Cops finally catch him

Fugitive teen tripped up: It might have seemed like a normal night on Bourbon Street to Byron Laird, 18, and a couple of his pals--until they got into a beef with another black dude and a gun came out.

The victim, a 22-year-old black man, was standing in the 400 block of Bourbon--that hellhole of mayhem between Conti and St. Louis streets--when he got into an argument around 2:30 a.m. Tuesday (2.22.11) with Elijah Dozier (middle), 19, who was hanging with Laird (top), 18, and a chick named Kaitlin Creshon (bottom), 19.

Up steps Laird, allegedly with a pistol, threatening the older black dude. He took off running.

It didn't take cops long to zero in on the teenage trio. Laird was booked with aggravated assault with a firearm, Dozier (who has an arrest for a previous weapons violation) with being a principle to aggravated assault, and Creshon with being an accessory to aggravated assault--and possession of a firearm in a joint that sells alcohol. All are being held in OPP on $15,000 bond apiece.

The police report states Laird has "an extensive criminal arrest history, including charges for armed robbery and simple robbery." It doesn't say whether Laird was ever arrested on a warrant for aggravated burglary issued back in 2008 when he was 15.

In that case, a gang of 5 teenaged black boys burst in on 2 Hispanic guys working inside a house at 831 Touro St. One of the young punks pulled a gun and demanded the workers' wallets.

Later 8th District detectives showed a photo lineup to the victims that included Laird's picture. The men positively ID'd Laird and the arrest warrant was issued.

The NOPD never reported whether they arrested him for that crime. Now they've got him and can put his bad ass away for some time.

Phones, the root of all evil: Seems like crooks aren't as interested in your money any more as they are in your iPhone. Instead of getting a measly $20 or so, they can peddle the pricey playthings for a pretty penny. There'd be darn few robberies every week if thieves weren't targeting iPhones--and victims didn't make it so easy by chatting/texting away, oblivious to the dangers around them:

• Tuesday (2.22.11) 6:15 p.m.: A 41-year-old white woman walking near Bourbon and St. Philip streets in the heart of the French Quarter was nearly robbed by a Hispanic scumbag with a knife who demanded her iPhone. She screamed and he ran.

He is described as 20 to 30 years old, 5'6" tall, with black or dark brown hair in a crew cut, wearing a faded gray jacket and jeans.

• Monday (2.21.11) 8:40 p.m.: A 27-year-old white female was walking near Lafayette and Tchoupitoulas streets in the CBD when a black thug came up and grabbed her iPhone out of her hand.

He is described as 30 years old, 5'8" tall, with a thin build, wearing a long white T-shirt and dark blue jeans.

• Sunday (2.20.11) 1:00 a.m.: A 60-year-old white guy on Royal Street near Canal Street, apparently oblivious to what was going on, was rolled by 2 white fellas who pushed him to the ground and cleaned the cash and cellphone from his pocket.

He didn't bother to report the crime until 12 hours later, and then couldn't give a description of the robbers.

Money, on the other hand...: Instead of going for an iPhone, this guy went for the money--and got arrested.

Monday night (2.21.11) around 10:30 p.m., a 28-year-old white man standing at Bourbon and St. Ann streets had his money grabbed from his pocket by another white guy.

Police managed to apprehend Hilmon Stigler, 27, and charge him with simple robbery. He is in OPP on $20,000 bond.

How'd he get out?: Not long after Buffa's bar, 1001 Esplanade Ave., was held up the day after Christmas last year, 8th District cops nabbed Travis Chapuis, 25, minutes later during a routine traffic stop just 4 blocks from the bar at St. Claude Avenue and Pauger Street. They arrested him and charged him with armed robbery, and hauled him off to OPP.

A couple of weeks later on 1.12.11 he tried to get the $125,000 bond he was being held on reduced; the magistrate refused. A couple of weeks after that (1.24.11), Judge Arthur Hunter Jr. assigned him a public defender.

A month later (2.13.11) Chapuis--who couldn't afford his own attorney--managed to pay his way out of OPP. Where does a poor guy get that kind of money?

Free, more or less: Just because you're a kid and get caught with a gun on Bourbon Street on New Year's Eve--and then try to flee the cops--doesn't mean you should go to jail. Does it?

Telly Hammond, 17, was busted on the holiday at Bourbon and Conti streets. He was charged with illegally carrying a weapon and resisting an officer. (It wasn't his first time either: The teen had been previously arrested for carrying a concealed weapon, possession of narcotics, possession of stolen property, and curfew violations.)

He pled guilty to both charges on Tuesday (2.22.11). Judge Arthur Hunter gave him a suspended 6-month sentence, but did order him to wear an electronic monitor to make sure he observes a 6 p.m. curfew until he reports 4.25.11 to the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program. Seems as good a place as any if you want to play with guns.

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

Sunday (2.13.11)

Auto Theft, 330 Loyola, 7:02 a.m.
Auto Theft, Camp & Poydras, 1:17 p.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 4:57 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 400 Girod, 7:02 p.m.

Monday (2.14.11)

Theft, 339 Bourbon, 1:26 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Iberville & Royal, 3:17 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 624 Gravier, 9:39 a.m.
Theft, Camp & Common, 11:17 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & Iberville, 12:10 p.m.
Theft, 228 St Charles, 3:27 p.m.
Theft, 219 Carondelet, 4:26 p.m.

Tuesday (2.15.11)

Business Burglary, 439 Decatur, 3:56 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1013 iberville, 6:20 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1135 Decatur, 10:06 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Bienville & N Peters, 4:59 p.m.

Wednesday (2.16.11)

Shoplifting, 1635 Tulane, 2:42 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 601 Iberville, 3:48 p.m.

Thursday (2.17.11)

Auto Burglary, 100 Chartres, 8:55 a.m.

Friday (2.18.11)

Aggravated Battery, Bourbon & Ursulines, 2:05 a.m.
Theft, 900 Royal, 11:35 a.m.
Theft, 900 Convention Center, 2:05 p.m.

Saturday (2.19.11)

Shoplifting, 444 Canal, 12:13 a.m.
Theft, 300 Canal, 5:03 p.m.
Theft, 416 Bourbon, 5:12 p.m.
Theft, 535 Tchoupitoulas, 6:52 p.m.

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

Thom Kahler