Parish gov’t to test its emergency siren system at 1 p.m. on July 1

As part of the on-going testing of the parish’s readiness capabilities, the St. Bernard Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness will test its Emergency Siren System on Thursday, July 17th at approximately 1:00 p.m.

The test will last for approximately three (3) minutes.

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Certain fireworks are legal to use in St. Bernard Parish for the Fourth of July celebration but only on specific days and hours between June 25 and July 5

Fireworks are legal to use in St. Bernard Parish for the Fourth of July celebration but only on specific days and hours as set out by parish ordinance.

The law says permissible items of fireworks may be sold at retail and exploded from June 25 through July 5 for the Fourth of July holiday and Dec. 15 through Jan. 1 for the New Year’s celebration.

Also, the ordinance says fireworks can be used from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. from June 25 through July 2, from 9 a.m. to midnight on July 3 and July 4 and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on July 5. Any times other than those it is illegal to explode fireworks in St. Bernard for the Fourth of July celebration.

The law also says violators of those dates and times can be fined $500.

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Sheriff’s Office registers its 1,000 location under the free Business Watch program which alerts owners to after-hours emergencies; No. 1,000 is across from No. 1;

A service station owned by Armand Serignan, second from the right, dates back to his father opening it in 1927 at 6544 St. Claude Ave. at Angela Street on the first block in St. Bernard Parish. The building is No. 1 on the Sheriff’s Office registration of locations for the Business Watch program, which recently recorded No. 1,000, That is a new business called Studio Inferno, on the opposite corner and across St. Claude from Serignan’s service station. Shown, from left in front of the station, are Lt. Billy Cure of Business Watch; Mitcehll Gaudet, who purchased the building that formerly housed the old Arabi movie theater and is now Studio Inferno; Sheriff James Pohlmann, Serignan and Capt. Charles Borchers, head of Community Relations which includes Business Watch.

In front of Studio Inferno, 6601 St. Claude Ave., which became No. 1,000 on the Sheriff’s Office list of locations for the Business Watch program are, from left, sheriff’s Lt. Billy Cure, Studio Inferno owner Mitchell Gaudet who recently moved his 23-year-old business from New Orleans to Arabi; Sheriff James Pohlmann, Armand Serignan, who owns a service station on the opposite corner across from Studio Inferno and is No. 1 on the Business Watch list; and Capt. Charles Borchers of the Sheriff’s Office, who heads Business Watch.

Armand Serignan, 74, has been working since age 12 at the service station his father opened in 1927 at 6544 St. Claude Avenue at the corner of Angela Street in Arabi, in the first block of St. Bernard Parish and one of its oldest operating businesses.

He doesn’t plan on relocating either his service station or home in Arabi. “I’m too old to go anywhere,’’ says Serignan, whose father was also named Armand. “I enjoy it. It’s not just a job to me.’’

Because of its location, Serignan’s station is No. 1 on the registration list the Sheriff’s Office keeps for its free Business Watch program, Sheriff James Pohlmann said. The program uses an identification decal system placed on a storefront for patrol deputies to use to call the Communications Division, which keeps the contact information in case of after-hours emergencies at a business.

Now, Serignan has a new neighbor in Studio Inferno and its owner Mitchell Gaudet, at 6601 St. Claude, on the opposite corner on the other side of the avenue at Angela.

Gaudet makes glass and metal creations there in a building he purchased which is best known to older St. Bernard residents as the former site of the Arabi picture show from the 1950s and early ‘60s.

Studio Inferno recently became No. 1000 on the Business Watch list of the Sheriff’s Office, which Sheriff Pohlmann said is an achievement for the department.

Gaudet, who moved his business to St. Bernard after establishing it in the Bywater neighborhood of New Orleans in 1991, said he is glad to be part of the Business Watch program and considers safety in St. Bernard to be one of the prime reasons he relocated, along with lower property taxes and a bright future for Arabi.

“I am excited” about being part of the business environment in St. Bernard, Gaudet said. “Arabi is on a huge rebound.’’

“I also like old buildings and the history of the movie theater’’ which existed in his building so many years ago, Gaudet said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said, “We like that our Business Watch program is growing and continues to be a quick and easy way for our officers to get contact information on a business in case of a problem after hours.” He added, “It’s to the advantage of a business owner to make sure they are registered in the free program.’’

To get registered, call Capt. Charles Borchers, head of Community Relations at the Sheriff’s Office, at (504) 278-7628 or Lt. Billy Cure, who deals directly with companies in the Business Watch program, at (504) 583-9840.

If a business has opened without getting registered, is changing locations, or if a decal on an established business has been torn off or defaced, make sure to get registered, the sheriff said.

The sheriff added that business operators can be assured the Sheriff’s Office will use contact information on the decal to reach them if they are needed to come out to secure their building.

“Reasons for us needing to reach someone after normal business hours,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said, “could include a burglary or act of vandalism discovered by a deputy on patrol, weather-related damage or perhaps an electrical outage that could affect a business’ perishable goods.”

St. Bernard, which had more than 2,500 businesses before Hurricane Katrina, has built back to the 1,000 mark.

Business Watch was created by the Sheriff’s Office in the 1990s, part of its crime prevention program.

Borchers said a deputy on patrol who comes upon a burglary or other type problem at a business, calls in the I.D. number to the Communications Division, which gets in touch with the business’ after-hours contact people. They may be asked to meet with the deputy at their business to take actions needed to secure the building, Borchers said.

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Section of Paris Road closed for several hours and then resembled a beach area after it was sanded to cover an oily substance spilled by an unknown vehicle; No accidents

A section of Paris Road in Chalmette was closed for several hours on Friday and then resembled a beach area after it was sanded to cover an oily substance spilled by an unknown vehicle, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Periodically, all lanes of Paris Road were closed for a section of more than a half-mile, from roughly Solidelle Street to Virtue Street from about 9 a.m. to just before 1 p.m., the sheriff said. Traffic was re-routed until lanes were re-opened.

No vehicle accidents were reported because of the slippery substance on the road, which was possibly hydraulic liquid or cooking oil, which apparently spewed from a moving vehicle. The vehicle wasn’t found, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The roadway was sanded by the state Department of Transportation and Development and St. Bernard Parish government.

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One-half pound of marijuana, two loaded handguns and $1,635 cash seized in a case with four men and a woman arrested; Separately, a man with one pound of marijuana, some cocaine

Orenthal Allen, 19, booked on marijuana and gun charges in St. Bernard Parish

The half-pound of marijuana, two guns, $1,635 cash and other items recovered in the arrest of Allen, three other males and a woman.

A total of 1.5 pounds of marijuana, two loaded handguns, $1,635 cash and 114 pills were seized in two recent cases in which a total of five men and one woman were arrested, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The guns, two semi-automatics, were found June 17 when agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division served a search warrant at 2209 Legend Drive, Meraux.

One gun and a large plastic bag containing 20 individual clear bags each containing marijuana totaling a half-pound worth $2,000 was found in the garage of the residence, the sheriff said.

Another handgun, a digital scale and marijuana residue, a glass jar containing a small amount of marijuana, $1,635 cash and bags for packaging the drugs were all found in the bedroom of a resident, Orenthal Allen, 19. Allen has a prior drug arrest and a burglary arrest in St. Bernard Parish. Allen and a woman resident of the house, Rolita Vigne, 37, were both booked with possession with intent to distribute the half-pound marijuana, possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and with possession of drug paraphernalia. Allen was also booked with illegal possession of a firearm by someone under the age of 21.

Three other males inside the house, including a 16-year-old Violet boy whose name wasn’t released because he is a minor, were all booked with possession of marijuana. The other two were August Webster, 20, 5700 fourth St., Violet, and Eric Mies, 18, 2716 bradbury Drive, Meraux.

Allen is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $50,000 bond and Vigne was released on $25,000 bond. The minor was placed in the Juenile Detention center and and there wasn’t any bond information available on Webster and Mies.

In the other arrest, Michael Parham was arrested June 11 after SID agents went to his home at 2510 Chalona Drie, Chalmette and asked to talk with him about complaints received about marijuana use at the residence, the sheriff said.

Parham signed a consent to search form and agents found one pound of marijuana worth $1,200, a small amount of cocaine and 114 prescriptions pills of the drugs Tramadol, hydrocodone and Diazepam, most in prescription bottles in the names of others. Drug paraphernalia including rolling papers, clear bags and a scale were also found.

Parham was booked with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of cocaine and the prescription pills and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Parham has been released from Parish Prison on $25,000 bond.

Anyone with reason to suspect illegal drug activity in St. Bernard Parish should call the sheriff’s drug hotline at (504) 271-DOPE (271-3673). All calls are anonymous and will be acted on.

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Three arrested in theft and recovery of 37 crab traps at Delacroix Island that were worth more than $1,500

Jeremy Encardes, arrested as the alleged ringleader in the theft of the crab traps

theft of the crab traps Christopher Areas Jr., booked with theft of the traps with Encardes.

Justin Vicknair, booked with possesson of stolen property, the 37 crab traps

Several St. Bernard Parish men wanted to get into the commercial crabbing business but apparently didn’t want to bother doing it the legal way, preferring to steal and use the traps of others.

But the Sheriff’s Office, in a joint effort with the state Wildlife and Fisheries Department, busted up the ring, arresting three men and seizing 37 traps stolen recently from the Delacroix Island area that were worth more than $1,500 total, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Two of the men, including the alleged ringleader, Jeremy Encardes, 28, 1931 Rocky Road, St. Bernard community, were caught June 18 on the Violet Canal, with 37 crab traps identified as stolen from three individuals in the Delacroix Island area.

Justin Vicknair, 17, 2416 Nancy Drive, Violet, was arrested with Encardes by Sheriff’s Dep. Sgt. Joey Alfonso of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division and Agent Jason Gernados of Wildlife and Fisheries, who developed information about the missing crab traps.

The original tags which identified the owners of the traps had been removed and Encardes had replaced them with tags identifying him as the owner, officials said.

Also, Christopher Areas Jr, 22, 2300 Margaret Lane, Meraux, was questioned and said he and Encardes had stolen two truckloads of crab traps off Delacroix Highway, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Encardes was booked with two counts of theft of crab traps and three counts of possession of stolen property. He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $50,000.

Vicknair was booked with three counts of possession of stolen property and released on bond of $17,500, while Areas, booked with three counts of theft of the traps, was released on a $10,000 bond.

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An adult and a juvenile visiting someone in St. Bernard Parish were arrested within minutes after an unarmed robbery outside a Meraux store on Thursday

Two males from Texas, an adult and a juvenile both visiting someone in St. Bernard Parish, were arrested within minutes of an unarmed robbery of a teen-ager outside a Meraux store Thursday evening, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Timothy George, 22, of Austin and the 15-year old from Houston, were both booked with simple robbery, after they were captured running away in the Lexington Place subdivision in Meraux, the sheriff said. George was also booked with criminal damage and resisting officers.

The two, who didn’t display weapons, robbed a teen-ager of a cell phone and a small amount of cash after beating him outside a store in a store in the 4200 blovk of East Judge Perez Drive, the sheriff said.

Both George and the juvenile arrested, whose name wasn’t released because he is a minor, had been in St. Bernard only a matter of days while visiting a woman who lives in Meraux and is the teen-age suspect’s aunt, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

He said the men ran but sheriff’s deputies, responding quickly to the robbery call, were on the scene and arrested the males after they went through yards in the Lexington Place subdivision.

The stolen cell phone was found but not the cash.

George was taken to St. Bernard Parish Prison while the minor went to the parish Juvenile Detention

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Free camp to teach young people ages 12-19 about basic disaster preparedness to be held July 17-19 in Metairie; Call St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at 278-7628

Here’s a chance for St. Bernard Parish teen-agers to learn about basic disaster response skills including fire safety, search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said St. Bernard parents looking for summer activities for sons and daughters ages 12-19 should consider a free 3-day camp teaching basic disaster preparedness being held July 17-19 at Lafreniere Park in Metairie. He said the Sheriff’s Office is participating.

The event is the Teen Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT, which is similar to the old Civil Defense groups which trained volunteers for community emergencies. CERT and Teen CERT are under the overall umbrella of U.S. Homeland Security.

“It promises to be a fun way for young people to learn about important things including leadership, with hands-on practices and realistic exercises that prepare you for the unexpected in your parish,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “There will also be team-building exercises, competitive events and recreational activities.’’

Young people will learn how to do specific things such as proper use of a fire extinguisher, how to organize for search and rescue, terrorism awareness and field exercises with simulated disaster scenarios.

A free lunch will be provided each of the three days of the camp. Those with special dietary needs can bring their own food.

Call Capt. Charles Borchers of the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 278-7628 to register a young person to take part, Sheriff Pohlmann said. Deadline for registration is July 11. Parents or guardians will be required to fill out a registration form, a code of conduct form and permission forms. See attached.

Those who would like to join the adult CERT group being coordinated by the Sheriff’s Office can also call Borchers.

Participants should be prepared for check-in at the Foundation center in Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Boulevard, before 9 a.m. on Thursday, July 17 and Friday, July 18 and before 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 19. Enter the park on West Napoleon Avenue. Families can attend the final day, when awards will be presented.

Click here for More Information and Camp Forms.

 

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Sheriff’s Office investigates shooting death of a woman in a truck in Chalmette, which was apparently self-inflicted

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting death of a woman, apparently self-inflicted, which took place inside a truck in a Chalmette parking lot Monday afternoon, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The victim was taken to University Hospital after the shooting, which happened about 2:15 p.m. but was pronounced dead.

She is 30 years old and lived in the Poydras area of eastern St. Bernard Parish but her name hasn’t been released.

The shooting happened inside a Chevrolet pickup truck in a parking lot outside a store at 2545 Paris Road, near the intersection of Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette, the sheriff said.

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All four men now arrested in May 31 armed robbery of a pay-day loan business in Arabi: Last one found in Marrero

Arrests have now been made of all four men involved in a May 31 armed robbery of a pay-day loan business in Arabi, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The last man sought, Kevon Smith, 29, was arrested in Marrero on Friday by a U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force, to which a St. Bernard sheriff’s deputy is assigned. Smith will be transferred to St. Bernard Parish Prison from Jefferson Parish.

Smith has a lengthy criminal history which includes carjackings and kidnapping arrests, the sheriff said.

“It’s great news that four people who came from other parishes to rob a St. Bernard Parish business have all been arrested in less than two weeks,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The four arrests came one at a time beginning on June 7. The first arrest, by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives, followed a tip and the others happened as information was developed on other suspects, the sheriff said.

Sheriff Pohlmann said he appreciated the work of the U.S. Marshal’s Service Fugitive Task Force in New Orleans which tracked down and arrested the last three suspects in other parishes. The sheriff said the task force, which St. Bernard Dep. Sheriff Mark Tanner is assigned to, is an invaluable resource for finding fugitives.

The third arrest came early June 12 when Mario O. Westbrook, 37, of New Orleans was taken into custody. He is being held in New Orleans.

The other two arrested in the robbery are Kendrick Wells, 36, captured June 10, and Rodrick Natteel, 36, arrested June 7 by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives, who also recovered the getaway car used, the sheriff said.

Both Natteel and Wells are being held in St. Bernard Prison in lieu of bonds set at $200,000 each.

Three men, all carrying guns and covering their faces, entered the Cash Cow business in the 7500 block of West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi and demanded money, robbing the store and several customers, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

No one was injured.

A fourth man was involved as the driver of the getaway vehicle, the sheriff said.

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