New year, same old story

The real story: There was a lot of talk about what a quiet weekend it was in the city over the New Year's holiday weekend. It was, more or less, if you don't look too closely.

Now, 2 full weeks into 2012, homicides are on target to surpass 300--far more than 2011's "paltry" 199. With the first homicide on New Year's Day, there has been nearly one a day since. Robberies have accelerated at a rate I haven't experienced in the 5 years I've been compiling NOcrimeline.

Even when Super Chief Ronal Serpas announced his 2012 Crime-Fighting Strategy just after the beginning of the year, it didn't merit a story in the Big City Daily, and only a couple of sound bites on TV newscasts.

The general sense is that we've heard it all before--now it's time for a little less talk, a lot more action.

No big deal: Chief Serpas has to be careful he doesn't become like the boy crying wolf--like when he puts out press releases about arrests that really don't amount to that much.

• On 1.6.12 he heralded the success of "Operation Rip-N-Run" in which a contingent of officers from the NOPD and the Louisiana State Police partnered from 11.19.11 to 12.19.11 to make 38 arrests in the French Quarter leading to 65 charges, including 26 drug violations, 31 outstanding warrants, 3 for concealed weapons, 6 for prostitution.
  

Those arrests might lead to future arrests, as he claims, but in that same time period, robberies in and around the Quarter numbered 2 dozen--most of them unsolved.

• In early November--just after all the shoot'em ups around Halloween--his office put out a press release touting the NOPD's fete in getting over 600 illegal weapons off the streets in the past 2 months.
  

All well and good--and probably the best way to combat homicides--but what about the the 2 months since then? He's been mum on weapons seizures--if there have been any in significant number.

• Then near the end of last month, Serpas was praising a couple of officers who smelled the aroma of marijuana on a couple of guys walking in the French Quarter (well, imagine that!). It sounds more like they were stopped on suspicion of being black.
  

When they frisked the duo, cops found pot on one of them and a concealed weapon on the other. Both had had trouble with the law before. But the 25-year-old guy with the pot in his pocket had avoided trouble since 2007 when he was last busted for pot. They charged him with 2nd offense marijuana possession and jailed him on $2,500 bond.

His 40-year-old buddy, who had a knife wrapped in a bandana in his back pocket "for protection", had been in trouble big time but had been clean for over 10 years. But they wrote him up on a mere municipal charge of possession of a firearm (let's see how the court's going to apply that to a knife) along with parole violation and jailed him on $2,500 bond. Were they afraid of a drive-by stabbing?

Both still sit in OPP.

"This was a nice pick-up by our 8th District Police," Serpas crowed. "They were alert and had good reason to stop these 2 suspects and see what they’d been up to." He added, "It’s not uncommon to find that today’s drug user is tomorrow’s robber and perhaps an armed robber down the road."

Perhaps so. But it's not necessary to go nit-picking when there's so much violent crime happening right under your nose and going unsolved.

School for phone thieves: The thefts of iPhones are getting so prolific that the older ones are now teaching the next generation how to do it.

On the second day of the new year, a 31-year-old white woman was blithely bobbing down Ursulines Street near N. Rampart Street just before 6 p.m., blabbing on her iPhone, brushing off a black boy who was pestering her with questions. She ignored him and continued talking on her phone.

The boy's exasperated accomplice--a 20ish black guy--parked his white pick-up truck in the middle of the street and got out, telling the kid, "Let me show you how to do this!"

He pulled out pistol, pointed it at the woman and told her, "Give me your bag!" She turned over the bag, which contained a laptop computer and her cellphone. Both robbers then jumped back in the truck and took off.

8th District Det. Travis Ward rounded up several videoes of the robbery. He can be reached at 658-6731 if you have any information.

That, of course, wasn't the only iPhone theft:

• Thursday (12.29.11) 7:35 p.m.: A 32-year-old Hispanic woman walking on Bourbon Street near Dumaine Street had her iPhone snatched from her hand by a fellow Hispanic. He was described as 17 to 19 years old, 5'1" to 5'3" tall, skinny, wearing a red hoodie, khaki shorts, and tennis shoes.

• Friday (12.30.11) 1:00 a.m.: A 52-year-old white man walking near Bourbon and Iberville streets had his iPhone snatched from his hand by a black guy described only as 5'10" tall, wearing a navy blue sweatshirt.

• Sunday (1.1.12) 7:30 p.m.: A 19-year-old black girl standing near the ferry landing at the end of Canal Street was accosted by 3 black punks, one of whom grabbed her iPhone from her hand. She described 2 of the thieves as 6'2" tall with thin builds, one wearing a green sweatshirt and camouflage pants, the other wearing a burgundy sweatshirt and jeans; the third thief was 5'8" tall with a thin build, wearing a black T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (1.2.12) 12:15 a.m.: A 19-year-old white girl was walking on Bourbon Street near Dumaine Street when a black crook swooped down and snatched her iPhone from her hand. He was described only as wearing a white hoodie and dark jeans.

• Sunday (1.8.12) 1:30 a.m.: A 21-year-old white woman walking on Bourbon Street near Conti street had her iPhone snatched by a black fellow described as 6'1" to 6'2" tall, skinny with short hair, wearing a red shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (1.9.12) 11:15 a.m.: A 40-year-old man walking in the 100 block of N. Rampart Street was relieved of his iPhone by a black thief who could only be described as 6' tall with a thin build, wearing a long white shirt and gray baggy pants.

• Monday (1.9.12) 10:00 p.m.: A white woman, of undisclosed age, was walking near Bourbon and St. Ann streets when she was robbed of her iPhone from her hand by a black guy who was described as 6' tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and blue jeans.

• Thursday (1.12.12) 8:00 p.m.: Ofc. Jason Collins, working undercover in the French Quarter, chased down and arrested Christopher Briscoe, 17, after he allegedly grabbed a 27-year-old Asian woman's iPhone from her grasp on Royal Street, just off Canal Street.

After he heard the woman yell "Stop! Stop!", he saw Briscoe running down Royal toward Iberville Street. He pursued Briscoe and called for backup. At one point, Briscoe hid under a car on Iberville and then got up and started back tracking toward Dorsiere Street, where he was apprehended by Collins and Ofc. Bryan Jones.

Briscoe was booked with simple robbery and illegal possession of stolen things. He is being held on $8,500 bond. Briscoe has one previous arrest for criminal trespass. Detectives are trying to determine if he could be the culprit in any of the other iPhone thefts that have plagued the Quarter.

What happened? Where am I?: There is such a thing as having too good a time--which usually turn bad. On New Year's Eve, 2 over-celebrant tourists fell prey to a scam that led to them getting robbed:

• Around midnight on New Year's Eve, a 46-year-old white man walking on what he thought might be Bourbon Street was approached by a white chick in a "silver-colored SUV" who offered him a ride to his hotel. When he got in, he didn't get as lucky as he thought. While he was chatting the chick up, 2 black thugs he hadn't noticed sitting in the rear seat attacked him. One started choking him while the other pulled a gun and demanded his money. After giving it up, he was let out of the SUV at an unknown location and he walked back to the Courtyard hotel at 300 Julia St. He could only describe the woman a a brunette, possibly in her 30's.

• About a half-hour later, at 12:35 a.m. New Year's Day, a 50-year-old white man had a similar experience. He was walking near Royal and Dumaine streets when a white chick driving a "light colored Ford SUV" picked him up and drove him across Canal Street. It wasn't until then he noticed 2 black dudes sitting way back in the back seat. They said they had guns and one struck him in the head, demanding his money. They kept driving up St. Charles Avenue, eventually letting him out a Prytania and 6th streets.

• The next day (1.2.12) around 2:15 a.m., another oblivious tourist, 26-year-old white guy, was robbed in what he thinks might have been the 300 block of Poydras Street when a thug came up from behind and knocked him to the ground, taking his wallet from his pocket. He was unable to give a description of his assailant.
  

Bad, bad Burgundy...again: Burgundy Street--from Canal Street, across Esplanade Avenue, into the Marigny Triangle--continues to be as close to a hell-hole as it gets in the French Quarter:

• Saturday (12.31.11) 4:15 a.m.: A trio of white men, two 27 and one 23, were robbed by a gang of 3 black punks on Burgundy near Esplanade, one armed with a handgun. The robbers then fled up Burgundy toward Canal. One was described as having his hair with short twists and wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans, the other 2 with short hair, wearing light shirts and dark blue jeans.

• Monday (1.2.12) 3:20 a.m.: A white couple, he 33, she 20, walking on Burgundy near Bienville Street, passed a trio of black dudes. A short time later, the 3 came up behind the couple and pressed what might have been guns into the back of their heads, demanding their money. The robbers rifled through the couple's pockets, taking what they could. One robber was not described, but the other 2 were said to be thin, one wearing a dark hoodie and wearing a Cincinnati Reds baseball cap, and other wearing a dark hoodie and dark jeans, with medium length dreadlocks.

• Monday (1.2.12) 3:30 a.m.: A 25-year-old black man walking on Burgundy, just across Esplanade in the Marigny Triangle, was passed by 2 black boys who turned around and came up behind him and pushed him against the wall of Buffa's Bar and robbed him. He described both boys as 17 to 20 years old with short hair, one with dark skin, wearing a dark jacket with red colors; the other with a slim build, wearing a silver jacket.

Some big deals, some not:

• Sunday (1.1.12) 6:00 p.m.: A white woman, of undisclosed age, standing in the 700 block of Dumaine Street (between Bourbon and Royal streets) had her purse snatched by a black thug, described as in his 20's, 5'9" tall, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.

• Monday (1.2.12) 8:50 p.m.: A black guy who fled after he allegedly tried to hit one of the brothers, 29, when the man resisted being robbed at Bienville and Bourbon streets, was observed fleeing by 8th District cops and apprehended. Cedric Stokes, 26, was booked with attempted simple robbery.

• Thursday (1.5.12) 3:00 a.m.: A bum bumming a smoke turned violent when he wanted more in an episode at 806 Conti St. He interrupted a 24-year-old woman's conversation and asked her for a cigarette. She gave him one and turned back to her conversation. He tapped her on the shoulder and when she turned around he stuck his hand in her pocket, taking money. When she tried to stop him, he slugged her. Police stopped Quinton Anderson, 30, a short distance away and arrested him for attempted simple robbery and simple battery. He is being held on $25,000 bond.

• Thursday (1.5.12) 11:00 p.m.: A black couple, he 20, she 21, were getting out of their car on Commerce Street near Julia Street in the CBD when a black boy came up brandishing a handgun and demanded their money. They complied and the robber fled on foot on Julia toward the river. They described the little felon as in his late teens, 5'6" tall, wearing a dark hoodie.

• Thursday (1.5.12) 11:45 p.m.: A 21-year-old white woman was sitting in the 2300 block of Chartres in the Marigny when 2 black punks came up, pulled a gun, and demanded her money. Later, during a traffic stop, the police identified the robbers as Manning Tolliver (top), 17, and Felix Bourtain (bottom), 18. Tolliver was booked with 3 counts of armed robbery, 3 counts of illegal possession of stolen things, 1 count of illegally carrying weapons, and 1 count of armed robbery with a firearm; Bourtain was charged with 1 count each of armed robbery and illegal possession of stolen things. Each is being held in OPP on $40,000 bond.

• Friday (1.6.12) 2:40 a.m.: A 46-year-old white man walking near Commerce and Girod streets in the CBD was assaulted and robbed by 3 black thugs. One struck him, causing him to loose consciousness. When he awoke, his wallet and iPhone were missing. The robber was described as in his mid-20's, wearing a white jacket and blue jeans.

• Friday (1.6.12) 3:55 a.m.: A 20-year-old black girl was walking near Iberville and N. Rampart streets when a black boy snatched her purse. A cop who saw the culprit running from the scene apprehended a 14-year-old juvenile. So much for catching curfew scofflaws before they harm anyone.

• Friday (1.6.12) 1:45 p.m.: A 45-year-old black woman walking on Carondelet Street near Union Street was robbed of a bank deposit bag by a black man in broad daylight. She described the robber as in his 20's, with a crew cut, wearing all black clothing.

• Friday (1.6.12) 11:00 p.m.: A 37-year-old white woman walking in he 2300 block of Decatur Street in the Marigny was robbed by 2 gun-toting black boys. She described them as 14 to 16 years old, one 5'5" tall, with a thin build wearing a black hooded coat and blue jeans; the other was wearing dark clothing.

• Saturday (1.7.12) 6:30 a.m.: A 23-year-old white man walking on Natchez Street toward Harrah's Casino when he was approached by a Hispanic guy and a white guy who asked him "what he needed?" When the victim started to walk away, the Hispanic pulled a nickle-plated semi-automatic handgun and demanded the man's money. He struck the victim on the left side of the face with the gun, at which time the victim surrendered his cash. The robbers fled toward Camp Street. The Hispanic was described as in his late teens, 6'1" tall, weighing 150 pounds, wearing a dark shirt and blue jeans.

• Sunday (1.8.12) 3 p.m.: A 18-year-old black girl was raped after leaving the Hookah Club, 309 Decatur St., with an acquaintance who sexually assaulted her in the alley. No arrest was reported, but you'd think if he was an "acquaintance" the victim could provide the police with his name.

• Tuesday (1.10.12) 1:50 a.m.: A 21-year-old white woman standing at the corner of Bourbon and Conti streets was approached by a black dude claiming to be a rapper and asked her to buy one of his CDs. As the victim pulled her wallet from her pocket, 2 other black guys came out of darkness like flies to you-know-what. One knocked the victim's arm, knocking her wallet to the ground. The first dude scooped up the wallet and took off on Conti toward N. Rampart Street. He was described as in his 20's, 5'6" tall, weighing 135 to 140 pounds, wearing dark pants and a dark shirt with a Chicago Bulls cap; his accomplice was described as in his 20's, 5'9" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with a fleur de lis tattoo on his face and stars tattooed on his neck.

• Tuesday (1.10.12) 4:40 a.m.: A 24-year-old white man getting out of his car in the 600 block of Gravier Street near Camp Street when 2 black guys came up and demanded his wallet. Instead, the victim told him to take his car and threw them the keys. One of he robbers picked up the keys, but the duo continued to demand his wallet. The victim backed away and began to run, at which point the robbers ran in the opposite direction. The victim then chased after them, demanding his keys back. He didn't get them; neither did he get a good description of the pair, only that they were "black men".

• Tuesday (1.10.12) 11:18 p.m.: A lone armed white robber stuck up Ditcharo's bar, 640 Carondelet St., demanding a woman and 2 men sitting at the bar, go behind the bar and give him all the money, including the poker stash. The victims fled out the back door and robber fled out the front, fleeing on Girod Street toward Baronne Street. He was described as in his early 20's, 5'6" tall, with a thin build, wearing a green scarf, gray hoodie, and dark jeans.

• Wednesday (1.11.12) 9:40 p.m.: A white man, no age disclosed, was walking on Dauphine Street near Pauger Street when 2 black boys in their teens came up and demanded his bag. When he refused, they snatched it from his grasp and fled on foot in an unknown direction.
  

Bunch of bad losers: Nothing like a bad beat--i.e. LSU by Alabama in the BCS championship--to bring out the worst in fans:

• Monday (1.9.12) 9:35 p.m.: A 19-year-old white girl at a block part in the 700 block of S. Rampart Street felt something on her leg that wasn't friendly. Turns out, it was believed she was struck by a falling bullet that had been fired into the air. She was treated at the hospital for a gunshot wound and released.

• Monday (1.9.12) 10:00 p.m.: A 26-year-old Hispanic valet who confronted a black guy burglarizing cars in a parking lot at 1300 Canal St. was confronted by another black crook with a gun who told him to mind his own business. He backed away and the bad guys took off on foot on S. Saratoga Street toward Tulane Avenue. One of the suspects was 5'11" tall, with a thin build and dreadlocks, wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants; the other was 6'2" tall, with a thin build and short hair, wearing a blue hoodie and blue jeans.

• Tuesday (1.10.12) 1:40 a.m.: A 25-year-old white guy trying to get out of Razoo's Bar, 511 Bourbon St., tried to exit under the arm of a bouncer. The bouncer grabbed him and they exchanged words before the bouncer punched the patron. The victim felt a sharp pain, then realized he had been cut in his lower left rib cage. When police arrived, they arrested the bouncer, John Fuoco, 41, for aggravated battery.

• Tuesday (1.10.12) 1:15 a.m.: A 23-year-old white chick got into an argument with a guy's wife and the guy allegedly busted the chick in the face with a beer bottle. When police arrived, they arrested David Liuzza, 43, for aggravated battery. He posted bond and got the heck out of Central Lockup before he even went before a magistrate.

* * *

Recent crimes in the 8th District

Sunday (12.25.11)

Auto Burglary, 700 Church, 12:24 a.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 1:57 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 1000 Conti, 7:13 a.m.
Shoplifting, 123 Baronne, 12:19 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 804 Royal, 12:55 p.m.
Business Burglary, 1009 Poydras, 7:55 p.m.
Business Burglary, 620 Decatur, 9:10 p.m.
Theft, 941 Bourbon, 10:30 p.m.

Monday (12.26.11)

Theft, 500 Canal, 10:32 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Dauphine & Ursulines, 12:58 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 530 Madison, 1:03 p.m.
Auto Theft, Conti & Decatur, 3:23 p.m.

Tuesday (12.27.11)

Auto Theft, 200 Chartres, 5:43 a.m.
Auto Theft, 700 Royal, 8:31 a.m.
Theft, 1001 Magazine, 8:56 a.m.
Theft, 610 Poydras, 9:52 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 1500 Sugarbowl Dr, 1:07 p.m.
Theft, 1909 N Rampart, 1:30 p.m.
Shoplifting, 301 Canal, 2:59 p.m.
Shoplifting, 400 N Peters, 4:50 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 Burgundy, 5:54 p.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 6:13 p.m.
Theft, 111 Bourbon, 6:23 p.m.
Auto Theft, 300 St Joseph, 6:40 p.m.
Burglary, 601 Loyola, 8:18 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 1400 Dauphine, 9:07 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 800 Esplanade, 9:34 p.m.

Wednesday (12.28.11)

Auto Burglary, 500 Conti, 12:48 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 500 Conti, 1:00 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 134 Carondelet, 7:08 a.m.
Theft, 523 Gravier, 9:52 a.m.
Theft, 1123 Burgundy, 1:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Magazine, 1:31 p.m.
Theft, 833 Poydras, 2:06 p.m.
Auto Theft, Andrew Higgins & Constance, 2:57 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Dorsiere, 3:11 p.m.
Theft, 934 Canal, 3:19 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Conti & N Peters, 4:37 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Andrew Higgins & Constance, 5:37 p.m.

Thursday (12.29.11)

Theft, 415 Dauphine, 4:11 a.m.
Theft, 1500 Sugarbowl Dr, 9:43 a.m.
Theft, 301 Camp, 1:29 p.m.
Theft, 700 Frenchmen, 2:48 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1060 Magazine, 4:08 p.m.
Theft, 544 Bourbon, 4:51 p.m.
Auto Theft, 1600 Cleveland, 5:58 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 800 Bourbon, 7:43 p.m.
Auto Theft, Lafayette & S Peters, 10:55 p.m.

Friday (12.30.11)

Theft, 600 Decatur, 10:40 a.m.
Theft, 600 Frenchmen, 11:36 a.m.
Theft, 501 Decatur, 12:46 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & Iberville, 3:11 p.m.
Theft, 833 Poydras, 3:47 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 800 Bourbon, 8:14 p.m.

Saturday (12.31.11)

Armed Robbery, 300 Julia, 12:11 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 100 St Charles, 12:51 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Loyola, 1:58 a.m.
Theft, 226 Bourbon, 3:30 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Burgundy, 4:13 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1400 Burgundy, 4:15 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & LaSalle, 3:08 p.m.
Theft, 852 S Peters, 4:51 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 516 Bourbon, 10:08 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 516 Bourbon, 11:11 p.m.

Sunday (1.1.12)

Pickpocketing, Bourbon & Conti, 1:02 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 1:19 a.m.
Theft, 210 N Rampart, 1:44 a.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Louis, 2:13 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 St Charles, 3:32 a.m.
Theft, 921 Canal, 3:34 a.m.
Aggravated Battery (cutting), Bourbon & Canal, 6:14 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 624 Gravier, 9:57 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 600 Decatur, 10:26 a.m.
Theft, 738 Toulouse, 12:50 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1501 Sugarbowl Dr, 3:54 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & LaSalle, 4:09 p.m.
Theft, 227 Bourbon, 5:42 p.m.
Pursesnatching, 700 Dumaine, 6:12 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 365 Canal, 8:04 p.m.
Shoplifting, 148 Carondelet, 8:41 p.m.

Monday (1.2.12)

Simple Robbery, 800 Bourbon, 12:13 a.m.
Theft, 1207 Decatur, 3:27 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 200 Burgundy, 3:38 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 1400 Burgundy, 3:39 a.m.
Theft, Burgundy & Canal, 8:14 a.m.
Theft, 344 Camp, 10:43 a.m.
Theft, 415 Dauphine, 12:22 p.m.
Theft, 1107 Decatur, 12:52 p.m.
Theft, 334 Royal, 1:44 p.m.
Auto Theft, 833 Magazine, 4:11 p.m.
Armed Robbery (gun), 1000 Ursuline, 5:52 p.m.
Shoplifting, 611 Bourbon, 8:23 p.m.
Attempted Simple Robbery, Bienville & Bourbon, 8:54 p.m.

Tuesday (1.3.12)

Theft, 609 Frenchmen, 2:48 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 300 Poydras, 3:14 a.m.
Theft, 716 Gov Nicholls, 8:08 a.m.
Business Burglary, 1113 Chartres, 9:52 a.m.
Theft, 421 Frenchmen, 10:41 a.m.
Theft, 701 Bourbon, 11:13 a.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Iberville, 12:20 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 LaSalle, 8:17 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & LaSalle, 9:57 p.m.

Wednesday (1.4.12)

Pickpocketing, 441 Bourbon, 1:58 a.m.
Theft, 227 Bourbon, 5:25 a.m.
Theft, 124 Royal, 8:18 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 1500 Poydras, 8:22 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 542 Tchoupitoulas, 11:36 a.m.
Theft, 819 Bourbon, 2:44 p.m.
Auto Theft, 600 Frenchmen, 3:51 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 2 Poydras, 4:01 p.m.
Theft, 700 Bourbon, 4:30 p.m.

Thursday (1.5.12)

Attempted Simple Robbery, 806 Conti, 3:18 a.m.
Theft, 65 French Market, 9:50 a.m.
Theft, 114 Carondelet, 6:56 p.m.
Theft, 116 Carondelet, 7:29 p.m.

Friday (1.6.12)

Armed Robbery, Commerce & Julia, 12:33 a.m.
Theft, 226 Bourbon, 1:19 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Commerce & Girod, 2:25 a.m.
Theft, 635 Bourbon, 2:44 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 911 Iberville, 3:50 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 2325 Chartres, 5:22 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 300 Burgundy, 6:36 a.m.
Theft, 806 Conti, 8:12 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 900 Toulouse, 8:48 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 521 Baronne, 8:51 a.m.
Shoplifting, 917 Decatur, 9:04 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 8 Canal, 11:01 a.m.
Theft, 700 Chartres, 12:55 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 313 Carondelet, 1:48 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 935 Gravier, 3:01 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 900 St Louis, 3:37 p.m.
Theft, 300 Canal, 4:48 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Louis, 4:53 p.m.
Shoplifting, 507 Decatur, 6:44 p.m.
Theft, 1000 Decatur, 9:25 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 2300 Decatur, 11:04 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 932 Bourbon, 11:47 p.m.

Saturday (1.7.12)

Pickpocketing, 448 Bourbon, 2:28 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 500 Natchez, 7:57 a.m.
Theft, 942 Ursulines, 12:43 p.m.
Auto Theft, Bourbon & Esplanade, 1:40 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 2:13 p.m.
Auto Theft, 438 Dauphine, 2:43 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 750 Decatur, 5:19 p.m.
Auto Theft, 2110 Royal, 5:43 p.m.
Theft, 219 Carondelet, 9:14 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Elysian Fields, 10:11 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 1500 Poydras, 11:11 p.m.
Theft, 301 Dauphine, 11:19 p.m.

Sunday (1.8.12)

Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Peter, 1:04 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 400 Bourbon, 1:42 a.m.
Pickpocketing (attempted), 200 Bourbon, 3:28 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 417 Bourbon, 3:59 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Dauphine, 4:31 a.m.
Theft, 843 Camp, 6:45 a.m.
Theft, 614 Canal, 11:37 a.m.
Auto Theft, Decatur & Elysian Fields, 12:56 p.m.
Rape, 309 Decatur, 12:56 p.m.
Theft, 415 Dauphine, 3:29 p.m.
Theft, 100 Iberville, 3:59 p.m.
Shoplifting, 333 Chartres, 4:24 p.m.
Theft, 300 Bourbon, 4:45 p.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Louis, 8:26 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Pauger, 8:51 p.m.
Theft, 334 Royal, 9:08 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 9:36 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 600 Bourbon, 11:19 p.m.

Monday (1.9.12)

Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 12:25 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Union, 12:38 a.m.
Auto Theft (recovery), 200 Clinton, 7:00 a.m.
Auto Theft, Barracks & Royal, 9:34 a.m.
Simple Robbery, 100 N Rampart, 11:23 a.m.
Theft, Bourbon & St Peter, 1:18 p.m.
Theft, 725 St Peter, 8:38 p.m.
Aggravated Battery (shooting), 700 S Rampart, 9:35 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Bourbon & St Ann, 9:47 p.m.
Aggravated Battery, 620 Decatur, 9:59 p.m.
Aggravated Assault, 1300 Canal, 10:01 p.m.
Theft, 601 Poydras, 10:42 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1150 Convention Center, 11:20 p.m.

Tuesday (1.10.12)

Auto Burglary, 1300 Canal, 12:12 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 1500 Poydras, 12:16 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Bourbon & Dumaine, 1:17 a.m.
Aggravated Battery, Bourbon & Dumaine, 1:38 a.m.
Pursesnatching, 400 Bourbon, 2:33 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 600 Gravier, 4:49 a.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & Conti, 10:31 a.m.
Auto Theft, Gravier & Tchoupitoulas, 10:45 a.m.
Theft, 500 Canal, 2:20 p.m.
Auto Theft, Burgundy & St Philip, 2:27 p.m.
Theft, 1119 Decatur, 3:17 p.m.
Auto Theft, 500 Common, 3:25 p.m.
Theft, 214 Royal, 5:37 p.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 6:18 p.m.
Theft, 511 Bourbon, 10:15 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 640 Carondelet, 10:29 p.m.

Wednesday (1.11.12)

Auto Burglary, 1100 Bourbon, 2:41 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Ursulines, 4:35 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 2328 Chartres, 7:58 a.m.
Shoplifting, 610 Royal, 10:11 a.m.
Shoplifting, 719 Royal, 11:04 a.m.
Theft, 541 Bourbon, 11:08 a.m.
Shoplifting, 709 Royal, 12:18 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Baronne, 2:19 p.m.
Theft, 437 Esplanade, 6:07 p.m.
Simple Robbery, Dauphine & Pauger, 9:50 p.m.
Residence Burglary, 1021 St Anthony, 10:34 p.m.
Auto Theft, 900 Tchoupitoulas, 11:39 p.m.

Thursday (1.12.12)

Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 12:48 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 511 Bourbon, 1:18 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 200 Burgundy, 2:13 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 511 Bourbon, 3:08 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1024 Bienville, 9:34 a.m.
Theft, 333 Poydras, 12:22 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 805 Mandeville, 3:06 p.m.
Shoplifting, 700 Royal, 7:33 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 100 Royal, 8:01 p.m.
Shoplifting, 900 Canal, 8:24 p.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 8:34 p.m.
Theft, 740 Burgundy, 9:09 p.m.

Friday (1.13.12)

Auto Theft, 2109 Decatur, 5:14 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Loyola, 9:48 a.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 4:06 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 700 Spain, 7:15 p.m.
Theft, 635 Bourbon, 8:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 2539 Burgundy, 9:28 p.m.

Saturday (1.14.12)

Theft, 333 Poydras, 3:34 a.m.
Theft, 555 Canal, 7:27 a.m.
Business Burglary, 631 Toulouse, 9:42 a.m.
Theft, 921 Canal, 6:06 p.m.
Theft, 100 Iberville, 6:17 p.m.
Theft, 114 Magazine, 6:35 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 6:49 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 8:37 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Frenchmen & N Rampart, 11:06 p.m.
Theft, 739 Canal, 11:45 p.m.

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

Thom Kahler

When push comes to shove

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.

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.

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.

(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.

If you see this perp (composite sketch), call Det. Merrell Merricks of the NOPD's Special Victims Section, 658-5539.

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.

Judge doesn't care: Once again, Criminal Court Judge Darryl Derbigny has shown he doesn't care if citizens in the French Quarter are being robbed right and left of their iPhones.

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.

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 ones with guns: And sometimes they use them. On 12.12.11 around 6:25 p.m., a 39-year-old white man sitting with his girlfriend along the river near St. Louis Street had their tranquility disturbed by an immigrant who tried to take the woman's purse. When the boyfriend demanded he drop it, the perp fled. As he was running away, he turned and said something to the victim and then fired 2 shots from a semi-automatic handgun, one of which struck the victim in the right abdomen.

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.

If you see this thug (composite sketch), call 8th District Det. Steve Nolan at 658-6733.

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.

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.

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

Thom Kahler