Changing of the guard

Young blood infuses 8th District: After usurping the police chief's responsibility to discipline his own men by suspending 8th District Commander Edwin Hosli last Thursday (5.5.11), Mayor Mitch Landrieu completed the coup by appointing Jeffrey H. Walls as commander of the 8th.

Walls, a rising star in the NOPD, was a sergeant as recently as 2009, then made lieutenant and headed the investigative unit in the 6th District (Mid-city, Irish Channel, Lower Garden District).

A 13-year veteran of the NOPD, Walls has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Loyola University. On 3.31.11, Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas elevated him to commander in charge of the Crime Lab & Evidence Division. He now has the plum assignment among district commanders: The 8th District (French Quarter, CBD, Marigny Triangle).

Cage uncaged: Just because Nicolas Cage allegedly beat on his wife and a few neighbors' cars, District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro dismissed charges the NOPD pressed when they arrested the actor 4.15.11 in the 600 block of Dumaine Street.

Charging it off as a celebrity being a celebrity, the DA refused the charges last week (5.3.11) instead of going for domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace, as the cops saw it.

The DA's office said Cage's wife declined to pursue the charge and that entered into their thinking; she'll live for now to suffer again.

As for the not so famous: Justice among the regular violent folk is not so forgiving:

• Wednesday (5.4.11) 5:41 a.m.: A 32-year-old man who tried to stop 2 black guys from breaking into his girlfriend's car in the 800 block of Elysian Fields Avenue should have called the cops instead.

He was stabbed multiple times and had to be hauled to Interim LSU Public Hospital to be patched up. (The car was one of 11 broken into that week in the 8th District; 7 others were stolen.)

• Monday (5.2.11) 3:47 p.m.: Cops arrested Christopher Turner, 30, and charged him with aggravated battery and criminal mischief for filing a false report about his knife fight with another 30-year-old white man 4.30.11 at 3:20 p.m. on Bourbon Street. (It could have been the 200 block, or the 300 block, or the 400 block--depending on which police report you believe.)

• Saturday (4.30.11) 3:20 p.m.: A 34-year-old white guy got into a beef with a black dude in the 500 block of Gravier Street in the CBD when the black guy pulled a pistol and threatened him.

The assailant is described as 6' tall, weighing 130 to 145 pounds, wearing a red baseball cap, red T-shirt and black baggy shorts.

And somethings don't change: Robberies are always with us, it seems, no matter who's in charge:

• Friday (5.6.11) 5:30 a.m.: A 30-year-old not-so-bright white woman in the 400 block of Dauphine Street took out a black bag full of money (stupid is as stupid does) when a white guy asked her for a dollar. A second white guy opted for the whole thing, and grabbed the bag before fleeing on foot on St. Louis Street, then down Burgundy Street. She described him as 5'8" tall, with a thin build and brown hair, wearing a cream-colored T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Thursday (5.5.11) 2:29 a.m.:Two 26-year-old white women walking in the 700 block of Dumaine Street where accosted by a black guy with a handgun who demanded their purses before fleeing in 4-door silver sedan.

An hour later, 2 white guys, 31 and 35, and a 26-year-old white woman were standing in the 1400 block of Chartres Street in the Marigny Triangle when they were robbed by 2 black thugs armed with handguns. They made off with the men's cash and the woman's purse containing personal items and a cellphone, again fleeing in a silver sedan.

The only description of one of the thieves is that he's 5'6" tall, wearing a baseball hat.

• Monday (5.2.11) 12:40 a.m.: In another robbery that may be related to the 2 above, a 33-year-old white man and a 40-year-old Asian man were walking near Burgundy and St. Peter streets when they were surrounded by 4 black thugs who pulled guns and demanded their money.

When the victims said they didn't have any cash and struggled with the thugs, the perps struck them and fled on foot to a silver Pontiac Grand Prix parked nearby which took off toward N. Rampart Street.

The suspects were described as in their 20s, 5'8" to 5'10" tall, with slim builds.

• Sunday (5.1.11) 8:10 p.m.: A 71-year-old white lady walking near Bourbon Street and Esplanade Avenue was mugged by a white hoodlum who grabbed her purse and fled.

The robber was described as 20 to 25 years old, 5'11" tall, weighing 180 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored blue jeans.

Don't get me wrong: A number of readers--mainly gay guys--took umbrage at my last column for my incredulity about a fella getting an extra 2 years in prison for uttering a sexual slur before stabbing a teenager in the French Quarter in what was labeled a "hate" crime.

I thought we all should toughen up a bit--we've all been called been called names, whether gay or straight, black or white, thin or fat, young or old, or for most any reason. But they pointed out gays have been targeted repeatedly with violence, not just words.

(I too know what that is like: being chased by black boys in South Philly who were hollering "Get whitey!" Luckily, in those days I was younger, thinner and faster, and got away.)

But what it amounts too is this: all crimes are "hate" crimes; there's no love in someone sticking a gun in your ribs and demanding your money, no matter what your sexual orientation is, your race, your age, or any other distinguishing characteristic.

For gays to feel they should have some extra protection under the law is anathema to the equality they espouse.

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

Sunday (4.24.11)

Auto Burglary, 330 Loyola, 2:36 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 740 Gravier, 10:14 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Touro, 10:17 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 827 Dauphine, 11:00 a.m.
Attempted Rape, 601 Chartres, 2:36 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 644 Camp, 3:01 p.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 3:38 p.m.
Shoplifting, 1124 Decatur, 3:57 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 300 Gravier, 7:21 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 1501 Girod, 10:17 p.m.

Monday (4.25.11)

Theft, 731 St Peter, 12:05 a.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 3:15 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1300 Poydras, 11:41 a.m.
Theft, 701 Convention Center, 12:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1025 Bienville, 1:21 p.m.
Theft, 701 Bourbon, 3:57 p.m.
Theft, 945 Magazine, 4:22 p.m.
Auto Theft, 920 Poeyfarre, 4:39 p.m.

Tuesday (4.26.11)

Theft, 1000 Decatur, 10:25 a.m.
Theft, Bourbon & Orleans, 12:28 p.m.

Wednesday (4.27.11)

Theft, 504 Esplanade, 1:00 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 100 Conti, 4:32 a.m.
Business Burglary, 400 Lafayette, 7:52 a.m.
Theft, 700 Canal, 9:30 a.m.
Theft, 547 St Ann, 1:02 p.m.
Theft, 339 Bourbon, 3:07 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 738 Toulouse, 7:00 p.m.
Theft, 718 St Peter, 8:50 p.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Canal, 10:01 p.m.

Thursday (4.28.11)

Theft, 346 Baronne, 4:18 a.m.
Business Burglary, 800 Camp, 5:39 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 735 Camp, 7:01 a.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Camp, 10:24 a.m.
Auto Theft, Royal & St Philip, 10:42 a.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Camp, 11:00 a.m.
Theft, 816 Decatur, 11:16 a.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Camp, 11:43 a.m.
Theft, 437 Esplanade, 12:15 p.m.
Theft, 600 Decatur, 5:34 p.m.
Auto Theft, Conti & Decatur, 9:23 p.m.
Theft, 300 Poydras, 11:27 p.m.

Friday (4.29.11)

Theft, 739 Iberville, 12:34 a.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 12:50 p.m.
Auto Theft, 900 Conti, 3:37 p.m.

Saturday (4.30.11)

Theft, 511 Bourbon, 1:57 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1029 Bienville, 3:24 a.m.
Theft, 511 Bourbon, 4:21 a.m.
Auto Theft, Camp & Poydras, 10:27 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & St Peter, 11:19 a.m.
Shoplifting, 301 Canal, 2:14 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 500 Gravier, 3:21 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 400 Bourbon, 8:19 p.m.
Theft, 1001 S Peters, 9:26 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Don't you just hate crime?

Shouldn't have said that: We've seen guys walk free after being convicted for less, but Ryan M. Clark pulled a "Kobe Bryant" (you know, questioning a guy's sexuality) and is going to do an extra 2 years in prison for it.

Last week (4.19.11), Clark, 19, pled guilty to aggravated battery and felony hate crime for his knife attack on an 18-year-old guy in December in the 100 block of Royal Street after hurling a sexual slur at one of the guy's buddies.

Judge Darryl Derbigny sentenced Clark to 2 years in prison for the violence and another 2 years for the verbal assault--the sentences to run consecutively (one after the other) rather than concurrently (both at the same time), as is usually the case.

No one likes to hear slurs spouted, but, man, 2 years for exercising your 1st Amendment rights? Whatever happened to "Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? All seems a little touchy to me.

What's with LA guys?: Another habitue of Los Angeles, not named Nicolas Cage, but an LA Laker named Derrick Caracter broke bad in New Orleans last weekend.

According to the NOPD, Caracter, 22, allegedly hit a waitress at the IHOP on Canal Street, near the Ritz-Carlton where the team was staying, after she refused him service because he was reportedly drunk and unruly on Sunday morning (4.24.11) around 1:20 a.m.

The police said "he was obviously drunk, unruly and started harassing" the waitress, and at one point "started grabbing and pulling" her. A manager went outside and managed to flag down a passing police car.

The officer had difficulty subduing Caracter, a 6'9" giant, but managed to haul him off to Central Lock-Up. He was charged with simple battery, public drunkenness and resisting arrest. He was bailed out on $1,000 bond shortly after.

(By the way, Cage who had couple of recent dust-ups in the French Quarter, was in town over the weekend for the wedding of his oldest son at the Omni Royal Orleans, but no police reports have surfaced about his latest visit.)

Wild woman caught: Cops caught up with Lakisha Barconey who had been on the lam for over 2 months after allegedly stabbing a john at the LaQuinta Inn in the CBD late in January and robbing him.

She was booked into Central Lock-Up on 4.5.11, charged with aggravated battery and theft over $500. She is being held on $30,000 bond and is due in court 6.5.11.

Barconey, 31, a known prostitute who goes by the name of "Foxy," and another black chick accompanied a 45-year-old white guy back to his hotel room. When an argument got out of hand, Barconey allegedly pulled a knife and stabbed him several times in the hand and shoulder.

According to the NOPD, Barconey is presently on probation until 2013 for theft and unauthorized use of an access card over $500 and has arrests in each of the past 4 years for prostitution. If you go back far enough, her life of crime began with a curfew violation in 1994 when she was 15.

Gotcha!: The long arm of the law finally caught up with the woman believed responsible for the last murder in New Orleans while Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on the city in 2005.

A grand jury indicted Ashleigh Thornton (right), 27, last week (4.21.11) for 2nd-degree murder in the shooting death of Joe Wongchoy (left) in his bar, Polynesian Joe's, 869 Magazine St. in the Warehouse District. She allegedly shot him in the back of his head with a 9mm handgun after he reportedly tried to rape her, she claimed later. She is being held in OPP on $1 million bond.

Wongchoy also owned Mama Rosa's Pizza and Jilly Joe's restaurant in the French Quarter.

Not kidding around: A 25-year-old French Quarter waiter began serving a 4-year sentence on Monday (4.25.11) after he pled guilty to 45 counts of possessing child pornography.

Arthur H. "Hutch" Terry IV, who lived in the 700 block of Royal Street where, in an on-going investigation of child porn by the Louisiana State Police, police executed a search warrant last August and found a Dell laptop computer containing sexually-explicit images and videos depicting minors downloaded from the Internet.

Judge Ben Willard, in a plea deal worked out with District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro, sentenced Terry to consecutive 4-year terms without benefit of probation, parole or suspension.

More meanness: This may be one for the criminologists. Crimes any more in the 8th District, at least, seem to be more about people not being able to get along, or just plain having a mean streak; robberies are almost passe.

Here are some recent episodes that maybe ought to be classified as "hate" crimes:

• Wednesday (4.20.11) 3:00 a.m.: Cops arrested Kristy Hazelton, 31, on Thursday (4.28.11) after being on the lam for over a week after allegedly stabbing her boyfriend who was working at Bourbon and Iberville streets (bouncer? unLucky Dog man?).

According to the police, her 34-year-old boyfriend was talking with another woman when Kristy, who was standing nearby, allegedly pulled a pocketknife and plunged it into her beau's leg.

Hazelton was charged with aggravated battery and is in OPP in lieu of $20,000 bond.

• Sunday (4.24.11) 3:04 a.m.: A 27-year-old white woman working as a waitress in PJ's Coffee shop, 644 Camp St., was closing up when a black man came in. She informed him the shop was closed and he would have to leave. He refused, and grabbed a chair. Believing he was going to hit her with the chair, she grabbed it and struggled with the intruder.

When police arrived, they arrested Shawn Berry, 43, and charged him with aggravated battery (later reduced to simple battery), false imprisonment, and remaining in a place after forbidden. He is in OPP on a $11,500 bond.

• Sunday (4.24.11) 2:36 p.m.: For whatever reason, the NOPD doesn't think rapes are important enough to issue public reports on, but cops did arrest a suspect in a rape that happened in the middle of the afternoon on Easter at Chartres House Cafe, 601 Chartres St.

Police booked Creighton Williams, 18, with forcible rape. He is being held on $100,000 bond.

• Monday (4.25.11) 1:29 a.m.: Four folks, obviously tourists, parked their car on Iberville Street near the housing project on Basin Street and where headed to the French Quarter. Their second mistake was when one of them gazed too long at one of 2 black dudes as they passed.

One black guy said "What the f__k are you looking at?" and pulled a pistol, then shot the tourist 3 times, striking him once in the neck. The blacks sprinted on foot toward the Iberville Project.

When police arrived, they found the victim lying on the sidewalk, paralyzed from the gunshot to his neck.

The shooter was described as being about 18 years old, heavy set, with short dreadlocks, wearing a camouflage hat, black shirt and dark pants--and missing part of his left hand.

His partner was described as in his mid-teens, with medium length dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.

• Wednesday (4.27.11) 4:30 a.m.: A 35-year-old Hispanic man walked a black chick he had met earlier in the evening back to his car in the 100 block of Conti Street.

Once in the car, she demanded his watch. When he refused, she broke a beer bottle; they struggled and she stabbed him in his left forearm. She fled the scene on foot and he was transported to the hospital for treatment.

He was in no condition to give police a description of his new best friend.

Exception to the rule: There was, however, another robbery reported last week:

• Thursday (4.21.11) 5:45 a.m.: A 25-year-old white man was walking near Canal and St. Peters streets when a black guy came up, pulled a pistol, and demanded the victim's money. The robber fled on foot with the cash. He is described as 6'2" tall, weighing 200 to 220 pounds, with shoulder-length dreadlocks, and wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.
  

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

Sunday (4.17.11)

Auto Burglary, 1029 Bienville, 4:02 a.m.
Theft, 301 Camp, 8:32 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1800 N Rampart, 10:51 p.m.

Monday (4.18.11)

Theft, 701 Baronne, 7:25 a.m.
Theft, 701 Convention Center, 9:36 a.m.
Auto Theft, Gravier & Magazine, 10:42 a.m.
Auto Theft, 917 Conti, 12:03 p.m.
Theft, 334 O'Keefe, 1:37 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 400 block of Burgundy, 6:59 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 500 Decatur, 10:05 p.m.
Shoplifting, 534 Bourbon, 11:22 p.m.

Tuesday (4.19.11)

Auto Theft, 200 St Charles, 5:30 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 811 Iberville, 5:37 a.m.
Business Burglary, 1303 Decatur, 8:24 a.m.
Theft, 942 N Rampart, 12:05 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 333 Julia, 5:49 p.m.
Auto Theft, 116 Bourbon, 11:31 p.m.

Wednesday (4.20.11)

Business Burglary, 212 Loyola, 5:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 400 Frenchmen, 6:19 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Iberville & Bourbon, 8:06 a.m.
Auto Theft, Royal & Toulouse, 8:25 a.m.
Shoplifting, 818 Chartres, 1:09 p.m.
Auto Theft, 700 St Louis, 1:15 p.m.
Theft, 315 Magazine, 7:24 p.m.

Thursday (4.21.11)

Armed Robbery, Canal & S Peters, 5:57 a.m.
Residence Burglary, 900 block of Common, 7:14 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1100 Dauphine, 10:41 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 100 Bourbon, 11:56 p.m.

Friday (4.22.11)

Theft, 555 Canal, 9:28 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1000 St Louis, 10:36 a.m.
Theft, 800 St Louis, 4:41 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 8 Canal, 4:49 p.m.
Auto Theft, Gravier & Magazine, 9:22 p.m.

Saturday (4.23.11)

Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Conti, 3:09 a.m.
Theft, 200 Bourbon, 3:32 a.m. Auto Burglary, 300 Burgundy, 3:53 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Baronne, 8:04 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Canal & Decatur, 4:41 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 400 Convention Center, 10:02 p.m.
Shoplifting, 529 Bourbon, 11:57 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

They'rrrrre back!

Robbers redux: Just when you think it's safe to go out again because you've heard of few robberies and only a little mayhem, the bad guys come back out with a vengeance. One weekend over 500,000 people crowd into the neighborhood for the French Quarter Festival and crime is as tame as anyone can remember. One weekend later after the throngs leave, the crooks return.

Who knows what that's about--but here's what happened:

• Monday (4.11.10) 11:19 p.m.: A 27-year-old white man walking in the 900 block of St. Peter Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) was accosted by a black dude who grabbed his camera from his hand and fled on foot, turning on Burgundy toward Canal Street.

The robber was described as 6' tall, with a slim build and short hair, wearing a white tank top.

• Wednesday (4.13.10) 12:14 a.m.: A 31-year-old white guy working in Deja Vu Showgirls, 226 Bourbon St., was confronted by a white male customer who pulled a gun on him. The victim and other employees struggled with the suspect.

When police arrived, they arrested Aaron Chambers, 24, and charged him with aggravated assault and illegally carrying a weapon. He managed to post his $17,500 bond and vamoose before his picture showed up in the booking report.

• Thursday (4.14.10) 8:45 p.m.: A 59-year-old white man was walking in the 900 block of Canal Street (between Dauphine and Burgundy streets) when a white bum asked him for money. He refused and the bum struck him, knocking him to the ground. The suspect took money from the victim's pocket and ran off.

Video surveillance cameras caught the caper on tape and 3 days later, 8th District detectives arrested Anthony J. Montecino Jr. (on right when he was booked 4.17.11), 32, and charged him with simple robbery. He is being held on $15,000 bond and several outstanding warrants from other parishes.

Montecino is believed to be the same Anthony Montecino (on left) who was arrested in April of last year as an accessory after the fact to 2nd-degree murder of a LaPlace waitress in 2008. He was being held in St. John The Baptist Parish on $210,000 bond. How he got out is unknown but there is some evidence he comes from a fairly well-to-do family there.

• Friday (4.15.10) 1:43 a.m.: Two black ladies, one 28, the other 29, were getting into their car in the 200 block of Julia Street in the CBD when a black dude pulled a pistol on them and demanded their purses. He fled on foot toward the river.

He is described as 5'10", with short hair, wearing a black T-shirt and dark-colored jeans.

• Friday (4.15.10) 2:30 a.m.: Less than an hour later, a robber fitting the same description of the one in the CBD struck in the French Quarter at Dauphine and St. Ann streets. There a 28-year-old white man had what he believed was a gun stuck in his back by a black thug who demanded the victim's wallet and iPhone.

• Friday (4.15.10) 6:13 a.m.: An athletic 20-year-old white fella walking in the 100 block of Bourbon Street, just off Canal Street, had his wallet grabbed out of his hand by a black hoodlum. The victim pursued the thief into the 900 block of Bienville Street, about 3 blocks away.

That's where cops arrested Michael Stewart, 37, and charged him with simple robbery. He is being held on $10,000 bond.

• Saturday (4.16.10) 2:40 a.m.: A 30-year-old white woman had her purse snatched at Royal and St. Peter streets by a black punk who fled on foot down Royal toward Esplanade Avenue.

He is described as 20 to 30 years old, 5'7" tall, with a medium build, wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.

• Saturday (4.16.10) 3:44 a.m.: About an hour later, a 22-year-old white woman had her purse snatched by a black guy on Bourbon Street between Conti and St. Louis streets.

Police arrested Tyrone Robertson, 25, and charged him with simple robbery and illegal possession of stolen things valued at $300 to $500. He is being held on $11,500 bond plus numerous warrants from other jurisdictions.

• Saturday (4.16.10) 5:26 a.m.: A 42-year-old black dude was standing next to his car which was idling in the 400 block of Royal Street between Conti and St. Louis streets when 2 black chicks came up. An argument began and one of the ladies pulled a knife and cut the man twice in his lower abdomen. She and her female friend hopped in the victim's vehicle and fled on Conti--right past the 8th District headquarters--toward the river. No word on why they're not being sought for auto theft.

The female assailant is described as 5'11" tall, with a thin build, a light complexion, and dreadlocks.

• Sunday (4.17.10) 10:15 p.m.: A 32-year-old white man riding his bicycle in the 1800 block of N. Rampart Street (between Pauger and St. Anthony streets in the Marigny Triangle) was held up at gunpoint by a black thug who demanded his backpack. The victim complied and the robber ordered him to flee on foot.

The robber is described as 6' tall, wearing a black long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.

• Tuesday (4.19.10) 5:30 a.m.: A 33-year-old white man exiting The Alibi bar, 811 Iberville St., was jumped from behind by a black guy who knocked him to the ground and stole his wallet from his pocket. The victim was unable to give a detailed description of the robber.
  

Hot wheels: The French Quarter has always been a hot bed for car thieves and burglaries, but lately the pace of those crimes seems to have slowed. Then last week, auto thefts and car break-ins soared:

• No less than 11 cars stolen, most in the French Quarter, 2 on one night from Esplanade Avenue and Royal Street;

• 13 cars broken into, most in the CBD.

Check the crime map and the list below for details. (Remember that the times listed are pegged midway between when a vehicle was parked and when the crime was discovered.)

* * *

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(Click on the crime map to enlarge it)

Sunday (4.10.11)

Auto Burglary, 800 Decatur, 4:03 a.m.
Theft, 400 Bourbon, 9:35 a.m.
Shoplifting, 333 Chartres, 9:46 a.m.
Theft, 221 Carondelet, 10:11 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 420 N Rampart, 10:26 a.m.
Auto Theft, Carondelet & Girod, 3:23 p.m.
Shoplifting, 301 Canal, 5:11 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 401 Bourbon, 11:38 p.m.

Monday (4.11.11)

Auto Burglary, 701 Convention Center, 6:46 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 519 Dauphine, 7:10 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 701 Convention Center, 8:19 a.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Ursulines, 11:19 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 835 Julia, 11:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1001 S Peters, 12:05 p.m.
Simple Burglary, 204 S Saratoga, 4:37 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 900 St Peter, 11:19 p.m.

Tuesday (4.12.11)

Theft, 225 Poydras, 12:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 812 Frenchmen, 9:31 a.m.

Wednesday (4.13.11)

Aggravated Assault, 226 Bourbon, 12:14 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 518 Dauphine, 5:39 a.m.
Residence Burglary, 1000 block of St Anthony, 10:55 a.m.
Theft, 622 Canal, 12:36 p.m.
Auto Theft, Esplanade & Royal, 12:58 p.m.
Theft, 717 Canal, 3:17 p.m.
Auto Theft, Esplanade & Royal, 3:44 p.m.

Thursday (4.14.11)

Auto Theft, S Peters & Commerce, 12:06 p.m.
Theft, 555 Canal, 1:01 p.m.
Theft, 700 Tchoupitoulas, 2:52 p.m.
Theft, 732 Toulouse, 3:31 p.m.
Shoplifting, 600 Decatur, 4:11 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 606 Frenchmen, 7:26 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 900 Canal, 8:45 p.m.

Friday (4.15.11)

Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville, 12:34 a.m.
Auto Theft, Canal & University, 12:45 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 200 Julia, 1:43 a.m.
Theft, 800 Fulton, 4:32 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 100 Bourbon, 6:13 a.m.
Armed Robbery, Dauphine & St Ann, 8:52 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Dumaine, 9:45 a.m.
Auto Theft, 501 Tchoupitoulas, 11:01 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Esplanade & Frenchmen, 1:42 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 228 Poydras, 3:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 8 Canal, 3:53 p.m.
Theft, 301 Dauphine, 4:39 p.m.

Saturday (4.16.11)

Auto Theft, 100 Burgundy, 2:36 a.m.
Pursesnatching, Royal & St Peter, 2:40 a.m.
Business Burglary, 1025 Bienville, 2:48 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Decatur, 3:02 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 400 Bourbon, 3:44 a.m.
Theft, 1501 Girod, 4:39 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 400 Royal, 5:26 a.m.
Theft, 200 Carondelet, 6:31 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Decatur & Wilkinson, 1:20 p.m.
Auto Theft, 300 Bourbon, 1:40 p.m.
Shoplifting, 301 Canal, 4:34 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1000 Canal, 7:39 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

"Leaving New Orleans"?

Stanley and Stella for real: Nicolas Cage just doesn't seem to know how to behave in New Orleans. Where'd he learn to behave like that? Las Vegas? He's got to go--he's become too high-maintenance for the NOPD to handle.

First, he causes a ruckus at a restaurant in the French Quarter just before Mardi Gras. Then Friday night (4.15.11) he gets liquored up and around 11:30 p.m. pulls a real Stella-and-Stanley, trying to find the apartment he's renting on Dumaine Street. He thinks he's found it in the 600 block (between Royal and Chartres streets); but no, his wife Alice Kim says, that's not the place.

So acting like a real guido, he grabs his Oriental wife by the arm and pulls her none-too-gently up to the abode. Enraged, Cage began banging on cars and gets into a cab. By this time, a crowd of onlookers--(his recent movies should draw as well)--has gathered and flagged down a cop.

The officer ordered Cage out of the taxi and Cage confronted him, daring the cop to arrest him. So the officer did.

Cage, 47, was booked into Central Lock-Up around 6:30 a.m. Saturday (4.16.11), charged with domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace. Cage is left to stew--and possibly sober up--for a few hours until none other than Duane "Dog, The Bounty Hunter" Chapman (left) shows up to go his $11,000 bail. (You can bet Cage is not going to miss his court date 5.31.11, considering that a guy who still wears his 1970's bling down to his navel fronted for him.)

Cage, who's a better actor than real estate guru, once owned the LaLaurie Mansion at Royal and Gov. Nicholls streets, catty-corner from Verti-Marte, until the bank foreclosed on it.

Cage's earlier dust-up in the Quarter was 3.4.11 at Stella! on Chartres Street. According to an eyewitness, it was a doozy.

Apparently Cage had an "altercation" at the restaurant earlier in the evening with his wife, Alice, and their 5-year-old son, Kal-El, and mother and child stormed out. But Cage stayed and played on.

At the bar, he chatted up a couple and then demanded their phone number so he could stay in touch with his new best friends. He ordered up drinks, specifically he wanted fine wine. When a waiter approached with what most would consider a more-than-decent offering--an '82 Mouton Rothschild for $3,500 and a '59 Chateau Latour for $6,000--Cage waved him away, shouting, "Give me something more rrrreal!"

He continued terrorizing the dining room like "a drugged Sasquatch," as the observer put it, and scoping out the women. He noted 2 and went up to their table, and pointing at the brunette said, "You're a contender!" and then turning to the blonde said, "And you're not!"

Management had finally had enough and escorted Cage out the door. He resisted and try to re-enter, but in reaching for the room, plunged his hand through one of the glass panels in the door. Police were called and Cage was carted away but no charges were filed.

So who's guilty of liquoring Cage up this time? Who's providing him with an illegal short-term rental in the Quarter? Will the new movie he's working on in New Orleans be any better than the crap he's been producing the last few years?

Only 3 years for killing a cop: No doubt Gino Ray only intended to have a few drinks and a good time, then head home.

But on 1.9.10 around 4:30 a.m. he plowed his 2009 Dodge Ram pickup through the intersection of St. Charles Avenue and St. Joseph Street in the CBD, not far from Lee Circle, and smashed into an 8th District patrol car driven by rookie Ofc. Cordae Hankton with Ofc. Alfred Celestain Sr. in the passenger seat as the rookie's training officer.

Both were taken to LSU Interim Public Hospital; Hankton had minor injuries, but Celestain, 54 and a 20-year-veteran of the NOPD, had fractured ribs and a hip, facial cuts, and was in a coma from a brain injury. His family pulled the plug on him 2 days later.

Ray, 25, once a player for New Orleans' professional soccer team, was charged with vehicular homicide and vehicle negligent injuring. Ray pled guilty to both charges.

This past Monday (4.11.11), Judge Terry Alarcon sentenced Ray to 10 years in prison, but suspended all but 3 years of it.

Because Ray's blood alcohol level was less than .15 (he blew .13)--less than twice the legal limit of .08--he escaped with 3 years, rather than the 5 to 30 years mandated by Louisiana law.

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

Sunday (4.3.11)

Theft, 800 Bourbon, 7:06 a.m.
Theft, 400 Bourbon, 12:35 p.m.
Shoplifting, 232 Bourbon, 3:17 p.m.
Simple Burglary, 800 Julia, 3:52 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Conti, 11:38 p.m.

Monday (4.4.11)

Auto Burglary, Girod & La Salle, 11:40 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 711 Canal, 10:07 p.m.

Tuesday (4.5.11)

Auto Theft, 402 N Rampart, 12:40 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Conti, 2:46 p.m.
Theft, 1000 Bienville, 4:50 p.m.
Rape, 1000 block of Dumaine, 5:16 p.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 9:19 p.m.

Wednesday (4.6.11)

Theft, 227 Bourbon, 1:03 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1001 Dauphine, 10:35 a.m.
Theft, 500 St Ann, 3:08 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 365 Canal, 5:26 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, Convention Center & Poydras, 6:47 p.m.
Theft, 334 O'Keefe, 9:56 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Conti, 11:32 p.m.

Thursday (4.7.11)

Auto Burglary, 700 Toulouse, 12:57 a.m.
Auto Theft, Baronne & St Joseph, 1:50 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Carondelet & Lafayette, 9:12 a.m.
Business Burglary, 1041 Constance, 9:20 a.m.
Theft, 221 Carondelet, 9:48 a.m.
Shoplifting, 601 Canal, 12:50 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 825 Lafayette, 5:00 p.m.

Friday (4.8.11)

Aggravated Burglary, 1100 Decatur, 8:52 a.m.
Auto Theft, Chartres & Toulouse, 1:13 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 900 St Philip, 1:41 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, Common & St Charles, 4:29 p.m.
Theft, 81 French Market, 7:44 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 801 St Charles, 8:49 p.m.

Saturday (4.9.11)

Pickpocketing, 800 Bourbon, 3:19 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Bourbon & St Ann, 3:28 a.m.
Aggravated Assault, 141 Chartres, 10:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Kerlerec & Royal, 11:38 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 334 Royal, 2:00 p.m.
Theft, 727 S Peters, 2:22 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, Dauphine & Elysian Fields, 6:45 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Just plain mean

A new trend?: Have you noticed lately that the crime--what little there is of it in the 8th District--has more to do with assault and battery, instead of robbery? And much of it is taking place in businesses other than bars, and not on the street? And the perps are older guys?

Here are some of the latest episodes:

• Saturday (4.9.11) 10:30 a.m.: Stop me if you heard this one before: A guy walks into a bar (Jimani Lounge, 141 Chartres St.) and asks for a beer. The bartender sets the beer on the bar and asks for his money. The patron refuses. He's asked to leave. Then it turns violent: The patron then threatens to kill the bartender and tries to pull his pistol out. Other patrons jump the guy and take his gun away. Then the guy pulls out a knife and points it at the bartender.

When the police arrive, they arrest Michael L. McClendon, 62, and charge him with aggravated assault, criminal trespass, and possession of cocaine. He's in OPP on $17,500 bond. The story ends after he does a little time in the slammer.

• Friday (4.8.11) 8:45 a.m.: Talk about a lack of customer satisfaction. 2 white guys, 30 and 32, go into the Red Lantern, 1133 Decatur St., a women's clothing store, and get into an argument with the owner. Must have been some argument, because an employee intervened with a combat knife. He allegedly stabbed one man in his left side and then stabbed the other in his back and hand. Both victims were taken to Interim LSU Public Hospital for treatment.

The police arrested the employee, Sylvester Westbrook, 56, and charged him with one count of aggravated battery. He is being held in OPP on $75,000 bond.

• Monday (4.4.11) 10 p.m.: A 53-year-old black bum went into McDonald's, 711 Canal St., and pilfered money from the cashier's tip canister. When a 52-year-old black gentleman confronted him about the theft and pursued him outside, where an argument broke out. The bum pulled a knife and allegedly stabbed his pursuer several times before fleeing on foot. The victim was taken to Interim LSU Public Hospital where he was in stable condition.

Police apprehended Leonard Brown, 53, and charged him with aggravated battery and theft under $300. He is in OPP on $30,000 bond.

One robbery, though: A 14-year-old black boy--who had no business being in the French Quarter at that hour--snatched the purse from a 23-year-old white woman who was in the Gateway Lounge, 401 Bourbon St., around 11:30 p.m. Sunday (4.10.11). He fled on foot but police quickly apprehended him.

It would save a lot of grief if the cops were more vigilant and got these little creeps off the street on curfew violations before they got into mayhem--and then go after their mamas for child neglect.

Dog and pony show: Well, a mule, actually. You know how impatient you can get if you're stuck in traffic behind a mule carriage in the French Quarter for block after block? This driver apparently totally lost it last Sunday (4.3.11) morning.

Here's the story we heard:

A carriage with 5 passengers was at Esplanade Avenue and Royal Street when a driver came up behind it in his car and began honking and screaming for the driver to "Get the hell off the street--I'm late for work!"

The carriage driver had no where to pull over, so after 2 blocks of this, the motorist opens his car window and his pitbull jumps out and attacks the mule named "Dixie". Before the dog's owner catches up with his dog, the pitbull tries to jump into the carriage and attack a 5-year-old girl. An off-duty police officer who saw the incident and jumped out of his car, drew his weapon and arrested the guy.

The police version is slightly different: Several witnesses got the dog owner's car license plate number and police located the owner. The LASPCA went to the residence and impounded the pitbull and issued a summons to the owner for allowing the dog to roam and no rabies vaccination.

The dog's owner wasn't named, but apparently the mule wasn't the only jackass in the story. The dog was released to its owner and the judge will decide if the dog is dangerous and should be put down. Perhaps he'll make a similar determination about the owner--sounds like he's the dangerous one.

Dumb ass: He was smart enough to get a gun and dumb enough to shoot it, killing a beloved French Quarter bartender over 2 years ago. But Judge Ben Willard ruled last Thursday (4.7.11) that Reggie Douglas (above) is incompetent to stand trial because he only has an IQ of 56, meaning he's retarded.

Douglas and another black boy--Drey Lewis (below in a snotty pose)--were only 15 when they allegedly gunned down Wendy Byrne, 39, on the night of 1.17.09 at Gov. Nicholls and Dauphine streets.

Judge Willard sent Douglas, who just turned 18, to the Feliciana Funny Farm "to undergo any and all evaluations to determine the proper course of treatment."

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

Sunday (3.27.11)

Auto Theft, 801 Poydras, 10:38 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville, 11:13 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 300 Bourbon, 12:33 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 640 Bourbon, 2:48 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Decatur, 3:22 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Decatur, 4:12 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 600 Frenchmen, 7:04 p.m.

Monday (3.28.11)

Theft, 225 Bourbon, 12:22 a.m.
Theft, 417 Royal, 12:08 p.m.
Theft, 521 Tchoupitoulas, 12:10 p.m.
Simple Burglary, 800 block of Julia, 2:26 p.m.
Theft, 339 Bourbon, 11:05 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 800 Gov Nicholls, 11:51 p.m.

Tuesday (3.29.11)

Auto Burglary, 1000 Conti, 4:19 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 1014 Dumaine, 3:03 p.m.
Shooting, 900 block of Dumaine, 4:20 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 420 N Rampart, 8:00 p.m.

Wednesday (3.30.11)

Business Burglary, 100 Tchoupitoulas, 3:37 a.m.
Theft, 1415 Tulane, 6:37 a.m.
Theft, 621 St Louis, 7:04 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1100 Annunciation, 7:40 a.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Tchoupitoulas, 8:20 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 St Peter, 8:32 a.m.
Auto Theft, Howard & S Rampart, 8:58 a.m.
Auto Theft, 601 Poydras, 12:06 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 O'Keefe, 12:49 p.m.
Shoplifting, 405 Bourbon, 4:10 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, Lafayette & St Charles, 7:46 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & St Louis, 10:32 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 418 Bourbon, 11:43 p.m.

Thursday (3.31.11)

Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 9:01 a.m.
Theft, 2 Poydras, 9:26 a.m.
Theft, 300 Canal, 10:20 a.m.
Theft, 107 Chartres, 11:31 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1029 Bienville, 1:34 p.m.
Auto Theft, Poeyfarre & Tchoupitoulas, 4:57 p.m.
Theft, 522 Bourbon, 8:49 p.m.

Friday (4.1.11)

Theft, 312 St Charles, 8:11 a.m.
Theft, 221 Carondelet, 8:16 a.m.
Theft, 406 magazine, 8:37 a.m.
Auto Theft, Annunciation & Poeyfarre, 10:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Dumaine & Royal, 1:13 p.m.
Theft, 831 Chartres, 2:07 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 8 Canal, 4:51 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 145 University, 5:52 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 block of St Peter, 10:53 p.m.

Saturday (4.2.11)

Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Conti, 9:31 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1201 Convention Center, 9:56 a.m.
Theft, 419 Bourbon, 3:39 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Decatur & St Peter, 3:39 p.m.
Auto Theft, 200 N Rampart, 10:38 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler