Where did all the crime go?

Must be doing something right: In January, crime was as bad as I've seen it in the French Quarter in the last 5 years. Now, come February, it's remarkably tame.

In the 11 days since the first of the month, there have been 14 assaults, 6 robberies, and 3 rapes in the NOPD's 8th District, which includes the Quarter, CBD, and the Marigny Triangle and the newly-added Marigny Rectangle. And, to tell the truth, we haven't heard much of murders anywhere in the city in that time.

Makes you think the NOPD must be doing something right.

On the other hand...: 8th District cops have proven once again that they don't seem to know how to deal with violent assaults, and tend to cover them up until the public inquires. This horrific attack 2 weeks ago appeared nowhere in NOPD reports (nor the much vaunted Crime Map) until NOcrimeline inquired after a relative of the victim's asked us about it:

Around 3 a.m. on Sunday (1.29.12), 2 young men walking near the Jax Brewery parking lot on Decatur Street came upon a young woman being put upon by 3 young guys and they tried to come to her rescue. The first victim was struck by 2 of the boys. When the second victim tried to come to the aid of his compatriot, he was beaten to the ground by all 3 bullies, where they continued striking him until he lost consciousness with a jaw fractured in 3 places, his sinus cavity crushed, and cranial bleeding. He was hospitalized. The police couldn't say how old he is.

Using a video recorded by a nearby resident, detectives issued arrest warrants for 3 19-year-olds with frat-boy-sounding names: Richard J. Bienvenu IV, Brock R. Miramon, and Alexander K. Riecke. They were each charged with second-degree battery which carries a penalty of up to 5 years in prison for inflicting "serious bodily injury." They surrendered to 8th District cops 4 days after the incident.

With apparently well-connected parents, they avoided the unpleasantness of Central Lockup by having the newest Criminal Court Judge, Franz Zibilich, preset bonds of $2,500 which kept them out of the slammer (hence, their booking mugshots are not available). They are all due in court 4.1.12.

It does beg the question: Are the cops covering up crimes like this? And it behooves you if you know of a crime to give NOcrimeline a shout--maybe we can find something out.

[Danny Monteverde of the Times-Picayune did a follow-up story on this with many more details.]

Speaking of cover-ups: Last May, the NOPD made a big deal of issuing a press release about Cynthia Hughes Rogers, 53, being wanted for embezzlement of over $60,000 from an apartment rental company in the French Quarter and a contractor in Kenner. She allegedly used the proceeds to buy a pearl-colored 2007 Lexus GS.

When Rogers finally was captured or turned herself in September, there was no notice from the NOPD. She was charged with 17 counts of theft and 17 counts of fraud. Her bond was set at $68,000, but when her court date came in November, she was already out of OPP (if she was ever in). The court record only says the charges were "referred", whatever that means. The NOPD won't say. District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro won't explain.

It sounds like a theft of that magnitude is being swept under the rug. I guess there's a big difference in the DA's book between being a blonde white woman driving a Lexus who steals $60,000 and a black guy who steals a $200 iPhone.

Case in point: Last Saturday (2.4.12), the NOPD made a big deal of tracking down and arresting a 30-year-old black guy, Travis Henderson. He allegedly boosted an iPhone and wallet from a woman's purse in a club in the 400 block of Bourbon Street around 1:10 a.m.

Using the tracking device on the phone, detectives traced the phone to the Chevron station at N. Rampart and St. Louis streets, right across from the NOPD's 1st District station. When they called the phone's number, Henderson allegedly reaching into his pants pocket for the phone. When police searched him, they said they also found $100 in cash in his pockets, along with the woman's credit cards, debit card and driver's license.

The press release claims detectives charged him with simple robbery, but court records indicate he was booked with only illegal possession of stolen things over $1,500. He sits in OPP in lieu of $30,000 bond. (Heaven help him if he had stolen over $60,000.)

The release labeled Henderson as a "possible career criminal" with his 9 felony, 12 misdemeanor, and 21 municipal arrests, most from 1999 when Henderson was 18. The NOPD didn't indicate if the blonde white woman had any prior arrests.

The rest of the robberies: Really, this is the extent of robberies since the first of the month--if the NOPD can be believed:

• Friday (2.3.12) 7:10 p.m.: A 45-year-old white man was robbed in front of 2273 Decatur St. (in the 8th District's newly expanded patrol area in the Marigny Rectangle) by 2 black hoodlums who stuck what was believed to be a gun in his back. They emptied his pockets and fled on foot toward St. Claude Avenue.

One robber was described as 6'4" tall with a slim build, wearing all dark clothing; the other was 5'5" tall, with a medium build, wearing a white sweatshirt and dark pants.

• Saturday (2.4.12) 11:45 p.m.: A 20-year-old white girl was walking in the 600 block of Spain Street in the Marigny Rectangle when 2 white thugs stuck what was believed to be a gun in her back and demanded money. She complied and they fled on foot toward the river.

One robber was described as in his 20's, 5'10" tall, wearing baggy clothes; the other was 5'10" tall, with a shaved head, also wearing baggy clothes.

• Sunday (2.5.12) 7:00 a.m.: A 22-year-old white man walking in the 600 block of Burgundy Street (between Toulouse and St. Peter streets) was robbed by 2 white guys whose descriptions sound a lot like those of the robbers of a white girl the day before in the Marigny. Apparently the victim had met the guys earlier the night before and got into an argument with them. They beat him up and cleaned out his pockets before fleeing in a silver-colored truck.

Both are described as 5'10" tall with thin builds, one with short dirty-blond hair, wearing a light-colored T-shirt and blue jeans, and the other wearing a white polo shirt.

• Tuesday (2.7.12) 7:45 a.m.: A 13-year-old black school girl waiting for the bus near Canal Street and Elk Place was robbed by a 14-year-old black girl she knew. The girl asked for money, then to use the victim's cellphone. The victim refused, but the older girl grabbed the phone from her hand and fled on foot.

Police nabbed the 14-year-old, who will disappear into the juvenile "justice" system, charged with simple robbery.

• Tuesday (2.7.12) 10:40 p.m.: A 21-year-old white man was robbed on by a gang of 3 black guys, one of whom stuck his hand behind the victim's back, implying he had a weapon, while the other 2 pushed him against the wall and rifled through his pockets. The trio fled on foot on Conti toward the river, but 2 were apprehended by cops.

They charged George Bradford (right), 26, and Reginald Gooden (left), 27, with first-degree robbery. Each is being held in OPP on $100,000 bond. The third member of the trio is still at large.

Rapes all around: The NOPD is reluctant to report rapes to the public, even though there were 3 of them in 4 days last week in the 8th District. For all we know, there might be a serial rapist running loose in the French Quarter:

• Saturday (2.4.12) 12:52 a.m.: Simple rape in the 141 S. Rampart St. (near Canal Street).

• Sunday (2.5.12) 11:36 p.m.: Aggravated rape in the 600 block of Bourbon Street (between Toulouse and St. Peter streets).

• Tuesday (2.7.12) 3:24 p.m.: A man raped in the 300 block of O'Keefe Avenue, possibly in the O'Keefe Plaza Hotel.

Remember the gang rape in Central City a couple of weeks ago? The NOPD wouldn't give any details on that brutal attack, though the victim's friends did. They might have continued the cover-up without the public's outcry and not have arrested 5 suspects in the case. The rule seems to be: Holler loud and long until you get the information you need--and contact NOcrimeline.

Good cop gone bad, briefly: There are few cops in the 8th District more beloved than former Quality of Life officer Roger Jones Jr. But the soft-spoken Jones, 38, was suspended without pay from the NOPD this past week after his counterparts in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans said he got liquored up last fall and was involved in 2 hit-and-run accidents with his police cruiser in those jurisdictions on the same day.

It's not to say those misdeeds ought to go unpunished if Jones is found guilty. But Super Chief Ronal Serpas has a bad habit of throwing away good cops for dubious offenses (see Jeff Winn, Marlon DeFillo, among others). Serpas' own son-in-law had a similar mishap before Serpas was appointed chief, but survived it and went on to be a fine detective in the 8th District.

Travis Ward, then 33, was initially charged with DWI after totaling a police cruiser while a member of the SWAT team, but the charge was reduced to a minor traffic offense. He was suspended without pay for 60 days.

All of this occurred before Serpas became chief, but nonetheless Serpas should show similar mercy on Jones, rather than lose a good officer the public adores.

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Recent crimes in the 8th District

Sunday (1.29.12)

Theft, 640 Bourbon, 4:07 a.m.
Theft, 227 Bourbon, 4:55 a.m.
Theft, 333 Poydras, 11:26 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 836 Elysian Fields, 3:36 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 400 Bourbon, 4:00 p.m.
Auto Burglary, Girod & LaSalle, 8:07 p.m.
Shoplifting, 127 Royal, 8:35 p.m.
Theft, 409 O'Keefe, 8:47 p.m.

Monday (1.30.12)

Theft, 501 Decatur, 9:29 a.m.
Auto Theft, 200 Decatur, 1:07 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Burgundy, 3:44 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 600 Kerlerec, 4:24 p.m.
Theft, 626 Kerlerec, 5:37 p.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 10:19 p.m.

Tuesday (1.31.12)

Theft, Bourbon & St Ann, 4:14 a.m.
Auto Theft, 816 S Peters, 2:34 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, LaSalle & Perdido, 3:14 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 818 Chartres, 4:01 p.m.

Wednesday (2.1.12)

Theft, 441 Bourbon, 12:27 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1200 N Peters, 8:02 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 800 Decatur, 8:51 a.m.
Theft, 1501 Girod, 11:51 a.m.
Theft, 500 Port of New Orleans, 1:30 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville, 6:57 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 1000 Iberville, 8:12 p.m.
Theft, 900 Convention Center, 8:18 p.m.

Thursday (2.2.12)

Theft, 441 Bourbon, 12:22 a.m.
Auto Theft, O'Keefe & Poydras, 11:22 a.m.
Auto Theft, Canal & N Villere, 1:57 p.m.
Theft, 424 Bourbon, 9:59 p.m.
Theft, 8 Canal, 10:50 p.m.
Theft, 700 Bourbon, 11:05 p.m.
Theft, 227 Bourbon, 11:16 p.m.

Friday (2.3.12)

Theft, 639 Loyola, 6:52 a.m.
Shoplifting, 134 Royal, 12:24 p.m.
Bicycle Theft, 200 Bourbon, 4:10 p.m.
Shoplifting, 400 N Peters, 6:27 p.m.
Simple Robbery, 2273 Decatur, 7:14 p.m.

Saturday (2.4.12)

Rape, 141 S Rampart, 12:52 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 600 Bourbon, 1:21 a.m.
Pickpocketing, Bourbon & St Louis, 10:47 p.m.

Sunday (2.5.12)

Simple Robbery, 600 Burgundy, 6:36 a.m.
Bicycle Theft, 334 Royal, 9:45 a.m.
Armed Robbery, 600 Spain, 9:54 a.m.
Auto Theft, Ntachez & Tchoupitoulas, 10:12 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1008 N Peters, 1:39 p.m.
Auto Theft, 310 Andrew Higgins, 3:16 p.m.

Monday (2.6.12)

Auto Burglary, Burgundy & Iberville, 2:38 a.m.
Pickpocketing, 200 Bourbon, 4:28 a.m.
Theft, 2 Poydras, 7:46 a.m.
Theft, 908 Esplanade, 9:51 a.m.
Shoplifting, 800 Canal, 8:31 p.m.

Tuesday (2.7.12)

Theft, 8 Canal, 12:18 a.m.
Theft, 800 Canal, 3:52 a.m.
Simple Robbery, Canal & Elk, 9:25 a.m.
Auto Theft, 2000 Royal, 1:49 p.m.
Theft, 416 Bourbon, 8:50 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 2100 Decatur, 10:07 p.m.
Armed Robbery, 300 Bourbon, 10:31 p.m.

Wednesday (2.8.12)

Theft, 423 Bourbon, 12:58 a.m.
Theft, 441 Bourbon, 1:25 a.m.
Theft, 345 St Joseph, 12:01 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 100 Baronne, 6:25 p.m.

Thursday (2.9.12)

Theft, 900 Convention Center, 8:37 a.m.
Auto Burglary, 1415 Girod, 12:14 p.m.
Theft, 219 Loyola, 12:15 p.m.
Shoplifting, 522 Bourbon, 7:45 p.m.
Theft, 511 Bourbon, 11:06 p.m.

Friday (2.10.12)

Auto Burglary, 200 Burgundy, 2:24 a.m.
Auto Burglary, Church & Julia, 11:00 a.m.
Theft, 721 Iberville, 3:29 p.m.
Auto Theft, 923 Constance, 9:48 p.m.

Saturday (2.11.12)

Pickpocketing, 500 Bourbon, 4:26 a.m.
Theft, 221 Carondelet, 12:16 p.m.
Auto Burglary, 333 Canal, 5:22 p.m.
Theft, 850 Convention Center, 8:14 p.m.
Theft, 315 Julia, 10:10 p.m.
Pickpocketing, 500 Bourbon, 11:27 p.m.

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

Thom Kahler