Trick or treat--you decide: What's surprising about last week's Halloween is that everyone acts like it was something out of the ordinary. On the contrary, it was much like Halloween last year when 2 men were killed in the French Quarter and another shot in the head.
In the most notable case that weekend last year was the stabbing death of a Marine sergeant while escorting his wife in the Quarter. A suspect and his girlfriend were finally apprehended in December.
What may have caught the public's attention this year were the number of bystanders hit by stray bullets as gunmen in 2 incidents sprayed the streets with gunfire in going after their intended targets. Bullets flying all around takes the fun out of being there.
- Bourbon and St. Louis streets, 11.1.11, 12:13 a.m.: After a gunman opened fire on a crowd in front of Chris Owens Club, police at first thought it was a shoot-out between 2 men with checkered pasts.
Turns out, Albert Glover, 25, wasn't packing heat this night, though he had a long rap sheet and was under indictment for pushing heroin. He was shot dead and 7 other people who got in the way--4 men and 3 women in their early 20s--received superficial wounds.
Three days later (11.4.11), cops nabbed Marvin Carter,
19, and charged him with murder. Police Chief Ronal Serpas labeled both the shooter and the victim as possible career criminals.
Three days later (11.4.11), cops nabbed Marvin Carter,
19, and charged him with murder. Police Chief Ronal Serpas labeled both the shooter and the victim as possible career criminals.Carter's record shows 6 felony and 6 misdemeanor arrests, including illegally carrying weapons, carjacking, trespass, and bringing contraband into jail.
Glover's record shows 5 felony and 17 misdemeanor arrests, including possession of heroin, marijuana and oxycodone, resisting an officer, and filing false public records.
Glover's record shows 5 felony and 17 misdemeanor arrests, including possession of heroin, marijuana and oxycodone, resisting an officer, and filing false public records.
- Canal Street at University Place, 11.1.11, 1:45 a.m.: Cops wasted no
time in taking down Baltiman Malcolm, 24, after he allegedly opened fire with a Glock with an extended magazine, spraying 32 rounds into the crowd.
Dead in the aftermath was Joshua Lewis, 19; wounded were a 19-year-old boy and two 18-year-old girls. Lewis' offense? Bumping into Malcolm, which Malcolm took as license to gun him down with his latest illegal weapon.
When police saw 3 men running from the scene, they managed to collar Malcolm and one of his buddies while the third escaped. The second suspect was released while Malcolm was charged with one count of first-degree murder and 3 counts of attempted murder.
Why?: After the spree of Halloween homicides and scary shootings, Mayor Mitch Landrieu and Super Chief Ronal Serpas were asking "Why?"
Mayor Mitch called it the result of a "culture of violence", what he sees as guns trumping fists. His criminal justice honcho, James Carter, touted other such sociological remedies.
Chief Serpas says the NOPD is doing "all" it can do (where have you heard that before?), and that 100 cops were in "spitting" distance (in the words of the TP) of the Bourbon Street shootout. (I don't know about you, but I can only hock one about 6 feet with a stiff back wind. In the video of the crowd fleeing the shooting scene that was shown over and over again on TV showed no cops. I guess the chief's spitting distance if far greater than mine.)
The problem is, New Orleans can't wait for the next generation to outgrow the "culture of violence" (if that miracle should ever occur) to cure the crime problem. The problem is right NOW and no number of officers on the streets seems to be deterrent--police are continually perplexed by the number of miscreants willing to do their dirty deeds with cops only a few feet away.
So what's the solution?
Obviously, the proliferation of guns makes shootings easier. Oddly, the guns are more often used on a shooter's rival than on a robbery victim. And, more often than not, it seems, the gun is in the hand of a convicted felon who has no right to possess it.
(The NOPD's 1st District, right across N. Rampart Street from the French Quarter's 8th District, has been almost legendary in hauling in felons in possession. The entire NOPD could take lessons from Cmdr. Robert Norton's troops.)
Ironically, in New Orleans this week was William Bratton, former police chief of New York and Los Angeles--the father of the "broken window" tactic of policing that says if you take care of the small problems it will help solve the big ones.
This bucks the current trend in New Orleans to let the little crimes slide and concentrate on the big ones. That seems to mean that dog poop will accumulate on the sidewalks, graffiti on signs, glass bottles on the streets (which often wind up as weapons), all the while allowing cops to go after the really bad guys. Maybe.
But I contend this indifference to the small stuff (and patrolling in cars with the windows rolled up and the officer on his cellphone to his girlfriend) breeds a lack of respect for the NOPD--reinforcing the old adage that "NOPD" stands for "Not Our Problem Dude."
But I contend this indifference to the small stuff (and patrolling in cars with the windows rolled up and the officer on his cellphone to his girlfriend) breeds a lack of respect for the NOPD--reinforcing the old adage that "NOPD" stands for "Not Our Problem Dude."
Add to this the repeated effort to eradicate irresponsible cops from the force, and you can see criminals don't fear the NOPD--and feel free to operate with impunity on our streets.
Family rats him out: In great detective work that followed lax police work after a Slidell optometrist was murdered and robbed in the French Quarter, cops identified a Dillard student as the likely culprit. Then the suspect's family ratted him out and led police to 19-year-old Bobby J. Troy Jr.
U.S. Marshals arrested Troy
in Missouri shortly after midnight Thursday morning (11.10.11) on a charge of 2nd-degree murder. He is awaiting extradition to New Orleans.
in Missouri shortly after midnight Thursday morning (11.10.11) on a charge of 2nd-degree murder. He is awaiting extradition to New Orleans.Police say Troy has been arrested in the past for battery and disturbing the peace, as well as criminal damage to property, and that he has also been picked up for curfew violations and as a runaway on 2 occasions.
Police say Troy has been arrested in the past for battery and disturbing the peace, as well as criminal damage to property, and that he has also been picked up for curfew violations and as a runaway on 2 occasions.
Troy is accused of striking 37-year-old Brent Hachfeld on the back of the head and robbing him at Dauphine and Dumaine streets on 10.16.11. Hachfeld was hauled by ambulance to the hospital where he died a short time later.
Homicide detectives were able to obtain video surveillance tape from around the crime scene and to match Troy's DNA from a previous domestic abuse arrest in March with evidence at the crime scene.
Then, acting on a tip, they sifted through hours of surveillance footage obtained from the Greyhound Bus station on Loyola Avenue and recognized Troy at the ticket counter and boarding a bus to Missouri. Arriving too late at the bus station to apprehend Troy, the police distributed pictures of him to local authorities there.
(The NOPD's highly-paid flak, Remi Braden, distributed copies of the surveillance video from Dauphine Street to "all local media" but didn't bother to show it to the public. Those TV stations might show it once or twice, but otherwise the public has no access to it, like on YouTube. More effort on the part of the NOPD's "Public" Affairs Division might have kept this murder suspect from slipping from local homicide detectives' grasp.)
(The NOPD's highly-paid flak, Remi Braden, distributed copies of the surveillance video from Dauphine Street to "all local media" but didn't bother to show it to the public. Those TV stations might show it once or twice, but otherwise the public has no access to it, like on YouTube. More effort on the part of the NOPD's "Public" Affairs Division might have kept this murder suspect from slipping from local homicide detectives' grasp.)
On the ball: Sometimes it takes a while, but 8th District Det. John Ball always seems to get his man. This time the suspect was already in OPP after being arrested on another charge when Ball linked him to the shooting of 2 men last July in the 100 block of Bourbon Street.
Det. Ball booked 
Kendell Frank, 22, who had eluded police since the 7.8.11 shooting in front of the Krystal burger joint, and charged him on 2 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder on 11.4.11. When Ball found Frank had been booked into OPP, he put together a photo line-up to show a witness and got a positive ID of Frank as the shooter in the July incident.
Kendell Frank, 22, who had eluded police since the 7.8.11 shooting in front of the Krystal burger joint, and charged him on 2 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder on 11.4.11. When Ball found Frank had been booked into OPP, he put together a photo line-up to show a witness and got a positive ID of Frank as the shooter in the July incident.According to police, Frank has a long criminal history, including illegal use of a firearm, aggravated battery, various other battery charges. He is being held on $700,000 bond.
On 7.13.11, police arrested Frank's accomplice, Michael F. Fulton, 21. He is being held without bond in OPP.* * *
Crimes in the last 2 weeks in the 8th District
Sunday (10.16.11) Theft, Canal & N Peters, 6:20 a.m.
Auto Theft, Loyola & Poydras, 11:06 a.m.
Shoplifting, 406 N Peters, 9:51 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Royal, 10:06 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 100 Bourbon, 11:08 p.m.
Monday (10.17.11)Auto Theft, Loyola & Poydras, 11:06 a.m.
Shoplifting, 406 N Peters, 9:51 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 Royal, 10:06 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 100 Bourbon, 11:08 p.m.
Auto Theft, 235 S Villere, 4:50 p.m.
Auto Theft, 701 S Rampart, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday (10.18.11)Auto Theft, 701 S Rampart, 7:30 p.m.
Theft, 1542 Tulane, 8:47 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & St Louis, 12:10 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Philip, 4:06 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & St Ann, 4:40 p.m.
Wednesday (10.19.11)Auto Theft, Decatur & St Louis, 12:10 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Philip, 4:06 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & St Ann, 4:40 p.m.
Auto Theft, 301 St Joseph, 7:48 a.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 2:43 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Carondelet, 4:03 p.m.
Auto Theft, 200 S Villere, 5:10 p.m.
Shoplifting , 705 Camp, 5:29 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 365 Canal, 5:33 p.m.
Shoplifting , 400 N Peters, 6:33 p.m.
Thursday (10.20.11)Theft, 8 Canal, 2:43 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Carondelet, 4:03 p.m.
Auto Theft, 200 S Villere, 5:10 p.m.
Shoplifting , 705 Camp, 5:29 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 365 Canal, 5:33 p.m.
Shoplifting , 400 N Peters, 6:33 p.m.
Auto Theft, 435 Esplanade, 5:19 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Perdido, 8:35 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Decatur & St Louis, 12:33 p.m.
Theft, 123 Baronne, 1:40 p.m.
Friday (10.21.11)Auto Burglary, Baronne & Perdido, 8:35 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Decatur & St Louis, 12:33 p.m.
Theft, 123 Baronne, 1:40 p.m.
Theft, 1300 Perdido, 2:45 a.m.
Shoplifting, 800 Canal, 7:08 a.m.
Theft, 800 Common, 9:36 a.m.
Theft, 935 Gravier, 5:28 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Conti, 10:21 p.m.
Saturday (10.22.11)Shoplifting, 800 Canal, 7:08 a.m.
Theft, 800 Common, 9:36 a.m.
Theft, 935 Gravier, 5:28 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Conti, 10:21 p.m.
Theft, 300 Chartres, 12:01 a.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Barracks, 5:04 a.m.
Theft, 301 Camp, 5:42 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 935 Barracks, 11:22 a.m.
Theft, Decatur & St Peter, 5:45 p.m.
Theft, 801 Bourbon, 11:49 p.m.
Sunday (10.23.11)Auto Theft, 500 Barracks, 5:04 a.m.
Theft, 301 Camp, 5:42 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 935 Barracks, 11:22 a.m.
Theft, Decatur & St Peter, 5:45 p.m.
Theft, 801 Bourbon, 11:49 p.m.
Theft, 516 Bourbon, 12:20 a.m.
Burglary, 1300 Canal, 8:27 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1201 Burgundy, 12:42 p.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 10:18 p.m.
Monday (10.24.11)Burglary, 1300 Canal, 8:27 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1201 Burgundy, 12:42 p.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 10:18 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Union, 6:46 a.m.
Theft, Magazine & Poydras, 7:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, 732 Camp, 9:23 a.m.
Theft, 129 Royal, 12:44 p.m.
Shoplifting, 808 Chartres, 5:35 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Baronne, 5:56 p.m.
Auto Theft, Constance & Lafayette, 7:29 p.m.
Tuesday (10.25.11)Theft, Magazine & Poydras, 7:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, 732 Camp, 9:23 a.m.
Theft, 129 Royal, 12:44 p.m.
Shoplifting, 808 Chartres, 5:35 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Baronne, 5:56 p.m.
Auto Theft, Constance & Lafayette, 7:29 p.m.
Auto Theft, Poydras & Tchoupitoulas, 2:34 a.m.
Theft, 1431 Royal, 3:22 a.m.
Theft, Poydras & Tchoupitoulas, 4:44 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1100 Poydras, 1:46 p.m.
Theft, 411 Bourbon, 10:26 p.m.
Wednesday (10.26.11)Theft, 1431 Royal, 3:22 a.m.
Theft, Poydras & Tchoupitoulas, 4:44 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1100 Poydras, 1:46 p.m.
Theft, 411 Bourbon, 10:26 p.m.
Theft, 623 Frenchmen, 12:30 a.m.
Armed Robbery (knife), 500 Dumaine, 12:51 a.m.
Theft, 721 Bourbon, 2:42 a.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 12:09 p.m.
Theft, 1500 Poydras, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 6:32 p.m.
Theft, 1300 Perdido, 7:04 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 637 St Peter, 8:47 p.m.
Thursday (10.27.11)Armed Robbery (knife), 500 Dumaine, 12:51 a.m.
Theft, 721 Bourbon, 2:42 a.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 12:09 p.m.
Theft, 1500 Poydras, 3:51 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 6:32 p.m.
Theft, 1300 Perdido, 7:04 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 637 St Peter, 8:47 p.m.
Theft, 240 Bourbon, 12:50 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Canal & Elk Pl, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 1834 Dauphine, 11:14 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 11:25 a.m.
Shoplifting, 1000 Canal, 1:06 p.m.
Simple Robbery Attempt, Decatur & Ursuline, 6:57 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 900 Dumaine, 7:03 p.m.
Friday (10.28.11)Simple Robbery, Canal & Elk Pl, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 1834 Dauphine, 11:14 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 11:25 a.m.
Shoplifting, 1000 Canal, 1:06 p.m.
Simple Robbery Attempt, Decatur & Ursuline, 6:57 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 900 Dumaine, 7:03 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & Orleans, 1:05 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 S Rampart, 3:19 a.m.
Theft, 801 Chartres, 7:27 a.m.
Business Burglary, 800 Common, 7:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Wilkinson, 4:45 p.m.
Saturday (10.29.11)Auto Burglary, 300 S Rampart, 3:19 a.m.
Theft, 801 Chartres, 7:27 a.m.
Business Burglary, 800 Common, 7:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Wilkinson, 4:45 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 500 Iberville, 2:13 a.m.
Theft, 1412 Royal, 11:23 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 1:59 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1212 Royal, 3:12 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 800 Conti, 9:33 p.m.
Burglary, 300 Bourbon, 10:13 p.m.
Theft, 1412 Royal, 11:23 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 1:59 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1212 Royal, 3:12 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 800 Conti, 9:33 p.m.
Burglary, 300 Bourbon, 10:13 p.m.
* * *
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com
Thom Kahler
Thom Kahler
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