Archives: October2013

Man who threatened to kill himself, brandishing a gun in his Meraux home and refusing to come out for officers, taken into custody without incident after 4-hour standoff

A St. Bernard Parish man who threatened to kill himself Thursday night after pointing a gun at his wife earlier that day – brandishing a gun in his Meraux home and refusing to come out for sheriff’s deputies – was taken into custody without incident after a four-hour standoff, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Emmerson Peden, 38, was arrested in his home at 4504 E. Genie St., in the Lexington Place subdivision, about 10:45 p.m. after sheriff’s SWAT team members made entry into the home.

The sheriff said there were no hostages in the home during the 4-hour standoff that started after 6 p.m.

Peden, who was being taken to a medical facility to be examined, was expected to be booked afterward at the St. Bernard Parish Prison with aggravated assault with a gun for threatening to kill his wife with a gun much earlier in the day.

The sheriff said Peden, distraught over unspecified problems, held the gun on his wife, whose name wasn’t released, early Thursday morning and two young children were in the home at that time.

But Sheriff Pohlmann said the suspect eventually went to sleep, then later awoke and left the home Thursday morning, at which time the wife and children also left the residence and she reported the incident to the Sheriff’s Office.

Officers went to the home Thursday but Peden wasn’t there. Later in the afternoon the man called the wife and sheriff’s deputies again went to the house about 6 p.m.

Peden was home but he said he had a gun and wasn’t coming out, the sheriff said.

The SWAT team was called out and officers tried to negotiate with him for hours. When he no longer answered his phone for a long period, SWAT team members employed a tactical entry into the home and Peden was found on a bed, with a gun on his chest but he was uninjured, the sheriff said.

Peden was taken into custody without incident.

New anti-drug group St. Bernard Community Coalition seeks program director for part-time job

A new group, the St. Bernard Community Coalition, has been formed with a goal of reducing illegal drug use in the parish and to help users find treatment programs.

Its board of directors is seeking applications for the purpose of hiring a program director, which will be a part-time position of about 20 hours a week with a salary of $25,000 per year.

Resumes should be e-mailed to Coalition Chairman Dan Schneider at [email protected]

Sheriff James Pohlmann, Maj. Chad Clark and Joseph DiFatta, all of the Sheriff’s Office, are members of the Coalition board, as well as a cross section of government and school officials and other professionals who are trying to reduce drug addiction in St. Bernard Parish.

Job description for the program director: To manage, develop and coordinate overall operations of the St. Bernard Community Coalition (SBCC), including development and implementation of program goals, administrative procedures and systems; and compliance with objectives of a Drug-Free Communities Mentoring Grant.

The program director will work with board members to develop and implement strategies leading to long-term involvement of community institutions, organizations and individuals in strategic prevention framework activities and will manage and oversee expenditures of the coalition budget.

Qualifications: Masters degree or relevant experience in public health or related field such as health education, administration, policy/planning, or in community/organizational psychology; or bachelor’s degree and 5 years of appropriate experience in managing or coordinating a community-based public health or voluntary health-related agency could be substituted for advanced degree.

At least 2 years of experience required with health education programs in community setting, proven ability to work independently, and excellent organizational skills. Must be highly proficient with Microsoft Office and general computer skills, as well as have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and knowledge of research methods.

St. Bernard groups gathered for the National Night Out Against Crime sponsored by the Sheriff’s Office which provided deputies to give crime prevention tips

Capt. Charles Borchers, who coordinates the National Night Out Against Crime event for the Sheriff’s Office, speaks to a gathering at the Pentecostal Church in Chalmette.

Children prepare to enter a bounce tent at a party in Chalmette.	Sheriff’s Deputy Jules Henry with Carol and Al Beaubouef at their party in the Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux.
Kevin Gabriel, top right, at a National Night Out Against crime party he hosts in Violet.	Emily Hanson holds her daughter, Elizabeth, age two, who is looking down to examine her Junior Deputy badge she just received at a Night Out Against Crime party in Meraux.

-Kevin Gabriel of Violet says he has been hosting a party with relatives in their old neighborhood for years to celebrate National Night Out Against Crime because they think it important to talk to neighbors and show unity in a battle against crime.

“You have to try to make a difference,’’ said Gabriel, a minister and head of the St. Bernard chapter of the NAACP. He helped host an outdoor party on Daniel Drive in Violet on Tuesday night, Oct. 15, for the National Night Out Against Crime event,

“By coming out and talking to neighbors you share things and find out what people need done.’’

Carol and Al Beaubouef have been holding a National Night Out Against Crime party at their home in Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux.”I believe in the idea of watching out for the neighborhood’’ and it helps that when neighbors get together, Carol Beaubouef said.

Several hundred St. Bernard residents turned out at homes, on the grounds of a Pentecostal church and at Nunez Community College in communities including Arabi, Chalmette, Meraux, Violet and Poydras.

Sheriff’s deputies attended each event to give crime prevention tips and answer questions.

Sheriff James Pohlmann has said he supports National Night Out Against Crime as a way for people with something in common – the desire to protect their neighborhood against crime – to get together and pledge to look out for another’s property.

Capt. Charles Borchers, director of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office and head of the Neighborhood Watch program, said the parish continues to see residents having parties for the Night Out Against Crime.

“We at the Sheriff’s Office want to work hand-in-hand with the people,’’ Borchers said. “We think participation by the public in such things as National Night Out Against Crime, Neighborhood Watch and the free Citizens Police Academy offered by the Sheriff’s Office is a show of their support to work with us.’’

“St. Bernard needs everyone to pull together to remain a safe place to raise a family,” Borchers said.

He told Night Out participants at a giant event sponsored by the Pentecostal Church that while crime is low in the parish, the Sheriff’s Office needs the cooperation of residents to keep it that way.

“Don’t hesitate to call us if you see something in your neighborhood that doesn’t look right to you,’’ he said, adding only residents will notice something that doesn’t belong, such as a strange vehicle in someone driveway when you know they are gone that afternoon.

Call the S.O. at (504) 271-2501 and you could be helping prevent crime such as a burglary or theft. And he added to remember to include details when you call such as the color and type of a strange vehicle you see or what color clothes people are wearing because that helps if they are gone when deputies get their and they begin to look for them, Borchers said.

“Don’t ever think you are bothering us if you call the Sheriff’s Office,’’ Borchers said. “ We want to know what you are seeing.’’

Borchers also heads the Reserve Officers Division and coordinates the free classes held for Citizens Police Academy and the free Refuse to be a Victim program. Call Borchers at 278-7628 if interested in participating in any of these programs or if you are a parish resident and would like to be considered for the Reserve Division.

National Night Out Against Crime is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch (NATW) and was introduced in 1984 to strengthen participation in local anti-crime efforts.

The National Night Out campaign involves more than 30 million, including residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and at military b

Violet man arrested in shootout last year booked Tuesday with possession of a shotgun and handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a large amount of crack cocaine and with being a probation violator

A Violet man arrested last December in a shootout with several other men was booked Tuesday with illegal possession of a shotgun and handgun by a convicted felon, possession of a large amount of crack cocaine and with being a probation violator, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Keith Thompson, 22, of Violet, was arrested by sheriff’s detectives who have been saturating the Violet area as part of the investigation into the shooting death of a man in the same neighborhood on Friday night, Oct. 11, the sheriff said.

Narcotics Division agents and other deputies have also been concentrating in the Violet area as they look into the killing of Joseph “Blue’’ Cosse, 30, shot to death and was found on the lawn of a home.

No arrest has been made in Cosse’s murder but detectives have been following up on leads, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Thompson was arrested last December after a shootout between two groups, in which no one was injured. He pleaded guilty later to a felony gun charge.

Thompson was booked Tuesday with being a felon in illegal possession of firearms – a shotgun and handgun found in a house in the 3200 block of Daniel Drive – with possession with intent to distribute about 17 grams of crack worth nearly $1,700, possession of a firearms in connection with a controlled, dangerous substance and on the probation violator charge.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison, unable to be released on bond because of the probation violation.

Man already incarcerated booked with sex crimes on two juvenile victims and 3 women, all of which happened before Hurricane Katrina

In an unusual story, a man serving time in a parish prison has admitted that when he lived in St. Bernard Parish years ago he raped three women he knew and committed sex crimes on his then-juvenile son and two other young boys, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The 34-year-old man, whose name isn’t being released to protect the identity of the alleged victims, is serving time for a conviction in a parish in southwestern Louisiana.

Several months ago he gave a letter to officials where he is incarcerated, admitting he raped three women in St. Bernard Parish and committed sex crimes on three young children years ago when he lived in St. Bernard, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The Juvenile Division of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office began an investigation after being notified of the confession, the sheriff said.

The three women, the man’s young son and that boy’s half-brother have been identified as victims but the alleged third child involved hasn’t been determined.

On Tuesday, the prisoner was brought to St. Bernard Parish to be booked on sex charges and was taken back to the other parish where he serving time. He will have a detained on him and when released there would face the sex crime charges in St. Bernard, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He said the man was booked with three counts of raping the women, one count of rape of his son and one count of sexual battery of the boy’s half-brother.

An investigation is continuing.

The offenses in St. Bernard were committed before Hurricane Katrina, the sheriff said.

In a separate case, the sheriff said a St. Bernard Parish man was booked Tuesday with sexual battery and with indecent behavior with a juvenile, both counts involving an 11-year-old girl he knew.

The man, whose name isn’t being released to protect the victim’s identity, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $60,000.

The sheriff’s Juvenile Division handled the investigation.

DOTD announces Chalmette Ferry out of service due to emergency repair

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces that service at the Lower Algiers/Chalmette ferry route remains suspended due to an emergency repair needed to the landing barge.

Maintenance crews have assessed the damage and were able to temporarily secure the barge, but damage to the screw jacks – the mechanism which adjusts and secures the vehicle ramp in position – must be repaired prior to safely resuming the transport of vehicle loads again. The department is considering multiple options, including having a vendor provide temporary rigging with hydraulic jacks to operate the ramp while the necessary repair is performed. The timeframe for resuming service remains unknown.

DOTD is also considering temporarily operating the larger vessel at the Algiers Point/Canal Street route to accommodate vehicles while the Chalmette route is out of service.

This morning, the barge broke loose from the mooring and drifted out into the river, causing the vehicle ramp to fall behind the landing barge. Significant repairs will be needed before service can safely resume.

DOTD will alert the public when final repairs are complete and service is ready to resume.

Travelers are encouraged to sign up to follow the latest status of the ferries on Twitter.com at Canal_Ferry and/or Chalmette_Ferry. Further information about the ferries can be found at www.dotd.la.gov/ferry/. For traffic information, dial 511 or visit www.511la.org. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).

Violet man shot Friday night and dies on lawn of a residence; Anyone with information should call the St. Bernard S.O. at 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward

A 30-year old Violet man was shot to the back Friday night, collapsing and dying on the lawn of a home on Tara Drive in Violet, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Joseph Cosse of Violet was pronounced dead at the scene after he was shot after 10 p.m. Sheriff’s detectives are working leads in the case.

Cosse, who had been riding a bicycle, was shot twice to the back and was found face down on the lawn of a house at 2809 Tara Drive.

Anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at 822-1111 and they could be eligible for a reward if an arrest is made.

It was in the same general area that a man was shot to death on a sidewalk in Violet three nights earlier. An arrest was made in that case less than 24 hours later.

Sheriff Pohlmann said no other details of the shooting would be released at this time

Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society donates $500 to Sheriff’s Reserve Division for work done at the 2013 Islenos Fiesta last Spring.

The Los Islenos Heritage and Cultural Society, dedicated to preserving and interpreting the Spanish culture in St. Bernard Parish, has denoted $500 to the Sheriff’s Reserve Division for its work in crowd control and traffic management at the annual Islenos Fiesta in the Spring this year. Charles Borchers, administrator of the Reserve Division as well as head of Community Relations for the Sheriff’s Office, and Capt. Joe Ricca of the Reserves, attended the Oct. 8 meeting of the Society to thank members for the donation. William Hyland, secretary for the Society and parish historian of St. Bernard, said the Sheriff’s Office has long helped the Society in staging its annual Fiesta and with other cultural events. The Islenos from the Canary Islands – a province of Spain – began settling in eastern St. Bernard Parish in 1780. Shown at the meeting, standing in front of the Spanish flag, are from left Society President Lloyd “Wimpy” Serigne; Vice-President Rhonda Rodriguez Hannan who was co-chairwoman of this year’s Fiesta; Capt. Charles Borchers; Dorothy “Dot” Benge, immediate past Society President and co-chairwoman of this year’s Fiesta( and Capt. Joe Ricca.

Brother and sister, along with his brother-in-law arrested in small meth-making operation in St. Bernard Parish

SCarl Treitler, booked with possession and distribution of meth in St. Bernard Parish.

Clarence Ladner, Treitler’s brother-in-law, booked with operation of a meth lab.

Jane Nunez, Treitler’s sister, booked with possession of meth and marijuana

Items recovered in arrests including three baggies of meth, a handgun and marijuana.

A Meraux man, his sister who lives in Violet and the man’s brother-in-law were all arrested early Friday in a small methamphetamine-making operation in St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

About three grams of meth worth a total of about $300 and a 9 mm handgun were recovered in the operation which began after the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division received information about meth being made at a residence in Meraux, the sheriff said.

There was no indication meth was being sold to anyone outside of the three who were making or using it and were arrested, the sheriff said.

Narcotics agents, commanded by Maj. Chad Clark, set up surveillance on a house and a warrant to search that home at 3324 Maureen Lane in Meraux was signed by a judge.

Around 6 a.m. on Friday, Carl Treitler, 48, who lives at the Maureen, address, left the home in his truck and agents chose to follow and stop him when he went to a nearby business, informing him of the warrant to search his home.

In the truck were found a small clear baggie containing nearly one gram of a crystal-like substance which tested positive for the presence of meth, authorities said, as well as a 9 mm handgun.

Back at his home, a search turned up evidence outside a shed in the backyard that methamphetamine had been manufactured in the shed, the sheriff said.

Treitler said he was a user but indicated it was his brother-in-law, Clarence Ladner, 48, who had been staying with Treitler and his wife, who had been making the meth, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Ladner had since been told to move out, Treitler said.

There were also text messages on Treitler’s cell phone tying into the meth operation his sister, Jane Nunez, 53, of 2905 Deer Creek, in Violet, the sheriff said.

Agents learned that Treitler distributed to his sister some $150 of methamphetamine just days earlier and when officers went to her residence she agreed to cooperate, consenting to a search which turned up two clear baggies with material that also tested positive for meth, the sheriff said. Some marijuana was also found.

When officers were at Maureen, Ladner – who apparently doesn’t have a permanentt address – arrived after being called and admitted he had cooked meth at the Maureen Drive house in the past but not recently, authorities said. He also said he uses most of what he cooks, the sheriff said.

Treilter was booked with distribution of meth to his sister; possession of the meth found in the truck and possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled, dangerous substance.

Ladner was booked with creation or operation of a clandestine meth laboratory.

Nunez was booked with possession of meth, misdemeanor possession of three grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison.

Anyone who suspects illegal drug activity in St. Bernard Parish should call the Sheriff’s Office anonymous drug hotline at (504) 271-DOPE/271-3673 or the regular Sheriff’s Office number of 271-2501.

Arrest made in St. Bernard Parish murder less than 24 hours after man shot to death on a Violet sidewalk

Sheriff James Pohlmann talks with Kevin Gabriel of Violet near the scene of the shooting.

heriff’s detectives, from left, Sgt. Steve Guillot, Sgt. Jeff Vega and Sgt. Paul Miller use flashlights to help search for shells at the scene of the murder of a man in Violet Tuesday night in the 3100 block of Daniel Drive.

A man who moved to St. Bernard Parish only two months ago from Plaquemines Parish was booked Wednesday evening with second-degree murder less than 24 hours after a man was shot to death on a Violet sidewalk, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Grid Reddick, 18, who apparently has no previous criminal record, is being held in the death of Truy Jones, 19, shot multiple times in the 3100 block of Daniel Drive, near East Genie Street in Violet.

Jones had resided at several addresses in Chalmette and Meraux,

Sheriff Pohlmann said information developed by sheriff’s detectives commanded by Maj. Robert McNab led to the arrest of Reddick, who cooperated in agreeing to be questioned by detectives Wednesday afternoon and later was booked.

Reddick was booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison and a judge will set bond in the case on Thursday.

No other arrests have been made in the shooting.

Sheriff Pohlmann said he won’t go into a possible motive or other details of the investigation at this time.

This was the third murder of the year in St. Bernard Parish and each has been solved by arrest.

“Detectives worked hard on this case and it is satisfying to make an arrest in less than 24 hours,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “We enjoy good cooperation with the community, which is vital in such cases.’’

Sheriff’s deputies found the victim dead on the sidewalk in the 3100 block of Daniel Drive just before 8 p.m. Tuesday after the department received calls about a shooting.

The victim had a criminal history including being out on bond at the time of his death after he was arrested a year ago for looting in St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Isaac.