a.m.

After what the police report said were "some brief negotiations," the 2 guys agreed to walk with the young chick to an unspecified destination. While meandering for some time, the girl chatted numerous times on her cellphone, until they got to Dauphine and Gov. Nicholls streets where a black dude accosted them with a revolver and demanded the men's money. The victims refused and fought off the would-be robber before fleeing--looking back to see the thug fire 2 shots at them.

Police said the victims appeared to be intoxicated--imagine that--and neither was able to describe the dude. One victim didn't want to answer any questions at all, but the other couldn't forget the blond chick: White female, 4'10" to 5' tall, thin build. You can imagine the visions of sugarplums dancing in his head, but cops were unable to locate any such female after the incident.

Detectives did locate a video surveillance camera that showed the black gunman getting into a tan or gold Honda parked at Dauphine and Esplanade Avenue.

They are canvassing the area for additional video surveillance and for witnesses. They will re-interview the victims after they sober up.

According to Chief Serpas, the 8th District has established a Narcotics/Vice unit which has been targeting street-level narcotics and prostitution. As of August 2010, the 8th District's unit has investigated 22 prostitution cases resulting in 30 arrests.

Taking instead of giving: Not exactly in the spirit of "better to give than receive," the victims did the giving in these cases:

• Sunday (12.26.10) 10:05 p.m.: A 29-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of Kerlerec Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) was knocked to the ground by a black hoodlum who grabbed her purse and fled.

He was described as 20 to 25 years old, with a slim build and dark complexion, wearing a red baseball cap, off-white sweater and blue jeans.

• Wednesday (12.22.10) 9:00 p.m.: A white guy got into a cab on Bourbon Street when a black dude got in the other side and tried to grab his money. They struggled and the would-be robber fled on foot up Bourbon toward Canal Street.

He was described as 27 years old, 6' tall, with a thin build and long dreadlocks with blue beads.

• Tuesday (12.21.10) 4:24 p.m.: Two 15-year-old white boys walking near University Place and Canal Street were accosted by 2 black boys who pulled a gun and forced them into an alley where they were robbed of cash and 2 cellphones.

The robbers, who were caught on video surveillance, were described: one as 5'9" to 6' tall, weighing 140 pounds, with long dreadlocks, wearing a fluorescent traffic vest; the other as 5'6" tall, weighing 130 pounds, with short dreadlocks, wearing a black hooded jacket.

• Monday (12.20.10) 8:50 p.m.: Two white men, one 49 and the other 27, and a 22-year-old white woman were robbed at gunpoint by a black man while walking on Burgundy Street near St. Louis Street. The men threw their cash on the ground and the robber scooped it up and grabbed the woman's purse before fleeing.

8th District mounted police saw the perp running and apprehended him a few blocks away. They charged Lionel Hooks, 23, with 3 counts of armed robbery with a firearm, possession of a firearm by a felon, and illegal possession of a stolen firearm. He is sitting in OPP on $775,000 bond.

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

Sunday (12.19.10)

Aggravated Battery, Royal & St Peter, 12:02 a.m.
Business Burglary, 547 St Ann, 4:45 a.m.
Theft, 821 Gravier, 5:00 a.m.
Auto Theft, 7001 St Louis, 8:51 a.m.
Business Burglary, 351 Andrew Higgins, 4:33 p.m.

Monday (12.20.10)

Auto Burglary, Camp & Natchez, 2:08 a.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 2:27 p.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Magazine, 2:26 p.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 6:48 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 500 Burgundy, 8:51 p.m.

Tuesday (12.21.10)

Theft, 8 Canal, 11:16 a.m.
Auto Theft, S Claiborne & Cleveland, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 228 Poydras, 3:57 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 5:08 p.m.
Armed Robbery, Canal & University, 5:56 p.m.

Wednesday (12.22.10)

Pickpocketing, St Joseph & Tchoupitoulas, 1:58 a.m.
Theft, 827 Toulouse, 4:31 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Chartres & Esplanade, 7:24 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 621 Esplanade, 10:22 a.m.
Theft, 820 Poydras, 11:52 a.m.
Theft, 401 Magazine, 1:21 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 St Ann, 9:02 p.m.

Thursday (12.23.10)

Shoplifting, 1 Poydras, 3:41 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1200 N Peters, 7:25 p.m.

Friday (12.24.10)

Armed Robbery, Dauphine & Gov Nicholls, 12:39 a.m.
Theft, 417 Frenchmen', 11:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Frenchmen, 8:41 p.m.
Theft, 200 Poydras, 9:35 p.m.

Saturday (12.25.10)

None

* * *

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

Thom Kahler