Archives: April2014

Lack of seat belt use was a factor in St. Bernard Parish fatal crash; wife of a former Parish Council member killed when she was ejected from a vehicle that was flipped over when struck

On Sunday, April 13, at about 2:30 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop B investigated a fatal crash on Louisiana 46 near Stay Park Road in which the wife of a former Parish Council member was killed and he was injured.

The crash claimed the life of 44 year-old Paula Everhardt of St. Bernard. Her husband, Fredrick Everhardt, 45, who served on the St. Bernard Parish Council from 2008 to 2012, was injured in the crash in wich their vehicle was struck and flipped over, ejecting Mrs. Everhardt.

The crash remains under investigation and charges are pending, State Police said.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Brian Phillips, 45, of Pearl River, La., was driving a 2006 Ford F-150 with a boat trailer on Louisiana 46 west in the right lane, State Police said.

Philipps was approaching a 1997 Nissan truck, driven by Fredrick Everhardt.

The Nissan was traveling at a slower speed than the Ford and when Phillips realized this he attempted to avoid hitting the Nissan by swerving to the left, State Police said.

The Ford F-150 impacted the Nissan on the rear left bumper, which caused the Nissan to leave the roadway to the right.

The Everhardt’s Nissan overturned and struck a tree. The Ford F-150 also ran off the road to the right, which jack-knifed the truck and trailer.

Fredrick and Paula Everhardt were not wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and Mrs. Everhardt was ejected from the vehicle. She was transported to St. Bernard Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Fredrick Everhardt and Brian Phillips were transported to local hospitals with moderate injuries. Phillips was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.

Impairment and speed are not considered factors of the crash, State Police said, however, toxicology results for Phillips are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab.

Motorists need to remain vigilant at all times while they are behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, State Police said. Troopers remind motorists to avoid distractions while driving. Distractions, such as cell phones, passengers, radios, etc., take a driver’s focus away from the road. When focus is taken away from the road, the serious injury and fatality crash rate rises.

Seat belts also greatly enhance your chances of surviving a motor vehicle crash. Seat belts prevent ejection from vehicles and Louisiana law requires the use of seat belts in every seating position.

“Please make good decisions behind the wheel; buckle up each and every ride, drive sober and place your full attention on the road and other motorists,’’ a State Police statement said.

$7,500 Reward for Information on Bald Eagle Killing

Verret, LA – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are investigating the killing of a bald eagle near Verret, Louisiana in St Bernard Parish. The eagle was discovered on April 4, 2014, near the fire station on Highway 300 and Bayou Road.

A reward of up to $7,500 is being offered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Humane Society of the United States for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the killing.

Bald eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, both federal wildlife statutes. Violations of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act carry maximum criminal penalties of up to $15,000 and/or six months in federal prison. Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act violations carry maximum criminal penalties of up to $5,000 and/or one year in federal prison for a first offense.

Anyone with information should call the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Operation Game Thief at 1-800-442-2511, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agents Ben Bryant at 985-514-7115 or Stephen Clark at 504-214-2398.

Suspect Carl Kopietz, wanted in 2008 arson and burglary of a Chalmette daiquiri shop destroyed by fire, has been caught in Michigan by U.S. Marshals

Carl Kopietz, a native of Michigan wanted in a May 5, 2008, arson fire in Chalmette set to destroy evidence of a burglary at a daiquiri shop where he drank, has been caught in Michigan bythe U.S. Marshal’s Service and faces being brought back for prosecution, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Kopietz, 39, a drifter who came through Chalmette while working construction jobs after Hurricane Katrina, was arrested Monday, April 7 by a Marshal’s Service task force in the Detroit area, the sheriff said. Kopietz had left the New Orleans area about 2010, skipping out on several theft and drug charges pending against him in other parishes including Jefferson and St. Tammany.

It was only in late February that St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives were able to obtain warrants from a judge for Kopietz’ arrests for arson and burglariy in a six-year-old fire at Daiquiries of St. Bernard, a small bar at 120 Packenham Drive, just off West Judge Perez Drive.

Kopietz allegedly frequented the bar when he worked in Chalmette. Kopietz is being held in a county jail in Oakland, Mich., and faces several felony charges in Michigan. He would be brought back to St. Bernard Parish for prosecution, probably when charges there have been completed in Michigan, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“It is good news to hear he was tracked down,’’ the sheriff said. “It took a while to develop information which led to obtaining warrants for this suspect’s arrest. And it would be good to be able to prosecute and resolve this six-year-old case.’’

About 5 a.m. on May 5, 2008, the daiquiri shop was broken into, its three video poker machines emptied and the place torched, apparently to destroy evidence of the break-in. The site is now a vacant plot of land. An undisclosed amount of money was stolen, Sheriff Pohlmann said at the time. The Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted an investigation, also aided by the Louisiana Fire Marshal’s office, including a $5,000 reward offered in the case, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said evidence was developed which led to Kopietz as the perpetrator after someone came forward with information. Others may also have been involved, he said.

He said St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives presented information to a state district judge to obtain arrest warrants. Judge Robert Buckley of St. Bernard Parish issued warrants Feb. 25 for the arrest of Kopietz for arson and burglary.

Numerous crimes solved with arrest of a Violet man, including 13 vehicle burglaries, two house burglaries, debit card fraud and a theft

Corey Campbell, 38, of Violet, booked with numerous burglaries, a theft and access card fraud

Numerous crimes including 13 vehicle burglaries, two house burglaries, debit card fraud and a theft stretching back to December of last year, have been cleared with the arrest of a Violet man who was on probation from a previous burglary, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Corey Campbell, 38, 3309 Angelique Drive, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $125,000.

Campbell, arrested April 4 by sheriff’s detectives commanded by Maj. Robert McNab, admitted to many of the crimes under questioning, the sheriff said. As well as the burglary, theft and access card fraud charges he was booked with, Campbell also has a probation violation hold from a previous arrest in which he was on probation for burglary.

Sheriff’s detectives had been seeking information on numerous vehicle burglaries in the parish over a period of time which fit a pattern of windows smashed to gain entry, with items inside stolen. Sheriff Pohlmann said.

But a theft of a purse at a business last month led authorities to identify Campbell as trying to use a debit card that was in the purse, the sheriff said.

He also said additional information developed also led to Campbell, including finding a food stamp card stolen last December in trash at his residence.

Violet man booked with aggravated cruelty to a dog he was shown beating in a video found on a drug suspect’s cell phone after drug arrests: Probe shows dog was euthanized at an ASPCA clinic in January

At left is Asani Woods, booked with aggravated cruelty in beating of his dog; at right is Johnny Dominick, booked initially in drug arrests and later booked with accessory to aggravated cruelty of a dog after video of animal being beaten was found on his phone. Dominick took the video of the beating.

Alvin Duplessis, booked with possession of a crack pipe in the drug arrests leading to finding the dog video.

Kordell Moore, also booked in drug arrests before video found of dog being beaten.

A Violet man has been booked with aggravated cruelty to his dog after he was shown on a video found on a drug suspect’s cell phone putting on a boxing glove and beating the dog until apparently unconscious, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Asani Woods, 21, 2416 St. Matthew Circle, was taken into custody on Friday, March 28, after his identity was learned.

A female grey pit bull named Tiger was beaten by Woods, apparently last December, according to a time stamp on the video, which showed the animal was savagely beaten to the head and body and whimpered and cried throughout the attack. After the blows, Woods picked up the dog, who looks unconscious, and smashed her to the floor.

Sheriff Pohlmann called the video “a graphic scene of cruelty to an animal’’ who was basically defenseless after the first blow.

Under questioning from agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division who found the video on the drug suspect’s cell phone, Woods expressed surprise he had been brought in and shown the video, dismissing it as “me disciplining my dog.’’ The dog had apparently created a mess in Woods’ kitchen.

Woods claimed he brought the dog to a West Bank office of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. St. Bernard Parish has a parish-run Animal Shelter in the vicinity of where Woods lives but he claimed not to know about it.

After several days of investigation, deputies have learned the dog apparently survived the attack and was brought by Woods to the West Bank ASPCA in January, according to the agency. The agency reported the animal was euthanized there in January, saying the owner had complained the dog was overly aggressive.

Woods, booked with aggravated cruelty to an animal after an arrest warrant was signed by a judge, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison lin lieu of bond set at $100,000.

The video was found on the cell phone of Johnny Dominick, 21, 2424 St. Matthew Circle, who after his arrest on drug charges admitted he videotaped the dog-beating. Dominick can be heard on the video encouraging Woods as Woods punches and kicks the animal.

Dominick, who was among three men arrested March 26 on drug-related charges by agents of SID, commanded by Maj. Chad Clark, was booked with being a principal to aggravated cruelty to the dog as well as the drug charges.

Dominick was booked with possession with intent to distribute three drugs: nearly a half-ounce of crack cocaine worth some $1,400, 5.2 grams of high;y potent marijuana worth $150 and 12 pills of the prescription pain-killer Tramadol. He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond totaling $135,000.

Dominick was arrested at Jamie’s Court and Fourth Street in Violet with two other Violet men, Kordell Moore, 20, 2700 Guerra Drive, and Alvin Duplessis, 44, 2618 Daniel Drive.

Moore was sitting in a Mercedes when found and had a plastic bag containing the crack, marijuana and pain-pills inside. He was booked on the same charges as Dominick involving possession with intent to distribute and he has been released on $60,000 bond. Dominick was leaning into the vehicle Moore was sitting in and was seen handing Moore something as officers arrived. Dominick and Moore both had a smell of raw marijuana and the drugs were found in the vehicle.

Duplessis ran from the area as officers approached and when caught had a crack pipe. He was booked with possession of drug paraphernalia and flight from an officer. He was being held in lieu of $41,500 bond.

Mobile Emergency Operations Center will again lead the parade Sunday and a deputy on board will post updates on the Sheriff’s Office Facebook page

The Sheriff’s Office mobile command, which led the Knights of Nemesis pade in February and will lead the Irish, italian, Islenos parade this Sunday.

When the Irish, Italian and Islenos parade takes off in Chalmette at noon Sunday, the Sheriff’s Office Mobile Emergency Operations Center will lead it while a deputy on board posts parade updates on the department’s Facebook page.

“We did this for the first time in the Knights of Nemesis parade in February and people seemed to like the updates of where the parade was,’’ Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“We hope people, especially children, find it to be fun and helpful to know when a parade will approach their location,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The department’s new mobile command post, acquired through a federal grant, is a great vehicle and is perfect for leading a parade, the sheriff said.

It will coordinate the running of the parade as well as road closings as it moves along the route, he said.

Four St. Bernard sheriff’s deputies were graduated from the Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., academy

Four deputies who graduated the P.O.S.T. police training academy in Slidell April 3, holding their certificates, are shown with Sheriff James Pohlmann and other superiors. From left are Col. David Mowers, head of the Corrections Division where the four are assigned; Brian Allnet, Kenneth Zulli Jr., Sheriff Pohlmann, Richard Chauppetta III, Robert Maloz and Maj. David DiMaggio, director of training.

Dep. Robert Maloz receives his certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.	Dep. Kenneth Zulli Jr. receives his certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.
Dep. Brian Allnet receives his certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.	Dep. Richard Chauppetta III receives his certificate from Sheriff Pohlmann.

Four St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputies, all of whom are working in the Corrections Division, were graduated Thursday night, April 3, from the Peace Officers Standards and Training, or P.O.S.T., basic police academy at the Slidell Regional Police Academy, with a ceremony held at Slidell City Auditorium.

Graduating from St. Bernard were Sheriff’s Deputies Brian Allnet, Richard Chauppetta III, Robert Maloz and Kenneth Zulli Jr.

Sheriff James Pohlmann, Col. David Mowers, head of the Corrections Division and Maj. David DiMaggio, director of training, all attended the ceremony to represent the Sheriff’s Office and the sheriff gave the four their graduation certificates.

A fifth deputy, Josh English, also of the Corrections Division, completed a refresher course at the academy but wasn’t present at the graduation.

The academy includes about 400 hours of training over 13 weeks in basic police work including firearms use, criminal investigation, patrol procedure, writing reports, driving training, physical fitness and other areas of police work.

The academy class, besides St. Bernard officers, included ones from the police departments of the cities of Slidell, Covington, Mandeville, Hammond, Sun, and Bogalusa, and the Tangipahoa and St. Helena sheriff’s offices.

Girl Scout group donates 54 boxes of cookies to Sheriff’s Reserve Division

Girl Scout Troop 40519 in Chalmette has donated 54 boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Reserve Division of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office for its meetings, under its Gift of Caring program. Tanya Palazzalo of Chalmette, who is the leader of the Troop that ranges from sixth to twelth grades and is also a member of the sheriff’s Reserve Division, said the donation comes from a program in which people who buy Girl Scout cookies sometimes don’t actually take possession of them. Instead, they donate the boxes back to the Troop, she said. Troops often then give the untaken boxes to service-oriented groups. Shown holding cookies they donated are, in front from left, Girl Scouts Brennah Goutierrez, Meghan St. Angelo, Falyn Hardouin and Michelle Roper. Behind them are Reserve Division Deputies Sgt. Albert Loar, Tanya Palazzalo, Sgt. Scott Bowles, Simon Gonzales, Harold Larter, Lt. Mitch Perkins, Lt. Tony Jeansonne and Michael Chutz. Also, the girls are shown alone, holding an assortment of boxes of cookies and the rest in baskets.

Violet man booked with burglary, two counts of theft and trespassing, claiming he stole to support a crack cocaine addiction

Broderick Grant of Violet was on a one-man mini crime wave before his arrest on March 29 and has been booked with separate incidents of burglar

Broderick Grant, 54, booked in a burglary and several thefts.

y, two thefts and trespassing, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Grant, 54, 5656 Sixth St., said when caught that he had stolen to support a crack cocaine addiction.

Grant was arrested March 29 when Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Lopez stopped his white Dodge Durango which matched the description of a getaway vehicle in a theft earlier that day of a lawn mower from a back yard on Patricia Street in Chalmette.

The lawn mower was recovered and Grant admitted he stole it, said Sheriff Pohlmann adding Grant is a good example that addiction to drugs is a central reason today for much of the property crimes committed as addicts take anything they can to sell and get cash for their habits.

Under questioning from Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Nuccio, who had investigated a burglary a day earlier in which someone with the same type and color vehicle had tried to steal items after burglarizing a shed on Prince Drive in Chalmette, Grant admitted he had committed that crime, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Grant was booked with both the theft and the burglary, in which a resident had come home March 28 and found a man leaving his backyard with a pressure washer and auto charger, the sheriff said. The burglar dropped the items and ran to a white Dodge Durango and escaped, although the resident chased him til he lost him.

When a pawn shop receipt for two fishing poles was found in Grant’s vehicle, Grant also admitted to pawning them after stealing the poles March 27 from the same yard he stole the lawn mower on March 29.

Grant was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison, with a probation hold on him when authorities found he also had outstanding warrants for his arrest for shoplifting from a Chalmette store and trespassing for returning to the store after he was ordered not to go back there because of a previous theft, the sheriff said.

Grant was also booked with those additional charges.