Huh? That's it?!

Told ya so: Apparently forming a company to manage private paid police details "ain't no hangin' crime" after all. After all the hullabaloo over 9 NOPD officers who did, the punishment meted out Tuesday (8.2.11) by Super Chief Ronal Serpas: 3 days unpaid leave.

Among those suspended was Cmdr. Edwin Hosli, former commander of the 8th District, who had been booted May 5 by Mayor Mitch Landrieu for 120 days before any charges had been investigated. Talk about a rush to judgment--it looks like the city owes Hosli a load of back pay thanks to Mitch's impetuousness.

It's not illegal for a cop to form a company (whether a corporation or limited liability company); and it's not illegal for cops to work paid private details.

Many more officers than these 9 have formed companies for one reason or another. (In fact, Serpas' newly appointed deputy chief, Darryl Albert, formed DASA Team Services LLC last fall for whatever reason about the same time Hosli formed his corporation, which Albert did details for.)

So what's the problem? These officers weren't sticking up liquor stores; they weren't roughing up bouncers; they weren't beating up their girlfriends. The problem is, Serpas says, is the NOPD has a long-standing policy that prevents officers from forming a company to hire out off-duty officers for private functions.

Serpas should know. When Serpas was here before, as a major, he and Harry Mendoza, then a sergeant, got in hot water for forming a company called "Police Officers Detail Services Inc." in 1993. Each was suspended for 5 days. This time it is Serpas handing out the punishment; Mendoza, now a captain, was one of the 9 disciplined.

For all the good he's done in the year he's been chief, and for as smart as he is as attested by his Ph.D, Serpas needs to refine his management skills.

He blew it this time in calling out 9 officers for an obviously minor infraction (maximum penalty 3 days of unpaid leave), besmirching the reputations of some of the best officers on the force. Wouldn't it have made better sense to just call these cops in and say, "Hey, men we're no longer going to tolerate this violation of department rules--so if you've got a company that's running details, discard it now."

It's hard to understand how or why the NOPD came up with this arcane rule. The NOPD didn't say officers couldn't coordinate paid details; it just said they couldn't form a company to do it. And yet, it makes all the sense in the world to form a company which can formally hire officers, monitor their assignments, collect payments from private interests using their services, write checks to officers performing the services, withholding income taxes and Social Security, etc.

Isn't that more efficient and business-like than the way in days gone by: "Hey, Sergeant, I need somebody to work the door at my party tomorrow night." The sergeant replies, "Give me $300 bucks and I'll send somebody by." The money passes under the table, never touched by the taxman, and the officer who does door duty gets a share of it.

You tell me which way is more honest and efficient. Better yet, tell Super Serpas and Mayor Mitch.

Double on Bourbon: A pair of black punks, apparently not satisfied with their haul from their first robbery Sunday (7.31.11) night in the 1300 block of Bourbon Street stuck again an hour later in the same block.

In the first robbery, they pulled a pistol on a white tourists from New Zealand, he 47 and she 44, near Esplanade Avenue around 10:15 p.m. They gave up their money and cellphone, and had to make it back 3 blocks to their hotel at Frenchmen Street and Esplanade before calling the cops.

Detectives interviewing the tourists had not had time to order patrol cars to flood the area before being notified of the second robbery at 11:10 p.m. near Barracks Street. The victims, 2 white guys, 24 and 26, and a white woman 27, went down a block to the Port of Call restaurant on Esplanade at Dauphine Street, to report they had been robbed.

Police believe the same 2 suspects, who fled on Barracks toward N. Rampart Street after the second robbery, are responsible for both robberies. They were both described as 5'10" tall, one weighing 160 to 170 pounds, wearing a red T-shirt and dark pants, and the other weighing 150 to 160 pounds, wearing a dark-colored shirt.

According to Sgt. Nick Gernon, head of the 8th District's detectives assigned to crimes against persons, said some neighbors have already contacted the NOPD with information about suspicious characters they saw that night, adding "It is typically information which we receive from the community which leads to these types of cases being solved." He's assigned one of his top detectives, Tindell Murdock, to the case.

Other than that: Pursesnatchers are still out there lurking--and not all in the wee hours:

• Thursday (7.27.11) 8:20 p.m.: A 34-year-old black woman was getting into her car on Burgundy Street near Bienville Street when a white thug grabbed her purse off her shoulder and fled on foot down Bienville toward N. Rampart Street.

He was described as 6' tall, weighing 170 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored jeans.

• Wednesday (8.3.11) 3:00 a.m.: Two white women, 36 and 42, were walking on Decatur Street near Conti Street when 2 black guys rushed up and snatched the purses from the ladies' shoulders. They fled on foot down Conti toward N. Rampart.

Both were described as in their 20s, with medium builds and short hair, one wearing a red shirt and blue jeans, the other wearing a yellow or orange shirt and light-colored shorts.

* * *
Crimes last week in the 8th District

Sunday (7.24.11)

Armed Robbery, 900 St Ann, 12:32 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 700 St Louis, 1:16 a.m.
Theft, 216 Bourbon, 2:20 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 1800 Dauphine, 3:45 a.m.
Theft, 555 Canal, 10:32 a.m.
Theft, 201 Baronne, 12:54 p.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Esplanade, 5:42 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 1800 Burgundy, 6:18 p.m.

Monday (7.25.11)

Theft, 532 Frenchmen, 1:15 a.m.
Shoplifting, 444 Canal, 2:07 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1012 St Philip St, 9:50 a.m.
Theft, 214 Royal St, 10:46 a.m.
Business Burglary, 408 Magazine St, 3:17 p.m.

Tuesday (7.26.11)

Theft, 241 Bourbon St, 12:33 a.m.
Theft, 1000 Bienville St, 3:51 a.m.
Theft, 650 Gravier St, 9:24 a.m.
Theft, 300 Gravier St, 1:53 p.m.
Auto Theft, Convention Center & St Joseph, 5:44 p.m.
Theft, 315 Magazine St, 10:20 p.m.

Wednesday (7.27.11)

Pickpocketing, 555 Canal St, 2:14 a.m.
Theft, 900 Bourbon St, 4:45 a.m.
Burglary, 1009 Poydras St, 6:18 a.m.
Auto Theft, Fulton & St Joseph St, 8:11 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bienville & Clinton St, 7:52 p.m.

Thursday (7.28.11)

Theft, 600 Girod St, 5:02 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville St, 8:38 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & St Ann, 11:07 a.m.
Rape, 400 Burgundy St, 11:44 a.m.
Theft, 800 Decatur St, 1:09 p.m.
Theft, 400 Bourbon St, 2:11 p.m.
Theft, 816 Decatur St, 3:12 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal St, 6:35 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 200 Burgundy St, 8:49 p.m.

Friday (7.29.11)

Shoplifting, 134 Royal St, 6:13 p.m.
Theft, 601 Iberville St, 6:20 p.m.
Shoplifting, 400 N Peters St, 8:21 p.m.

Saturday (7.30.11)

Theft, 201 Baronne St, 1:38 a.m.
Auto Theft, 200 N Diamond St, 2:03 a.m.
Theft, 334 O'Keefe Ave, 3:17 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 2100 Chartres St, 3:42 a.m.
Business Burglary, 941 Decatur St, 4:21 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Toulouse St, 6:30 a.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 9:46 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville St, 11:38 a.m.
Residence Burglary, 513 Toulouse St, 5:53 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

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.

* * *
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.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Bullseye on Bourbon

Black and white...and red: The admonition a weekend ago by a top NOPD commander to keep an eye out for "young males...likely carrying guns" turned out to be partially right this past weekend when gunfire erupted twice on Bourbon Street.

The only difference: Crime is colorblind; one shooter was white and one was black. Both spilled blood.

Early Sunday (7.10.11) morning around 3:45 a.m., a 25-year-old white gun-toting guy from New Iberia went berserk, wounding a bar's bouncer and winding up being gunned down dead by a NOPD 8th District cop.

According to police, Justin Schaubert was in the Bourbon Street Blues Company, 441 Bourbon St., and was asked by bouncers to button up his completely unbuttoned shirt or to leave the club. Schaubert took umbrage, pulled his gun, and fled the club on foot, pursued by several bouncers into the 500 block of Bourbon (between St. Louis and Toulouse streets).

[Believe it or not, there appears to have been two "Justin Schaubert"s, both from New Iberia. Friends and lovers of the fella in the picture we published last week from his Facebook page claim he is not the one involved in the shooting; they say this picture from the obituary published in the Daily Iberian newspaper is the dead one. We are awaiting further confirmation from the surviving Justin Schaubert.]

According to Katy Reckdahl's piece in the T-P, Schaubert had "flashed his large-caliber gun inside several Bourbon Street clubs" before going into the Bourbon Street Blues Company, even trying "at another club to get a Jell-O shot without paying by showing the gun tucked into his waistband."

Schaubert began firing at the bouncers, grazing one in the back of the head. Hearing the gunfire, Ofc. Brian Bordes responded and was also fired upon as Schaubert rolled to the ground, still pointing his weapon at Bordes. The officer let go a tap-tap and struck Schaubert at least twice with bullets.

Schaubert died at the scene; the 33-year-old bouncer was in good condition, lucky the bullet he took was not an inch or two either way.

On Friday (7.8.11) night shortly after 11 p.m., 2 black guys--one armed by the other--opened fire on a crowd in front of the Krystal burger joint on Bourbon just off Canal Street, striking 2 men.

A 19-year-old sustained a graze gunshot wound to his right abdomen, and a 51-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to his left forearm.

By Wednesday (7.13.11) 8th District detective John Ball had identified Michael F. Fulton, 21, as the suspect who passed the gun to the shooter. He was arrested at a residence at 1952 N. Tonti St. and was booked around 2 p.m. into Central Lockup, charged with 2 counts of aggravated battery. He is being held on $200,000 bond.

He has already forfeited a bond for failing to appear 6.14.11 on a second possession of marijuana charge. Fulton has prior arrests for illegal possession of marijuana, criminal trespass, resisting arrest and theft.

Fulton is not cooperating with police in naming his accomplice, the shooter, who is still at large. Police say he is in his 20's, 5'9" to 6" tall, weighing 180 pounds with a medium build, wearing a black cap, black shirt, blue jean shorts, and white shoes. He was firing a black semi-automatic handgun.

Caught on tape: 8th District detectives have found video surveillance tapes recorded in the 600 block of Barracks Street that they believe show the getaway car in a robbery in that block and 3 other robberies last week.

The robber was described as a black guy, 5'9" to 6' tall, with a medium build, covering his face with a black bandana and armed with a black handgun, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt.

The getaway vehicle was believed to be a white-colored newer model Dodge Durango. The video footage showed the SUV driving toward the robbery and then backing down the street against traffic after the robbery toward Chartres Street.

The suspect and vehicle were believed involved in these 4 robberies, 3 of them last Thursday (7.7.11):

• 635 Barracks St., 4:50 a.m.: A white couple, he 29, she 21, were sitting on their porch when a black robber came up, pulled a pistol and demanded their money.

• 1900 Burgundy St., 3:00 a.m.: Two white women, one 20, the other 22, were walking down the street when the black robber pulled his pistol and demanded their money. They complied and he told them to run away.

• St. Charles Avenue & Jena Street, 5:30 a.m.: Investigated by the NOPD 2nd District.

• 1300 Ursulines Ave., 3:15 a.m., the day before, on Wednesday (7.6.11): Investigated by the NOPD 1st District.
  

What's this all about?: A 43-year-old white man was walking past the Walgreen's at 619 Decatur St. last Friday (7.8.11) night around 9:30 p.m. when a black punk intentionally bumped into him, armed with a pocket knife. The assailant stabbed the victim on the left side of his neck and wrist when the victim tried to push him away.

The victim was treated at LSU Interim Public Hospital. Police arrested Robert Corum, 22, and charged him with aggravated battery. He is being held in OPP on a $30,000 bond.

Blacks are victims too: Last Saturday (7.9.11) afternoon around 4:15 p.m. a 13-year-old black boy was standing near Bourbon and Canal streets holding a bag containing tennis shoes he had just bought there at Foot Locker. Up came another black boy on a bicycle who asked if he could try on the victim's new shoes. The victim refused and the biker grabbed the bag containing the shoes and fled on his bike.

The thief was described as 5'8" tall, wearing black and yellow gym shorts.

Even blacks are not immune from crime.

* * *
Crimes last week in the 8th District

Sunday (7.3.11)

Armed Robbery, 400 Loyola, 1:59 a.m.
Theft, 500 Bourbon, 2:26 a.m.
Shoplifting, 107 Chartres, 5:55 a.m.
Theft, 116 University, 6:01 a.m.
Theft, 135 Chartres, 7:24 a.m.
Rape, 334 O'Keefe, 11:23 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 100 Exchange Pl, 2:13 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Decatur, 5:16 p.m.
Theft, 440 Bourbon, 10:22 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1100 Burgundy, 11:03 p.m.

Monday (7.4.11)

Auto Burglary, 1500 Sugar Bowl, 3:32 a.m.
Theft, 310 Carondelet, 12:19 p.m.
Theft, 850 Convention Center, 1:44 p.m.
Business Burglary, 823 St Louis, 3:19 p.m.
Auto Theft, N Diamond & Tchoupitoulas, 3:25 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 900 Common, 4:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Bourbon & Canal, 4:50 p.m.
Armed Robbery, Loyola & Tulane, 11:56 p.m.

Tuesday (7.5.11)

Auto Theft, Julia & S Peters, 12:05 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Frenchmen & Royal, 3:13 a.m.
Theft , 600 St Ann St, 2:28 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 N Rampart St, 3:46 p.m.
Shoplifting (attempt), 1021 Decatur St, 6:06 p.m.

Wednesday (7.6.11)

Theft, 801 Royal, 9:48 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Dauphine & St Louis, 12:02 p.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 2:57 p.m.
Auto Theft, 920 Frenchmen, 11:03 p.m.

Thursday (7.7.11)

Residence Burglary, 920 Frenchmen, 1:06 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1900 Burgundy, 3:17 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 635 Barracks, 4:55 a.m.
Auto Theft, 427 S Rampart, 9:03 a.m.
Theft, 843 Camp, 9:56 a.m.
Shoplifting, 619 Decatur, 3:04 p.m.
Business Burglary, 600 Bourbon, 4:03 p.m.
Theft, 717 Canal, 4:13 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1000 Magazine, 10:29 p.m.

Friday (7.8.11)

Theft, 300 Decatur, 1:28 a.m.
Shoplifting, 1415 Tulane, 9:38 a.m.
Theft, 204 St Charles, 5:09 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 619 Decatur, 9:35 p.m.
Shooting, 100 Bourbon, 10:54 p.m.
Theft, 700 Bourbon, 11:24 p.m.

Saturday (7.9.11)

Business Burglary, 441 Royal, 12:52 a.m.
Theft, 242 Bourbon, 1:38 a.m.
Theft, 225 Bourbon, 5:16 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 820 Poydras, 10:20 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & St Charles, 11:19 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 820 Poydras, 11:23 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & Canal, 4:15 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 N Rampart, 5:53 p.m.
Theft, 135 St Charles, 7:15 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler

Cops creating crime

Hooker lookers: You can tell the crime rate is down when the police have to concoct a prostitution sting to keep cops busy. That's what the NOPD did a couple of weeks ago, recruiting some of their finest-looking (one would hope) female cops to pose as prostitutes and prance along Chef Menteur, Tulane Avenue, and Airline Drive to lure testosterone-driven drivers into committing a crime.

The cops did manage to arrest 29 of the 48 men they stopped on misdemeanor charges, including one of their own.

Interestingly in that case, the off-duty cop pulled his badge for no one knows why--but wouldn't he have been performing his duty if he had arrested the female cop? She, after all, was claiming to be a hooker--or is the guilt upon the one who mentions money first?

No word on why the cops didn't zero in on the French Quarter hookers or those who've made the LaQuinta hotel in the CBD headquarters for rolling tourists.

Next thing you know, they'll have NOPD officers going on the Internet, like Kenner Kops do, posing as 14-year-old girls trying to lure those who like'em young into crime.

If NOPD cops have so much time on their hands, why not tackle some of the problems that really matter to the people of New Orleans, such as car thefts or graffiti?

• 14 cars were stolen in the French Quarter and CBD last week alone--when was the last time you heard of the police catching a car thief?

• Graffiti murals covering the Lower Quarter and Marigny Triangle are of such size that they must have taken hours to do--without ever being disturbed by a patrolling cop. Add to that all the tags that've been scribbled onto signs to the point of making the signs unreadable.
  

Like detention hall?: The cop mentioned above who was snared in the prostitution sting was put on unpaid leave, as was Cmdr. Edwin Hosli for forming a company to process paid details. But the mother-son cop duo who were caught on video tape roughing up a bouncer on Basin Street were assigned to desk duty.

What?! Who makes those decisions? Cops who are charged with violent crimes keep their job and keep getting paychecks, but cops accused of minor infractions have to figure out how to pay their bills while the jury is out on their fate?

You hear repeatedly about officers being assigned to "desk duty." What is that? It seems like there are so many cops on "desk duty" that it conjures up visions of school detention hall.

It makes you think of Bart Simpson writing on the blackboard 5,000 times: "Before I act inappropriately I will check for security cameras."

There was crime: Seems like every time I take a little time off the rumors start swirling that I've dropped dead, or a few years ago at the height of my tussles with Big Chief Riley that I'd been shot. But no such luck. There really has been a dearth of crime in the last few weeks, but just for the record, here goes:

• Magazine Street: Usually tame and peaceful Magazine Street in the CBD was hit twice within one week by robbers:

• Saturday (6.18.11) 1:40 p.m.: An 18-year-old white woman was walking on Magazine near Gravier Street when a black thug grabbed her purse and ran.

He was described as 5'7" tall, weighing 185 pounds, wearing a blue stripped polo shirt, dark pants and a dark-colored baseball cap.

• Wednesday (6.22.11) 6:35 p.m.: A 27-year-old white woman was getting into her parked car at 833 Magazine when a black guy pointed a gun at her and demanded her purse and laptop computer. She complied and he told her to walk away.

He was only described as having short hair and wearing a baggy white T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (6.20.11) 3:00 a.m.: A white couple, he 24, she 21, were crossing the street at Baronne and Perdido streets when a car roared up at a high-rate of speed and stopped. The pedestrians got into a shouting match with the 2 men inside, and then the passenger pulled out a handgun and fired several shots. No one was hit by the gunfire.

The victims were unable to give a detailed description of their assailants and will be interviewed again by detectives. Wanna bet the victims know more than they're telling?

• Tuesday (6.21.11) 8:30 a.m.: A former female worker, apparently with a grudge of some sort, went through the back door to the Checkered Parrot, 132 Royal St., with a black male friend and went straight to the owner's office. The duo each pulled a gun on the owner and demanded money.

A fight broke out between the owner and the black dude, then the woman allegedly beat the victim on the head. The 2 left with cash and the victim was treated at Tulane University Hospital where he was reported in good condition.

Detectives issued a warrant for Tresheen Wilson, 24, and arrested her 2 days later, charged with armed robbery and 2nd-degree battery. She is being held in OPP on $400,000 bond.

• Tuesday (6.21.11) 7:50 p.m.: A 28-year-old white woman walking on Girod Street near Carondelet Street when she was accosted by a black punk who lifted his shirt to show her he was armed with a handgun, demanding her iPhone, then grabbed her purse from her shoulder. He fled on foot down Carondelet.

The robber was described as 20 to 25 years old, 5'9" tall, with a thin build and short hair, wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants.

• Friday (6.24.11) 5:45 a.m.: A black thug armed with a handgun stuck up The Ninth Circle bar, 700 N. Rampart St., taking an untold amount of money from the cash register.

The robber was described as 5'9" to 5'10" tall, weighing 170 to 180 pounds, with short curly hair, and dark-colored jeans.

• Saturday (6.25.11) 2:35 a.m.: A black couple, he 25, she 19, were sitting in a car in the 500 block of N. Rampart, near St. Louis Street, when they got into an argument with a black dude. Words turned to violence and man outside the car picked up a broken beer bottle or pulled a knife (depending on which NOPD report you believe) and allegedly stabbed both victims in the car. The man received a laceration on his arm and the woman suffered cuts to the right side of her neck and breast.

Police arrested Anthony P. Williams, 21, and charged him with 2 counts of aggravated 2nd-degree battery. He's being held in OPP on $15,000 bond after skipping out on a $20,000 bond for another 2nd-degree battery he was arrested for in April.

• Saturday (6.25.11) 2:35 a.m.: A 34-year-old white man sitting in the Jax Brewery Bar, 640 Decatur St., was clobbered with a bar stool by another white guy who fled on foot.

Police later arrested Christopher Ramage, 27, and charged him with aggravated 2nd-degree battery. Commissioner Robert Blackburn did him a favor and preset his bond at $10,000 so Ramage was able to whisk through Central Lockup and out the door.

• Wednesday (6.29.11) 7:15 p.m.: A gang of black thugs descended on a white woman walking on Common Street near Carondelet Street and grabbed her iPhone from her hand before fleeing on foot.

Detectives tracked the iPhone and later recovered it, but are still looking for the perps described as all wearing white T-shirts and shorts, one 5'3" tall, with a stocky build and braided hair; on 5'10" tall, with a thin build and braided hair; one 6' tall, weighing 170 pounds.

• Saturday (7.2.11) 10:45 p.m.: A 49-year-old white man inside The Old Opera House, 601 Bourbon St., was struck on the head by a black guy. The bouncer noticed blood flowing from the victim's head and saw the attacker flee the club and discard a knife on the ground. The victim was taken to Tulane University Hospital where he was in critical condition.

Police said Anthony A. Vaughn Jr., 23, was arrested a short time later when he allegedly attempted to call in a bogus armed robbery report. He was charged with attempted murder and is being held in OPP on $150,000 bond.

You call this "crime prevention"? Super Chief Ronal Serpas was on WDSU this morning raving about new crime prevention efforts where a sergeant and 3 officers go door-to-door and knock on doors to introduce themselves. But it may not be working as well as he thinks it is.

The contingent must have come by my place yesterday afternoon because a CrimeStoppers door hanger was on the gate. They didn't ring my buzzer and the business card paperclipped to the hanger that said "NOTICE Today, New Orleans Police Officer_______________walked the beat in your neighborhood" was blank where the officer's name should have been filled in.

Can't tell you how secure that makes me feel--I mean a police officer who can't bother with little details. Perhaps Serpas ought to keep a better on eye on what his officers are doing before he goes bragging.

Mapped out: We've stopped displaying the 8th District crime map on NOcrimeline.com because the new map the district is now using is virtually useless.

The 8th District use to have perhaps the best crime map of any of the NOPD's districts, with each 100 block marked and icons distinctly identifying different types of crimes.

The new map is a grid showing no street names, except those on the perimeter of the district, and crimes are marked only by colored dots.

Instead, we'll publish the excellent lists of crimes compiled by the 8th District's Comstat officer, Brian Shubert, as displayed below.

* * *
Recent crimes in the 8th District

Sunday (6.12.11)

Simple Robbery, 400 Dauphine, 12:25 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 500 Burgundy, 12:37 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 St Louis, 3:40 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 800 Conti, 6:33 a.m.
Theft, 257 Bourbon, 11:48 a.m.
Theft, 910 Convention Center, 11:47 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 2:28 p.m.
Theft, 700 Commerce, 7:27 p.m.

Monday (6.13.11)

Theft, 806 Conti, 5:50 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 428 Bourbon, 4:08 p.m.
Theft, 833 Poydras, 5:15 p.m.

Tuesday (6.14.11)

Armed Robbery, 900 Chartres , 12:34 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 500 St Charles, 7:50 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 739 Canal, 10:52 a.m.
Auto Theft, 1000 John Churchill Chase, 3:24 p.m.
Theft, 344 St Joseph, 5:05 p.m.
Theft, 616 Esplanade, 5:20 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville, 5:46 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 800 Burgundy, 1:41 p.m.

Wednesday (6.15.11)

Auto Burglary, S Rampart & Tulane, 11:38 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 148 Carondelet, 3:30 p.m.
Theft, 316 Magazine, 4:42 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Barracks & N Rampart, 11:33 p.m.

Thursday (6.16.11)

Auto Theft, 927 Poeyfarre, 9:36 a.m.
Theft, 1012 Toulouse, 10:55 a.m.
Theft, 344 Camp, 10:46 p.m.

Friday (6.17.11)

Auto Theft, Julia & O'Keefe, 6:38 p.m.

Saturday (6.18.11)

Auto Burglary, 800 St Louis, 12:30 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 300 Magazine, 1:40 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Fulton, 2:48 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Burgundy & Canal, 3:53 a.m.
Theft, 501 Dauphine, 7:30 a.m.
Theft, 865 St Charles, 9:13 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Decatur & Esplanade, 11:32 a.m.
Auto Theft, 200 Clinton, 1:15 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 200 S Rampart, 1:20 p.m.
Shoplifting, 1124 Decatur, 1:30 p.m.

Sunday (6.19.11)

Auto Burglary, 1500 Girod, 12:35 a.m.
Theft, 630 Bourbon, 3:18 a.m.
Auto Theft, Frenchmen & St Claude, 10:16 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Conti & N Rampart, 12:17 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 732 Camp, 3:28 p.m.
Shoplifting, 620 Decatur, 6:29 p.m.

Monday (6.20.11)

Theft, 624 Bourbon, 12:58 a.m.
Theft, 711 Bourbon, 2:39 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Baronne & Perdido, 3:04 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Baronne & Union, 7:17 a.m.
Theft, 200 N Peters, 9:39 a.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 12:15 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 441 Bourbon, 3:30 p.m.
Shoplifting, 717 Canal, 5:59 p.m.

Tuesday (6.21.11)

Armed Robbery, 132 Royal, 8:29 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1500 Poydras, 1:05 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & St Peter, 4:30 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 931 Gov Nicholls, 5:08 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 700 Girod, 7:54 p.m.

Wednesday (6.22.11)

Auto Burglary, 528 Chartres, 8:21 a.m.
Theft, 1 Canal, 10:11 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, Poydras & S Rampart, 3:53 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 200 Burgundy, 4:27 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 833 Magazine, 6:39 p.m.

Thursday (6.23.11)

Theft, 827 Toulouse, 2:00 a.m.
Theft, 1101 N Peters, 11:18 a.m.
Theft, 721 St Philip, 11:21 a.m.
Shoplifting, 814 Canal, 12:24 p.m.
Bicycle theft, 100 Royal, 1:18 p.m.
Auto Theft, Cleveland & S Robertson, 4:52 p.m.
Theft, 134 Royal, 5:11 p.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Dauphine, 6:04 p.m.
Theft, 614 Canal, 9:28 p.m.
Theft, 859 Convention Center, 9:47 p.m.

Friday (6.24.11)

Theft, 441 Bourbon, 3:09 a.m.
Theft, 416 Bourbon, 4:11 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 700 N Rampart, 5:49 a.m.
Theft, 116 Carondelet, 9:13 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & Loyola, 5:17 p.m.
Theft, Poydras & S Rampart, 5:36 p.m.

Saturday (6.25.11)

Aggravated Battery, 640 Decatur, 2:34 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, 500 N Rampart, 3:49 a.m.
Auto Theft, 621 St Louis, 11:05 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 3:28 p.m.
Theft, Canal & Royal, 9:38 p.m.
Theft, 911 Decatur, 11:13 p.m.

Sunday (6.26.11)

Auto Burglary, Conti & Decatur, 3:16 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Tchoupitoulas, 3:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, 920 Poeyfarre, 10:12 a.m.
Theft, 1280 Convention Center, 1:14 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Conti, 1:29 p.m.
Shoplifting , 600 Decatur, 2:57 p.m.
Auto Theft, 700 Touro, 11:38 p.m.

Monday (6.27.11)

Auto Theft, 100 Conti, 4:26 a.m.
Business Burglary, 511 St Louis, 8:30 a.m.
Auto Theft, 2000 Royal, 9:26 a.m.
Theft, 625 St Joseph, 10:12 a.m.
Auto Theft, 800 Decatur, 10:50 a.m.
Theft, 240 Bourbon, 11:28 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Dauphine & Ursullines, 4:29 p.m.

Tuesday (6.28.11)

Theft, 200 Bourbon, 3:21 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Camp, 6:01 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 9:35 a.m.
Auto Theft, Bienville & Burgundy, 4:46 p.m.

Wednesday (6.29.11)

Auto Theft, 838 Esplanade, 10:34 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 112 Royal, 11:16 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 Common, 7:31 p.m.

Thursday (6.30.11)

Auto Theft, 300 Burgundy, 4:24 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Dauphine, 4:38 a.m.
Theft, 500 Port of New Orleans, 12:17 p.m.
Theft, 600 Carondelet, 3:20 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1500 Poydras, 4:05 p.m.

Friday (7.1.11)

Theft, 1 Canal St, 12:35 p.m.
Auto Theft, 900 S Peters , 1:40 p.m.
Theft, 900 Convention Center, 2:11 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, Loyola & Tulane Ave, 4:44 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1542 Tulane Ave, 6:13 p.m.
Auto Theft, 300 Dauphine St, 10:51 p.m.

Saturday (7.2.11)

Pursesnatching, Gaiennie & S Peters, 4:00 a.m.
Theft, 730 Orleans Ave, 6:43 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 555 Canal St, 4:17 p.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & St Peter St, 6:05 p.m.
Auto Theft, Royal & Toulouse St, 7:37 p.m.
Theft, 555 Canal St, 7:48 p.m.
Attempted Murder, 601 Bourbon St, 10:48 p.m.

* * *

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

Thom Kahler