Victim tells it like it is

It's like Cmdr. Selby said...: Tommy Lee says he is the 51-year-old man who, along with his 19-year-old son, were the victims in that shooting July 8 in front of the Krystal burger joint on Bourbon Street. He laments that Cmdr. Eddie Selby resigned because of the brouhaha that arose after he ordered his officers to target armed black men just a week to the day before Lee and his son were gunned down.

"I feel that if Mr. Selby's comments were taken seriously, maybe I wouldn't have gotten shot. And neither would my son that night," Lee said.

"If I were the mayor, I would promote Eddie Selby to police chief. That way he could start cleaning up the city of the thugs that are nothing but a drain on society. Maybe then, when I come back home to visit I could feel a lot safer," he added.

"The FBI profiles,and so does the Border Patrol. So could you please explain to me why the NOPD doesn't," he asks, regarding Selby's instructions to his troops. "Do you really think being politically correct as to not hurt the feelings of the black community--than to do what ever it takes within the law to clean up the streets of New Orleans--is better for the city? Are you not tired of being at the top of the murder rates and violent crimes in the nation? The city of New Orleans as a whole really deserves a lot better."

It distresses him too that only the shooter's accomplice has been caught and not the shooter himself. "I saw a picture of the shooter on the net. How could you have a picture of him but no name? From the looks of him, his picture and name should be in some police department's records somewhere," he says. "Give me 10 minutes and I could get that punk to spill his guts and name his partner in crime, then spill some more guts! Sure hope you catch that other piece of garbage also."

So there. Let's stop worrying whose feathers we ruffle and do what it takes to get these miscreants off the street.

Let that guy from the NAACP do what he has to do to for the "advancement of colored people" which should be far different than blaming white folks for their woes.

CARnal knowledge: It seems lately that more robbers are using vehicles to swoop down on their victims in the French Quarter. Of course, the pedestrian perps are always with us. The bike bandits seem to have tapered off recently. The only trend--really--is to pay attention at all times. And maybe go to bed early--note the times of these crimes:

• Friday (7.15.11) 11:30 p.m.: An 18-year-old white fella walking on Bienville Street toward Bourbon Street was held up by 2 black thugs who asked him for money and then tugged at their waistbands like they had a weapon. The victim gave it up and the robbers fled on foot on Bienville toward Dauphine Street.

Both were described as 5'7" to 5'9" tall, with light complexions, wearing baggy white shirts and long shorts.

• Saturday (7.16.11) 2 a.m.: A 73-year-old black gentleman walking on N. Peters Street near Iberville Street was robbed by 2 black punks who stuck what seemed to be a gun in his back.

The robbers were described as around 20 years old, 5'10" tall, wearing all black with hooded sweatshirts.

• Saturday (7.16.11) 5:50 a.m.: A 23-year-old white guy walking in the 800 block of Iberville Street, near the Acme Oyster House, was approached by 2 transvestites dressed as women. One pepper sprayed the victim while the other reached into his pants pocket for his money.

• Wednesday (7.20.11) 3:45 a.m.: A 24-year-old white man walking on S. Liberty Street near Tulane University Hospital was robbed by a black hoodlum who hopped out of a tan-colored Chrysler Cirrus and pulled a pistol. The victim raised his hands and the robber took the money from his pockets and ordered the victim to walk away.

The robber was described as 25 years old, 5'9" tall, wearing a white T-shirt and long gray shorts; the car's driver was described as skinny, with gold teeth, wearing a white T-shirt.

• Thursday (7.21.11) 3 a.m.: A 49-year-old white man was walking near Dauphine and Orleans streets when a blue Ford Expedition pulled up and 2 men emerged from the back hatch with handguns and demanded the victim's wallet.

Police later apprehended Darnell Trosclair (top right), 23; Bernardo Hernandez (top left), 17; Reina Rodriguez (bottom right), 29; Christian Garrett (bottom left), 19.

Each is charged with armed robbery with a firearm and is being held in OPP on $100,000 bond.

• Friday (7.22.11) 3 a.m.: A Lucky Dog vendor, a white man 46, was robbed by 2 black thugs at Royal and St. Peter streets, near the old A&P store. One pulled a pistol and demanded money and the other stuck a knife to the victim's back. The robbers fled in different directions with the vendor's loot.

Both robbers were described as 25 to 30 years old, one 6'4" tall, weighing 250 pounds, with short hair, wearing all dark clothing; the other 5'10" tall, with a stocky build and shoulder-length dreadlocks, wearing all dark clothing.

• Saturday (7.23.11) 11:30 p.m.: A 26-year-old white guy walking on Burgundy Street near St. Anthony Street in the Marigny Triangle was robbed by 2 black punks who pulled a handgun and made off with his Apple laptop computer, iPhone, and wallet.

The victim didn't bother to report the crime until the next day, and then his description of them was none too lucid: Both black, one with a thin build, both wearing white T-shirts.

How about getting your ear off your phone and your eyes off your computer, and pay attention. Maybe reporting the theft sooner might have led to the robbers' arrest, or even prevented more robberies (see below).

• Sunday (7.24.11) 12:30 a.m.: A 27-year-old white man walking on St. Ann Street between Dauphine and Burgundy streets was robbed by 2 black felons who pulled a pistol and demanded his money.

The robbers were described as 5'8" to 5'9" tall, with a thin build and shoulder length dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt and baggy dark-colored pants; the other was described only as wearing a white T-shirt.

• Sunday (7.24.11) 1:15 a.m.: A 42-year-old Hispanic man had his cellphone snatched out of his hand while he was standing on St. Louis Street near Bourbon Street by a black boy who was apprehended a short time later.

Police arrested Jeremy James (right), 20, and charged him with simple robbery. He is being held in OPP on $5,000.

• Sunday (7.24.11) 3:45 a.m.: A 25-year-old white gal walking on Dauphine Street near Kerlerec Street in the Marigny Triangle had her purse snatched by 2 black thieves who grabbed it and fled on foot.

Police captured Devin Green (right), 23, and Herman Falls (who managed to bail before his mugshot was available), 19, and charged both of them with simple robbery, simple battery, and illegal possession of stolen things. Each is being held on $35,000 bond.

Curious choice: Chief Ronal Serpas' choice of Darryl Albert (pictured left) as acting Deputy Chief in charge of the NOPD's field operations, considering his close association with former 8th District commander Edwin Hosli and recently resigned commander Eddie Selby.

Albert, along with Selby, had been part of Hosli's team, going back to the days Hosli was commander of the 2nd District (2002-2007). When Hosli took over the 8th District, both Lt. Selby and Lt. Albert came along.

When Albert made captain, he was transferred to head the SWAT team. Shortly after Serpas became chief, he named Albert commander of the 2nd District in Uptown in June, 2010. Albert was a district commander for only a little over a year before joining another former 2nd District commander, Kirk Bouyelas, as deputy chief.

It's not a bad choice, but it's hard to know what to make of the tall, taciturn Cajun, though he's worked with the best the NOPD had.

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Recent crimes in the 8th District

Sunday (7.10.11)

Shooting, 500 Bourbon, 3:44 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 10:38 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Chartres & Iberville, 3:55 p.m.
Shoplifting, 915 Decatur, 7:22 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 Magazine, 7:56 p.m.
Shoplifting, 1021 Decatur, 9:10 p.m.

Monday (7.11.11)

Rape, 800 Gravier, 1:50 a.m.
Business Burglary, 401 Baronne, 5:40 a.m.
Auto Theft, S Claiborne & Poydras, 8:52 a.m.
Auto Theft, Conti & N Rampart, 9:48 a.m.
Theft, 542 Tchoupitoulas, 12:03 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 501 Decatur, 1:52 p.m.

Tuesday (7.12.11)

Bicycle Theft, 800 Conti, 12:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Burgundy, 6:14 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 1107 Decatur, 2:56 p.m.

Wednesday (7.13.11)

Shoplifting, 515 St Louis, 12:17 p.m.
Shoplifting, 507 Decatur, 1:50 p.m.
Shoplifting, 333 Chartres, 1:51 p.m.
Theft, 620 Chartres, 3:41 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Conti, 4:51 p.m.

Thursday (7.14.11)

Rape, Convention Center & Julia, 1:53 p.m.
Theft, 315 Magazine, 3:37 p.m.

Friday (7.15.11)

Armed Robbery, Bienville & Bourbon, 11:59 p.m.

Saturday (7.16.11)

Armed Robbery, 200 N Peters, 2:08 a.m.
Theft, 1031 Orleans, 7:44 a.m.
Theft, Decatur & Toulouse, 12:49 p.m.
Business Burglary, 618 Gravier, 1:00 p.m.

Sunday (7.17.11)

Theft, 925 Common St, 12:40 a.m.
Theft, 135 St Charles Ave, 5:08 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon St, 8:37 a.m.
Theft, 123 Carondelet St, 9:12 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 2 Poydras, 10:04 a.m.
Shoplifting, 800 Royal St, 11:31 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 800 Gravier St, 11:26 p.m.

Monday (7.18.11)

Theft, 1824 N Rampart, 10:26 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & St Louis, 11:38 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 4:15 p.m.
Theft, 214 Royal, 5:21 p.m.

Tuesday (7.19.11)

Theft, 739 Canal, 12:37 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Bienville, 9:54 a.m.

Wednesday (7.20.11)

Armed Robbery, 300 S Liberty, 3:54 a.m.
Aggravated Assault, 441 Royal, 10:24 p.m.

Thursday (7.21.11)

Armed Robbery, Dauphine & Orleans, 3:00 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 801 St Charles, 7:52 a.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 2:39 p.m.
Theft, 327 St Charles, 4:02 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal, 6:02 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 411 Bourbon, 7:04 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 520 St Philip, 7:11 p.m.
Theft, 1015 Decatur, 10:57 p.m.

Friday (7.22.11)

Auto Theft, Esplanade & Royal, 12:26 a.m.
Armed Robbery, Royal & St Peter, 1:13 a.m.
Theft, 228 Poydras, 11:43 a.m.
Theft, 500 Dauphine St, 3:28 p.m.
Theft, 100 Iberville St, 4:24 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 917 Decatur St, 7:36 p.m.

Saturday (7.23.11)

Theft, 739 Canal St, 12:48 a.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon St, 3:08 a.m.
Auto Theft, 814 S Peters St, 8:10 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Andrew Higgins & St Charles, 1:33 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Andrew Higgins & St Charles, 4:18 p.m.
Theft, 333 Chartres St, 5:21 p.m.

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

Thom Kahler