Three pounds of high-grade marijuana worth $17,500 and a loaded handgun were seized in an apartment and a couple arrested

Walter Andrews

Jammie Lee Bastine

Three pounds of high-grade marijuana worth $17,500 and a loaded handgun were found in a Chalmette apartment and a couple was arrested, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Sheriff’s narcotics agents had received information about the drug operation and after an investigation obtained a search warrant for their Chalmette residence, where the marijuana, loaded gun and drug paraphernalia including scales and packing material were found, the sheriff said.

But the fact that no cash was recovered, which would usually be expected to be present when such expensive marijuana is being sold, is puzzling to sheriff’s narcotics officers, who are looking for more information, said Maj. Chad Clark, commander of Special Investigations Division. Agents are seeking more information on the two and any associates.

Walter J. Andrews, 53, and Jammie Lee Bastine, 26, who both lived at 3409 Golden Drive, Apt. A, were booked with possession with intent to distribute three pounds of marijuana, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of the drugs in the presence of a juvenile and the drug paraphernalia count.

When officers arrived to execute a search warrant they found Andrews outside and he had a quantity of marijuana he apparently was preparing to bring to a buyer, officials said.

Andrews and Bastine were booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison on June 21 but the arrests weren’t revealed until now. Both Andrews and Bastine have since been released from jail on bonds of $40,000 each.

Bastine’s young son was released afterward to the custody of a relative.

Anyone with more information about the two or information about subjects who were part of their operation should call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501, the sheriff’s Drug Hotline at 271-DOPE or Crimestoppers at 822-1111.

Anyone who suspects other drug activity in St. Bernard should call the 271-DOPE hotline to anonymously report it.

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Woman arrested in St. Bernard Parish as accessory in 2006 murders in Tulsa, Okla., waives extradition fight and will be transferred for prosecution

A woman arrested in St. Bernard Parish as an accessory in a 2006 double murder in Tulsa, Okla., has waived an extradition fight and will be transferred for prosecution.

Jacqueline Octavia Smith, 36, was arrested Tuesday afternoon at a residence where she had been living in Violet, in eastern St. Bernard, taken into custody without incident by a U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force. The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has a deputy who is a member of the task force.

She waived extradition in a court proceeding in Chalmette on Wednesday and remains in St. Bernard Parish Prison awaiting transfer to Tulsa for prosecution. There was no information on how long Smith had been living on Angelique Drive in Violet, where she was arrested.

Smith was named Monday as an accessory to a Jan. 4. 2006, double slaying in Tulsa in which Linda Louise Wright, 45, and Dorothy Lindley, 60, were stabbed to death in an apartment. Oklahoma authorities said the murders had a “drug-related component.’’

Hilliard A. Fulgham II, 44, currently incarcerated in a prison in Louisville, Miss., and serving a seven-year sentence for a burglary conviction, was charged Monday in Tula with two counts of first-degree murder. Court documents alleged Smith helped Fulgham by concealing evidence and securing his transportation and flight out of Oklahoma, media outlets in Tulsa reported.

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Parish businesses can call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 278-7628 to receive a No Loitering sign to help deal with problems with non-customers loitering outside

St. Bernard Parish business operators are invited to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 278-7628 to receive a No Loitering sign to help deal with any problems with non-customers loitering outside, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“This is a tool businesses can use for loitering problems to remind the public that there are ordinances in place from parish government that deal with loitering and the Sheriff’s Office is enforcing those laws,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“With summer comes the fact schools are closed and more teen-agers are out and about, some of whom may loiter outside businesses, creating a problem for business operators,’’ the sheriff said. “Putting a sign at your business reminding people of the No Loitering law may help curb that.’’

The No Loitering campaign is a part of the sheriff’s Business Watch program, which comes under the Community Relations Division headed by Capt. Charles Borchers.

Call Capt. Borchers at 278-7628 for a No Loitering Sign, or to register your residential area for the sheriff’s Neighborhood Watch program or if you would like information on the next free Citizens Police Academy classes which will begin some time in late August.

Lt. Billy Cure, who handles the Business Watch program, can be reached through Capt. Borchers’ number.

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The Chalmete-Algiers ferry was closed four hours because of an overturned 18-wheel truck leaking caustic soda, a corrosive material being delivered to the Exxon Mobil/Chalmette Refinery

The ferry between Chalmette and lower Algiers was closed four hours on Wednesday because of an overturned 18-wheel truck leaking caustic soda, a corrosive material being delivered to the Exxon Mobil/Chalmette Refinery, officials from the parish Fire Department and Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

A truck driver, Kendell Robinson, 23, of Baton Rouge, trying to deliver the chemicals to the refinery went into a drainage ditch on the east side of the section of Paris Road between St. Bernard Highway and the Mississipi River, the sheriff said. The ferry is at the end of that road.

Robinson, issued a citation for careless operation of a vehicle, wasn’t injure. But the overturned tanker had a small leak, which the Fire Department tried to contain from going into the drainage ditch, Parish Fire Chief Thomas Stone confirmed.

State Police and an environmental clean-up crew were at the scene, as well trucks and personel to right the 18-wheeler.

The Sheriff’s Office, as well as blocking traffic from St. Bernard Highway to the river, also sent prison work crews with sandbags that were used by firefighters to dam the water in the ditch.

The ferry was closed from about 11:15 a.m. until the road was reopened about 3:30 p.m.

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Meraux man booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile teen girl and with extortion for trying to force her to continue their relationship by threats to post a videotape of them to the Internet

In an unusual case, a Meraux man was booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile teen-age girl he met on a social networking site and with extortion for trying to force her to continue their relationship by threatening to post a videotape of them to the Internet, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

John Johnson Jr., 21, was arrested June 21 after the Violet girl told her mother of the threat and they called the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The teen, interviewed the next day by detectives from the Juvenile Division, said she wanted to end their relationship but Johnson claimed he had made a video of them having sex and said he would post it to the Internet if she broke up with him.

Johnson admitted to Det. Sgt. Anthony Bruscato the couple had sexual relations earlier this year after they met online last year on a social networking site and began a relationship, the sheriff said.

He also said no sex video existed but admitted he told her that to scare her so she wouldn’t break up with him.

Johnson was booked on two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile for their sex acts and with extortion for his attempt to continue the relationship through the threat to post a video he said he had, the sheriff said.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $75,000 bond.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the case highlights the need for parents to try to monitor their under-age juveniles’ use of social networking sites and relationships they form with people they know only through contact on the Internet.

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Woman arrested in St. Bernard Parish on Tuesday is wanted in Tulsa, Okla., as accessory in 2006 murders; Will go before a judge for extradition proceedings

A woman named Monday as an accessory to a 2006 double slaying in Tulsa, Okla., was arrested at a house in Violet in St. Bernard Parish on Tuesday afternoon and will go before a judge to begin extradition proceedings to be taken back for prosecution, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Jacqueline Octavia Smith, 36, was arrested about 1:30 p.m. by a U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force, of which the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has a sheriff’s deputy as a member.

Smith was taken into custody without incident at 3408 Angelique Drive, where she apparently has been living, sheriff Pohlmann said.

There wasn’t any information available on how long she has been there. Smith is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison and will go before a magistrate on Wednesday, the first step in an extradition process to have her taken back to Oklahoma for prosecution.

Smith and Hilliard A. Fulgham II, 44, were charged Monday in Tulsa in the Jan. 4, 2006, stabbing deaths of Linda Louise Wright, 45, and Dorothy Lindley, 60, which Oklahoma authorities said had a “drug-related component.’’

Wright and Lindley were found dead inside a second-story apartment.

Fulgham, currently incarcerated in Choctaw County Regional Correctional Facility in Louisville, Miss., was charged Monday with two counts of first-degree murder. Smith was charged with two counts of being an accessory to the murders. Court documents allege she helped Fulgham by concealing evidence and securing his transportation and flight out of Oklahoma, media outlets in Tulsa reported.

Reports said authorities haven’t revealed what broke the case open, though police said Tuesday they received a tip in 2009 that was “instrumental” in leading detectives to Fulgham. He is now serving a seven-year sentence for a second-degree burglary conviction.

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Arrest ot four men in an apartment burglary made only minutes after a call to S.O.; Man arrested separately in two other home burglaries and attempts

Chad Melerine, booked in one home burglary and an attempted burglary

Leroy Tait, booked with burglary in Chalmette

A group of four men were booked with a Chalmette apartment burglary only minutes after the Sheriff’s Office was called by a witness, Sheriff James Pohlmann said, and separately a man was booked in two other home burglaries and attempts.

The four, all from New Orleans, had stolen a large television from an apartment on Golden Drive on June 18 but a witness saw them leaving and immediately called the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

When deputies arrived, the witness pointed out their vehicles heading away from the scene, in a truck and a car, and they were taken into custody shortly afterward.

Three of the men said a man named Leroy Tait, 38, 1619 Clio St., who was among the four arrested, had offered them money to help him move items from what he said was his residence.

The three said they saw Tait force his way into the apartment on Golden Drive and steal a television.

Tait denied any involvement.

All four, Tait, Jerry Connor, 34, 1232 S. Saratoga St.; Charles Jackson, 67, 2105 Talia St.; and James Young, 56, 2550 Cable Dive, were all booked with simple burglary and placed in St. Bernard Parish Prison.

Tait is jailed in lieu of $33,000 bond. Bond information wasn’t available for the other three.

In an unrelated arrest, Chad Melerine, 35, 2516 Marietta Drive, Chalmette, was booked June 13 with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and attempted simple burglary of a second residence, with the two incidents happening the same night.

Melerine, who has prior arrests including burglary, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $60,000 bond set in his case.

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S.O. trying to identify man who used a stolen debit card at several businesses; Call (504) 271-2501

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office is trying to identify the man shown in store surveillance system photos, who used a stolen debit card to make hundreds of dollars in purchases recently at St. Bernard Parish businesses, Sheriff James Pohlmann said. He is wanted for unauthorized use of an acess card. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501

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Sheriff’s Office ready for hurricane season, with a new high-water truck, tested boats and 50,000 sandbags: Residents urged to have personal evacuation plan

The truck, which has 4-wheel drive, a 37-inch lift and air brakes, is large enough to go into high water for rescue operations and haul personnel and equipment

The Sheriff’s Office new high-water truck for rescue and moving personnel and equipment, is shown at the Verret floodgate on La. 46 Ext. in eastern St. Bernard Parish. From left are Sheriff James Pohlmann, Capt. Bret Bowen, who heads the equipment division, and Maj. Mark Poche, head of Special Operations.

Sheriff’s Dep. Brian Cadzow, left, helps trusty prisoners make sandbags in preparation for hurricane season.

Some 50,000 sandbags are stockpiled for use if needed.

With hurricane season underway, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office has a new weapon: a high-water truck bought with a federal grant and would be ideal for rescue or to haul personnel or equipment to respond to rain events, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Combine that with 50,000 sandbags already made for use by residents, businesses or government to help block street flooding – as well as tested boats at the ready – the Sheriff’s Office is prepared for hurricane season, the sheriff said.

“With this parish having taken an enormous hit from Hurricane Katrina eight yars ago, we intend to always be prepared for hurricane season,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “The parish was tested again last year with Hurricane Isaac and I believe we did our best and came through it relatively well. Parish agencies worked well together.’’

Getting ready in advance is the most important thing, the sheriff said. “That’s true for every family in this parish,’’ he said.

“Don’t wait until you hear a bad storm is approaching before you think about being prepared, such as whether or where you would go, if necessary,’’ he said. “If you start to be prepared now, you avoid the rush at home supply stores and supermarkets which always get crowded and run out of things as hurricanes or tropical storms approach. Don’t wait until the last minute.”

“Give this some thought when you have a chance,’’ the sheriff said. “Have things like flashlights and batteries, bottled water, medicines in places where you can easily find them if leaving becomes necessary.

“Stock up if possible on things you would need to take if you left or need if you stayed in a storm and lost electricity for more than a day. Keep personal papers handy that you would want to have.

“Also, anticipate the needs of older relatives and decide what you would do with pets if you had to leave. It should be almost automatic for you by now to think of these things come summer, if you have lived in this area most of your life.’’

As for the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Pohlmann said, besides boats and equipment being tested, plans are in place to move prisoners if necessary. Departments within the Sheriff’s Office have a hurricane plan to follow.

Parish prisoners, using a system developed years ago, make sandbags in preparation for summer, Sheriff Pohlmann said. There are now 50,000 of them stored.

The new custom-built F-650 truck, which has a 37-inch lift and air brakes, is an important addition in time for hurricane season, the sheriff said. “It’s meant for high-water situations’’ such as street flooding from heavy rains and could be used for rescue and moving personnel and equipment to where they are needed.

Also, members of the sheriff’s SWAT team train on various types of boats from the sheriff’s Marine Division in order to be prepared to immediately patrol neighborhoods in case of any type of rain event flooding.

“If parish government orders an evacuation of residents in any approaching storm we will facilitate that and then lock down the parish to prevent non-residents from entering,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

In the event of an ordered evacuation, he said he hopes residents would comply as they did in 2008 in the last time it was necessary because it would reduce the need for search and rescue operations if there was actual flooding in a storm, he said.

In an evacuation, the Sheriff’s Office “would quickly return to law enforcement functions, including patrol by boats if necessary, to protect property in the parish,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “We don’t want residents making a bad decision to stay simply out of concern over a possible burglary.’’

He said St. Bernard residents with special needs in the event of an evacuation should register with parish government’s Office of Homeland Security by calling (504) 278-4268 or 278-4468.

Residents can also register for the parish’s FirstCall Emergency Notification Service which provides timely information about hurricanes and other high profile events occurring in the area. These alerts will go to landlines, cell phones, SMS text messaging devices, email and pagers. Residents can now register on line at www.sbpg.net at the bottom of the page.

Early forecasts anticipate this year’s hurricane season, which began June 1 and lasts through Nov. 30, will be active.

The sheriff added, “Remember, we are so close to the Gulf of Mexico you can’t ignore hurricane season and must prepare yourself.”

If told to evacuate, make sure you have some cash to hold you over for a time.

Take with you several complete changes of clothing and footwear per person and remember family members with special needs such as infants, elderly and disabled persons and pets.

Your disaster preparation list should also include:

• Can opener
• Three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Bedding or sleeping bags
• Fire extinguisher (small canister ABC type)
• Bleach (no lemon or other additives)
• Mosquito repellent
• First Aid kit
• Water (one gallon per person per day)
• Eating utensils
• Tarp, rope, and duct tape
• Toiletries including toilet paper
• Battery-operated radio and extra batteries
• Flashlights
• Sunglasses

For Baby —Formula, diapers, wipes bottles, powdered milk and medications. For Adults —Medicine, such as heart and high blood pressure medication, insulin, prescription drugs, denture needs, contact lenses and supplies and extra eye glasses.

For Pets—ID tag, photo of pet for identification purposes, weeks supply of food, medications, veterinarian’s phone number. Do not leave your pet behind. Transport pets in secure pet carriers and keep pets on leashes. Most emergency shelters do not admit pets. Check with hotels in safe locations and ask if you can bring your pet.

Entertainment —Books for adult readers and for children, board games and/or other games that do not require batteries or electricity.

Remember to keep important records in a waterproof, portable container, including:

– Inventory of valuable household goods and important telephone numbers.
– Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
– Important papers including insurance account numbers, checks and credit cards.

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Man arrested in Chalmette was wanted in a N.O. drive-by shooting Tuesday night in which 3 people were injured in Hollygrove; He has been transferred to N.O.

A man arrested in Chalmette was wanted in a New Orleans drive-by shooting Tuesday evening in which three people were injured in Hollygrove, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Jerrold Smith, 33, has been transferred to jail in New Orleans after his arrest early Wednesday morning at the home of a friend who lived in the Woodlands Apartments, 7900 Patricia St., Chalmette.

It was the friend who called the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and reported that Smith, who he had learned was wanted, was at the apartment, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The man who called said he had advised Smith to turn himself in and Smith was still there when deputies arrived, the sheriff said.

New Orleans police took custody of Smith on Wednesday, when he was transferred to jail in New Orleans.

The man who lived at the apartment in Chalmette allowed sheriff’s deputies to search his residence, where a Glock magazine containing bullets was found in a bedroom.

Smith, when arrested, listed his address as 920 Green St., New Orleans, but he had clothing at the friend’s apartment and appeared to be living there, authorities said.

Three men were shot in Hollygrove on Tuesday evening, according to New Orleans police, in what witnesses described as a drive-by shooting.

New Orleans authorities didn’t release information about the three victims but news reports said one man was struck in a knee and in the torso and another man was shot in the buttocks.

Witnesses also told the media there appeared to be two men in the vehicle from which the shots were fired Tuesday evening.

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