Fighting words: NOPD officers never quite know how to handle the culprits in a fight. For instance, this past week they were thrilled they finally arrested a suspect in a vicious attack on a 27-year-old local drunk at the Jax Brewery Bistro Bar.
The police report said the suspect put the victim in a headlock, choked him until he lost consciousness, then threw him down a flight of stairs head-first around 12:15 a.m. on 10.16.11.
Later it was revealed the victim was in the process of being 86'd from the bar's outdoor patio after he threw an empty beer bottle at a parked pick-up truck. While in the grasp of the bouncer, he bumped into another customer, spilling his drink. That customer, rather than saying "Whoa, dude", went ballistic on the drunk.
A police report was written, but strangely it took 7 weeks for the NOPD to release a picture of the alleged attacker from the bar's video surveillance--after the victim moaned that he'd been in a coma and treated for massive injuries that he couldn't pay for because he had no health insurance.
It took
10 days before the suspect was identified as Jason S. Lawrence, 23. He surrendered at Central Lock-Up on 12.14.11 and was charged with 2nd-degree battery; he was released the same day on $25,000 bond.
Later it was revealed the victim was in the process of being 86'd from the bar's outdoor patio after he threw an empty beer bottle at a parked pick-up truck. While in the grasp of the bouncer, he bumped into another customer, spilling his drink. That customer, rather than saying "Whoa, dude", went ballistic on the drunk.
A police report was written, but strangely it took 7 weeks for the NOPD to release a picture of the alleged attacker from the bar's video surveillance--after the victim moaned that he'd been in a coma and treated for massive injuries that he couldn't pay for because he had no health insurance.
It took
10 days before the suspect was identified as Jason S. Lawrence, 23. He surrendered at Central Lock-Up on 12.14.11 and was charged with 2nd-degree battery; he was released the same day on $25,000 bond.Ironically, later that same morning around 4:30 a.m. after the Jax brouhaha, Dr. Brent Hechfeld was found on the sidewalk at Dauphine and Dumaine streets bleeding profusely. Cops on the scene wrote it off as a "medical situation" and left without writing a report--until later when the victim died and the coroner called it a homicide.
It took them only 3 weeks to view video surveillance tapes and identify a suspect. Bobby J. Troy Jr., 19, was arrested in Missouri 4 days later and was extradited to New Orleans on 12.13.11, charged with 2nd-degree murder and armed robbery. He's in OPP on $450,000 bond.
Contrast all this with an incident a couple of years ago involving the son of the Gretna police chief who is an aide to a prominent Jefferson Parish councilman. In the wee hours of the morning on Canal Street, he round-housed on a 21-year-old guy from Texas who was annoying him and his friends, putting the victim in the hospital with a coma.
8th District cops on the scene wrote the chief's son a summons for misdemeanor simple battery, sending him to municipal court to have his hand slapped. What's the difference between this coma case and the Jax dust-up? Oh, yeah: his daddy's a top cop and his boss is a big wig.
Hey taxi driver!: Yeah, I'm talking to you, scumbag. NOPD sex crimes detectives are looking for a Middle Eastern-looking driver for American Taxi who picked up an 18-year-old white girl early on the morning of 12.17.11 around 2:30 a.m. at 839 S. Peters St. in the Warehouse District and tried to rape her in the cab. She managed to escape from cab in the 9200 block of Airline Highway and sought help.
The creep driving the
cab was described as of Middle Eastern descent or possibly Hispanic. He's thought to be in his mid-30's, with a stocky build, unkempt with "scruffy" facial hair. The cab he was driving had the American Taxi logo on the side of the white minivan, which was possibly a Toyota Sienna.
cab was described as of Middle Eastern descent or possibly Hispanic. He's thought to be in his mid-30's, with a stocky build, unkempt with "scruffy" facial hair. The cab he was driving had the American Taxi logo on the side of the white minivan, which was possibly a Toyota Sienna.If you see this driver (composite sketch), call Det. Corey M. Lymous of the NOPD's Special Victims Section, 658-5523.
Remember a few years ago when a driver for American Taxi raped a fare he picked up Uptown. Did they ever catch that guy? You'd think the cab company could tell you who was driving a given cab at a given time. Where's the Taxicab Bureau when you really need them? Check American Taxi's website to see what past fares have to say about its drivers.Not the only one: Another young white woman was the victim of an attempted rape a couple of days later. A 19-year-old woman was in a parking garage at 819 Iberville St. (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets) in the middle of the day 12.19.11 around 11:27 a.m. when she was attacked by a black punk. She suffered minor cuts in the attack, but she managed to fight him off and send him fleeing from the garage.
The creep 
is described as 20 to 23 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 150 to 175 pounds, with an athletic build, a dark complexion, unshaven or a light beard, hair braided to the scalp with a white seashell on the end of each braid which hung off his head about 2", wearing a white T-shirt with blue and gray tribal designs, a black denim jacket with possibly a black hood, gray stone-washed (worn) jeans, high-top black and red Nike sneakers with a checkered design on the heel.
is described as 20 to 23 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 150 to 175 pounds, with an athletic build, a dark complexion, unshaven or a light beard, hair braided to the scalp with a white seashell on the end of each braid which hung off his head about 2", wearing a white T-shirt with blue and gray tribal designs, a black denim jacket with possibly a black hood, gray stone-washed (worn) jeans, high-top black and red Nike sneakers with a checkered design on the heel.(That's the best description of a perp I've read in the 5 years I've been writing these reports. Hurray for the victim who paid such close attention!)
He is believed to frequent hotels on Tulane Avenue and hang out in the French Quarter. Another sexual assault occurred 2 days after this one on 12.21.11 around 9 p.m. on Tulane, right by Tulane University Hospital.
iPhones the root of all evil: Or maybe all robberies. For a while there it seemed like the bulk of the robberies were motivated by motor-mouths who didn't see the robbers coming. Many but not all robberies involving iPhones:
- Monday (12.5.11) 6:40 p.m.: A 54-year-old man was jabbering on his iPhone in the 600 block of Royal Street when a black guy ran up and grabbed the phone from his hand and kept on running to St. Peter Street where he turned toward N. Rampart Street.
The thief was described as 6' tall, with a thin build, wearing a brown hoodie and blue jeans.
- Friday (12.9.11) 6:30 p.m.: A white man (no age given) was standing in the 400 block of Royal Street using his iPhone when a black thug rode up on his bicycle and snatched the man's phone.
The victim struggled with the robber, but the robber got away with the phone--but left his bicycle. He ran up Royal to St. Louis Street and turned toward Chartres Street.
- Friday (12.9.11) 10:55 p.m.: A 48-year-old white lady arrived home at 724 Gov. Nicholls St. to be greeted in her courtyard by 3 black punks who demanded her iPhone, keys and purse. She gave up her purse and they fled.
One of the robbers was described as having a slim build and wide mouth, wearing a dark knit cap, thick jacket and dark baggie jeans; the second was described as wearing a light-colored top and light-colored pants and a dark knit cap; there was no description of the third robber.
- Sunday (12.11.11) 7:55 p.m.: A 52-year-old white man walking in the 200 block of Chartres Street had his iPhone
snatched from his by a black boy who fled on foot. The victim chased down the robber and retrieved his phone and held the robber until police arrived.
They arrested Kalin Johnson, 21, and charged him with simple robbery. He is in OPP on $25,000 bond.
- Wednesday (12.14.11) 1:15 a.m.: A 26-year-old white woman standing at Bourbon and St. Ann streets texting on her iPhone had it grabbed from her hand by a black boy who fled on Bourbon toward Dumaine Street.
He was described as 5'5" tall, extremely skinny, wearing a red baseball cap, red and black hoodie, blue jeans, and red and black tennis shoes.
- Wednesday (12.14.11) 3:35 p.m.: Two elderly Asian women, one 68, the other 71, were robbed of one of their purses when a gang of 2 black girls and 2 black boys coming from the opposite direction accosted them at Decatur and Dumaine streets.
The female robbers were described as wearing khaki pants, one with a red jacket, the other with a white shirt; one of the boys was wearing black pants and white shirt, the other wearing khaki pants and a black jacket.
- Sunday (12.17.11) 2:30 a.m.: A 30-year-old white woman was about to get in her car in the 800 block of St. Peter Street when a black thug grabbed her from behind and pulled her purse from her grasp before fleeing on foot toward Dauphine Street.
He was only described as having shoulder-length dreadlocks and wearing a dark-colored sweatshirt.
- Sunday (12.17.11) 3:00 a.m.: The 61-year-old proprietor of a Lucky Dog cart at Bourbon and Iberville streets was counting his money when a black punk came up and grabbed it from his hand before fleeing on Iberville toward the river.
The robber was described as 20 to 30 years old, 5'9" tall, with a stocky build, wearing a blue jacket, red T-shirt and blue jeans.
- Sunday (12.18.11) 11:00 p.m.: A 57-year-old white man walking on Bourbon Street near Ursulines Street when a black thug blocked his path and then grabbed his wallet. The perp fled to a car at the corner and sped away.
The victim was unable to give a description either of the car or the robber.
- Friday (12.23.11) 7:10 p.m.: A 28-year-old Asian female was standing near Tchoupitoulas and Canal streets when a black crook swooped down on her and grabbed her iPhone out of her hand.
He is described as 6' tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a red jacket and blue jeans.
- Friday (12.23.11) 7:20 p.m.: A 30-year-old white woman walking and talking on Toulouse Street near Chartres Street had her iPhone swiped out of her hand by a 15-year-old black boy whom 8th District cops later caught.
- Sunday (12.25.11) 7:00 a.m.: A 39-year-old Asian woman had her iPhone stolen out of her hand by a black thug as she was walking near Conti and N. Rampart streets.
The perp was described as 25 to 30 years old,, 5'9" to 5'10" tall, weighing 145 to 150 pounds, wearing a white jacket.
- Wednesday (12.28.11) 4:30 p.m.: An undercover 8th District cop dressed in plain clothes nabbed a 14-year-old black boy just minutes after the juvenile snatched an iPhone from the hands of a 58-year-old white man who was texting on the phone at Chartres and St. Louis streets.
Ofc. Jason Collins chased the boy and his accomplice, catching only the thief. The boy denied stealing the phone, at which point Ofc. Collins asked the victim for the phone's number. He called the number and the phone started ringing in the miscreant's pocket. The phone was returned to its owner and the boy was booked with simple robbery.
It would be nice to know what happens to the little crook in the judicial system. Of course, because he's a juvenile, we'll never know, though he probably wouldn't get any more than a slap on the wrist like other phone thieves (see item below).
- Wednesday (12.28.11) 5:25 p.m.: A 24-year-old white woman walking near Andrew Higgins Drive and Constance Street in the CBD was accosted by 2 black robbers who pushed her against the wall and demanded her money. She complied and they fled into a waiting car on Constance.
She described one as 5'11" tall, wearing a beige sweatshirt, and the other as 5'9" tall.
On 12.19.11, Leonard Gamble, 
21, pled guilty to simple robbery for an iPhone theft last January. His punishment? Derbigny gave him a 3-year suspended sentence, setting him free.
21, pled guilty to simple robbery for an iPhone theft last January. His punishment? Derbigny gave him a 3-year suspended sentence, setting him free.I doubt Gamble believes that's punishment at all--he probably figures he got away with something.
In September, Judge Derbigny let 2 young crooks plead to lesser charges in 2 iPhone thefts and gave them a 2-year suspended sentence--once again signalling to them they did nothing wrong because they got to go free.If you're tired of this kind of lax "punishment" by Judge Derbigny, let him know by clicking on his name and emailing him with your thoughts--maybe forward him a copy of this article.
The shooter
was described as Hispanic, late 40's to early 50's, 5'3" to 5'4" tall, weighing 180 to 190 pounds, with a stocky build, salt-and-pepper hair and visible age lines around his eyes and cheeks, spoke with a heavy Hispanic accent and broken English, wearing a black sweatshirt with a leather zipper jacket, blue shirt and black jeans, black boots.
was described as Hispanic, late 40's to early 50's, 5'3" to 5'4" tall, weighing 180 to 190 pounds, with a stocky build, salt-and-pepper hair and visible age lines around his eyes and cheeks, spoke with a heavy Hispanic accent and broken English, wearing a black sweatshirt with a leather zipper jacket, blue shirt and black jeans, black boots.Other armed robberies:
- Friday (12.2.11) 9:05 p.m.: A 33-year-old white man returning home on Burgundy Street near St. Louis Street around 9:05 p.m. was set upon by a gang of 3 young punks, one of whom pulled a pistol and demanded the man's money.
The gunman was described as 16 to 17 years old, 5'7" tall, weighing 135 to 140 pounds, wearing a blue hoodie, khaki pants and black-framed glasses.
- Saturday (12.3.11) 4:09 a.m.: A 31-year-old white man tourist walking near Dauphine and St. Louis streets on the way back to his hotel was robbed by a knife-wielding robber.
He was described as a white male, 5'10" tall, with a medium build, wearing a gray hoodie.
- Sunday (12.4.11) 1:10 p.m.: A black dude was standing near Poydras Street and Loyola Avenue when a guy he knew got out of a white Nissan sedan and demanded money while wielding a knife. The victim fled into traffic and his friend got back in the car and fled the area. A black chick with the would-be robber egged him on, but never got out of the car.
The victim chose not to describe his assailants.
- Sunday (12.18.11) 5:58 a.m.: A black dude entered Poppy's Time Out Sports Bar, 1 Poydras St., pulled out a handgun and demanded cash from the safe. The 2 bartenders complied and the thief fled on foot through Spanish Plaza.
Neither bartender could give much of a description of the robber, other than he had a thin build and was wearing all dark clothing.
- Saturday (12.24.11) 11:30 p.m.: When a car driven by 2 Hispanic men, one 24 and the other 25, stopped at a red light in the 1200 block of Convention Center Boulevard, 2 armed black guys came up and demanded their money. They complied and the robbers fled on foot.
The victims weren't able to give a description of their assailants.
- Tuesday (12.27.11) 9:05 p.m.: A 29-year-old white man walking in the 1400 block of Dauphine street near Esplanade Avenue was accosted by a gang of 3 blacks--perhaps the same one who's been terrorizing the Marigny in the last few days. Two of them produced handguns and demanded his money; he complied and they fled on foot.
Two of the perps were described as skinny, one wearing a black hoodie and blue jeans and the other wearing a navy-blue hoodie; the third was described as wearing a red knit cap and gray sweatshirt.
Graffitist nabbed: In what may be the first arrest in the French Quarter under the new law calling for stiffer penalties for scrawling graffiti on walls in historic districts, 
an alert 8th District officer arrested Anthony Chapman, 32, on a charge of "criminal damage to a historic building or landmark" last week (12.21.11).The officer found Chapman allegedly drawing on the wall with a permanent market at Uncle Wilbur's Emporium, 1039 Decatur St., at the corner of Ursulines Avenue. The marks didn't amount to much by graffiti standards, but enough to violate the law which now makes graffiti in the Quarter a felony with a penalty of up to 2 years in jail.
Chapman is in OPP on $5,000 bond.
Chapman is in OPP on $5,000 bond.
Where's Narkee Hunter?: Narkee Hunter, who achieved near-legendary stature for beating a murder rap for a shooting in 2008 at Club Hush--the name then for the notorious club at 300 Decatur St.
A jury of his peers (what a sorry lot they must have been) acquitted him of 2nd-degree murder and attempted murder in 2010 after 30 witnesses testified against him.
But now Hunter, now 23, might not elicit the same sympathy from black folks. 
The NOPD has identified him as the shooter in the drive-by last week (12.21.11) that killed that little 2-year-old girl in the B.W. Cooper housing project and arrested him in Gretna, where he lives.When they get him back from Jefferson Parish, where he's being held in their hoosegow, they'll charge him with 2nd-degree murder and maybe more. He's still being held in Jefferson Parish on charges of drug possession (oxycodone, crack, etc.) that he'll have to fess up to.
* * *
As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.comThom Kahler
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