Sheriff accepts Ice Bucket challenge to promote awareness of ALS

Sheriff Pohlmann accepts Ice Bucket challenge on steps of the Courthouse to promote awareness of ALS and challenges others

Surrounded by deputies on the steps of the Parish Courthouse on Friday, Sheriff James Pohlmann accepted the Ice Bucket challenge to promote awareness of ALS, allow inning a bucket of ice and water to be poured over his head.

“This is a great cause,” the sheriff said before Dep, Ryan Lopez doused him “I am donating $200 to Team Gleason,” the group named for former Saints player Steve Gleason, who is ill with ALS, ” and I am challenging Fire Chief Thomas Stone, Clerk of Court Randy Nunez and Assessor Jaylynn Turner to take the Ice Bucket challenge.”

Mark Hamilton, who operates the Pastry Pantry Cafe on Paris Road, was on hand and said he had challenged the sheriff to take the ice bucket challenge to help teamgleason.org.

“I wanted to get this started in the parish,” Hamilton said.

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Nearly $20,000 more cash believed to be proceeds of drug-dealing found at the home of a relative of a man arrested Tuesday night with $16,000 worth of heroin and $9,400 in cash

Nearly $20,000 more cash believed to be proceeds of drug-dealing has been found at the home of a relative of a Chalmette man arrested Tuesday night with $16,000 worth of heroin and $9,400 in cash, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Acting on further information, sheriff’s narcotics agent served a search warrant at the Chalmette home of a relative of Michael Adams, 40, on Wednesday night and found nearly $20,000 more cash believed to be proceeds of drug-dealing, the sheriff said.

A total of nearly $30,000 in cash belonging to Adams has now been found, the sheriff said. No arrests were made in the latest seizure of alleged drug money.

Adams and Britt Lavigne, 41 who both live at 3612 Jackson Blvd., Chalmette, were both booked Tuesday night with possession with intent to distribute 5.7 ounces of heroin worth $16,000 found in a search, with possession of 3.2 grams of synthetic marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Twenty-six unidentified capsules with no markings on them,were also recovered in the residence, along with several bottles of Boric acid.

Adams and Lavinge are both being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $70,000 each.

Sheriff’s deputies began the case as an investigation of a hit-and-run incident that happened after 5 p.m. Tuesday ebening when a motorist fled after hitting a light pole on St. Claude Avenue near Friscoville Avenue in Arabi, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Officers had a description of the vehicle, began looking in neighborhoods amd found an SUV matching the wanted vehicle, which had severe front end damage, at 3612 Jackson Blvd. in Chalmette and made contact with Adams.

When a small bag of what turned out to be synthetic marijuana was found in the vehicle, narcotics agents were called to the scene and a search warrant for the residence was obtained from a judge.

Adams was carrying more than $3,900 in cash on him at the residence, Lavigne carried about $1,400 in cash when she came home and an additional $4,100 cash was recovered in the residence, for a total of $9,422 seized there.

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$16,000 worth of heroin and $9,422 in cash seized at the home of a Chalmette man after he was involved in a hit-an- run incident in Arabi Tuesday evening

Britt Lavigne, 41, also booked with heroin.

Michael Adams, 40, booked in Chalmette with $16,000 of heroin.

What began as a hit-and-run case Tuesday evening turned into a seizure of $16,000 worth of heroin, $9,400 in cash, pills and synthetic marijuana found at the home of a Chalmette man who fled after his SUV struck a light pole in Arabi, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Michael Adams, 40, who has served terms in prison for drugs, and Britt Lavigne, 41, who both live at 3612 Jackson Blvd., were both booked with possession with intent to distribute 5.7 ounces of heroin worth $16,000 found in a search, with possession of 3.2 grams of synthetic marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sheriff’s deputies began the case as an investigation of a hit-and-run incident that happened after 5 p.m. when a motorist fled after hitting a light pole on St. Claude Avenue near Friscoville Avenue in Arabi, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Officers had a description of the vehicle, began looking in neighborhoods, and Sgt. David Deselles found an SUV matching the wanted vehicle, which had severe front end damage, at 3612 Jackson Blvd. in Chalmette and made contact with Adams.

When a small bag of what turned out to be synthetic marijuana was found in the vehicle, narcotics agents were called to the scene and a search warrant for the residence was obtained from a judge.

As well as nine bags of heroin totaling 161 grams and more synthetic marijuana, several bottles of Boric acid were also found in the home, causing speculation it was being used as an additive to stretch the heroin for sale. Sheriff’s narcotics agents also found 26 capsules that had no markings and which haven’t been identified, and located four cell phones.

Lavigne, who gave a false name initially when she arrived at the home while deputies were there, was discovered to be wanted on a 2012 outstanding warrant for her arrest alleging theft in Jefferson Parish.

Adams was carrying more than $3,900 in cash on him at the residence, Lavigne carried about $1,400 in cash when she came home and an additional $4,100 cash was recovered in the residence, for a total of $9,422 seized.

The investigation is continuing.

Adams and Lavigne were being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds set at $70,000 each.

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Schools starting and Sheriff Pohlmann asks drivers to think safety: Obey school zone speed limits, watch for students near schools and buses picking up or unloading; Buckle up kids in proper type seats

St. Bernard Parish schools start Tuesday, Aug. 12, and Sheriff James Pohlmann is reminding drivers to think safety, including, obeying school zone speed limits in the mornings and afternoons.

“Besides speed limits, watch for students walking in the areas near schools and remember to buckle up your kids in proper seating for their age when driving them to or from school.’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“Be prepared for school buses to stop to pick up or unload students,’’ the sheriff added.

Also, the Sheriff’s Office is having extra patrols by deputies in school areas the first week, he said.

“It is so important for drivers to be aware of school zones, children walking to or from school and school buses stopping to pick up or drop off kids,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “You don’t want to have a mental lapse and make a mistake you would regret forever.”

Most school zone speed limits are 20 MPH, Sheriff Pohlmann said, and drivers who know where schools are located should start slowing down well before they reach a school zone.

Also, remember to buckle children in seats appropriate for their ages, the sheriff said.

“The back seat is the safest place for young kids,’’ he said, citing statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration which say children up to age 12 are safest riding in the back seat, buckled in place. Remember: auto accidents remain the leading cause of death of children 5-15 years of age.

Young children should be in rear-facing back seats. Never place a rear-facing infant seat on the front passenger seat because they could be killed if the airbag deploys and hits the child.

For full child passenger safety information, including where to find safety seat inspection stations, go online to www.nhtsa.gov to learn more.

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16-year-old male booked with attempted armed robbery and separately two men arrested for cocaine and marijuana

Shawndrake Nettles of Gretna, booked with cocaine and marijuana.

Corey Lafrance, booked with cocaine and marijuana

A 16-year-old Chalmette male has been booked with attempted armed robbery of a man at a residence and illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

In a seperate case, two men were booked with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and $361 cash was found in a vehicle.

The 16-year-old, whose name wasn’t released because he is a juvenile, was arrested Sunday night, Aug. 10, after he went to the Chalmette apartment of a 46-year-old man about 9:30 p.m. and tried to rob him when the man opened the door, Sheriff Pohlmann said. The victim said he didn’t know the man who came to his door.

The teen ran and didn’t get any money after the man began screaming after seeing a gun.

A witness living in the area told responding Dep. Sheriff Donald Brown that he heard a scream from the apartment and recognized a teen-ager he saw running away. Brown also found a second person who knew the teen-ager and where he lived.

When confronted at his home after 10:30 that night, the 16-year-old initially denied knowing anything about the incident. But eventually he admitted going to the older man’s home with a pistol he claimed to have found and said he ran away when the man saw the gun and screamed. He said he threw the gun in a canal and didn’t have it.

The teen was then taken to the parish Juvenile Detention Center and booked with attempted armed robbery and illegal possession of the handgun by a juvenile.

In an unrelated case, Corey Lafrance. 34, of Gretna and Shawndrake Nettles, 35, 3214 Packenham Drive, Chalmette, were both booked the night of Aug. 9 with possession of 3.5 grams of cocaine and possession of about two ounces of marijuana with intent to distribute. The marijuana was in three bags.

They were also booked with possession of drug paraphernalia, a scale, and the money was found in the vehicle. LaFrance was also booked with driving with a supended license and with and with a speeding citation.

The men were stopped for speeding in Violet by Dep. Sheriff Joseph Warren.

Lafrance and Nettles are both being held in St. Bernard parish prison lin lieu of $35,000 bond each.

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Autopsy shows no trauma to body of man found in a ditch west of Paris Road on Thursday, but no specific cause of death was determined pending toxicology tests

An autopsy showed no trauma to the body of a man found Thursday afternoon in a ditch on the west side of Paris Road at Agriculture Road in Chalmette, but no specific cause of death was determined pending toxicology tests which could take weeks for results, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

There was also no indication of foul play at the scene, the sheriff said,

The dead man, who carried no form of identification, hasn’t been positively identified. He was found by a parish government worker about 12:50 p.m., in an area north of Nunez College.

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Sheriff’s Office investigates death of man found Thursday in a ditch on west side of Paris Road at Agriculture Road in Chalmette; There was no obvious sign of the cause of death and an autopsy

St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a man found Thursday afternoon in a ditch on the west side of Paris Road at Agriculture Road in Chalmette, Sheriff James Pohlmann said, adding there was no obvious cause of death and an autopsy will be done Friday.

The man was found by a parish government worker about 12:50 p.m., who called the Sheriff’s Office.

He carried no form of identification but officers said they believe they recognize him as a St. Bernard Parish man in his 50s whom they have dealt with previously.

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Sheriff’s deputies get update on latest Louisiana state laws that went into effect, as well as U.S. Supreme Court rulings involving law enforcement

Veteran St. Bernard Parish Assistant District Attorney Greg Noto recently held several classes for sheriff’s deputies to update them on the latest Louisiana state laws going into effect Aug. 1, as well as go over recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions involving law enforcement. Noto, standing at left, addressed a class in the Sheriff’s Training Center at 2118 Jackson Boulevard, immediately behind the Parish Courthouse.

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Two men booked with five business burglaries and attempts in Chalmette, third man arrested with them booked in two of the incidents

Colby James, booked in four burglaries and one attempt.

Jabar Kensey, booked in four burglaries and one attempt in Chalmette.

A call about three men behind a Chalmettte restaurant early Monday morning led to the solving of four business burglaries and one attempt over the weekend, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Two of the men were booked in all five incidents and a third man caught with them before 5 a.m. while all were walking on Golden Drive was booked with one burglary and one attempt that morning, the sheriff said.

The three are all suspects in burglaries committed in New Orleans and were questioned on Monday by New Orleans police,

All of the men, who each carried ski masks and gloves, admitted their involvement in the burglary of one business early Monday and the attempted burglary of the restaurant where they were spotted by someone who called the Sheriff’s Office. Two acknowledged burglaring three businesses earlier in the weekend.

A restaurant, a spa business and a hair products business were burglaruized Friday night, Aug. 1, and the early hours of Aug. 2. “It was another case of a timely call by a resident seeing something suspicious and notifying us, and it leading to the arrest of criminal suspects,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Sheriff’s patrol deputies, having investigated a business burglary earlier Monday morning and looking for possible suspects swarmed to the area of the suscious activity call just before 5 a.m, and saw three men walking.

None could provide identification and a pat down led to the finding of the masks and gloves, the sheriff said.

Booked with four counts each of simple burglary and one count of attempted burglary were Jabar Kensey, 19, 2210 Jackson Ave., Chalmette, and Colby James, 22, 2301 Leon Simon Drive, New Orleans. Booked with one count of burglary and one attempt was Kendall Santa Cruz, 19, also of 2301 Leon Simon.

No bond has been set on Monday.

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Two men arrested with marijuana worth $1,300 and one had $969 cash; Separately, teen booked with theft and burglary involving several motorbikes

Willie Washington of Violet held on $76,500 bond in marijuana arrest.

Darius Brown, of Violet also held on marijuana charges

Two Violet men have been booked with possession with intent to distribute about $1,300 worth of high-grade marijuana and one, who had $969 cash on him, was also booked with distribution of the drug to a third man, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Separately, an 18-year-old Chalmette male has been booked with theft and burglary involving several motorbikes and possession of stolen property. Also. a juvenile teen was booked with theft and possession of one of the stolen motorbikes. Three bikes believed stolen have been recovered by sheriff’s deputies.

Arrested July 25 in the drug case were Willie Washington, 20, 6327 Jules Brown Drive; and Darius Brown, 24, 6537 Louisi Elam Drive.

Sheriff’s narcotics agents executed a search warrant from a judge at Washington’s residence and found him and Brown at a table which had on it loose marijuana and several rolled cigarettes.

Several bags of marijuana were found in the home including one in a cereal box, totaling just under two ounces of high-grade marijuana with a value of $1,300. Washington also had $969 cash on him.

Both men were booked with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, use of a controlled substance in the presence of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia. Washington was also booked with distribution of marijuana to another man on a prior occasion and Brown was also booked with resisting arrest.

Washington, who has several prior marijuana arrests, was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $76,500, while Brown was being held in lieu of $3,250 bond.

In a separate case, sheriff’s deputies arrested Zachary Hardy, 18, 420 E. Prosper St., Apt. A, Chalmette, on July 30 and he was booked with burglary of a shed, two counts of theft involving three stolen motorbikes and possession of stolen property.

Also, a 16-year-old Chalmette male was booked with Hardy in connection with the theft of one motorcycle and possession of stolen property.

On the night of July 30, Sheriff’s Dep. Clayten Burns was stopped by a parish resident on Paris Road, who reported the theft of a motorbike in the 2400 block of Gina Drive in eastern St. Bernard.

The man who stopped the deputy said his son and the man whose motorbike was the one stolen on Gina were at the residence of Hardy, who he said was indentified on a surveillance video as stealing the cycle.

The deputy investigated and found the victim of the theft, then saw Hardy walking near-by.

When the officer confronted Hardy about the motorbike theft, Hardy acknowledged he had stolen it and also admitted he had stolen a second one.

The suspect said the motorbike from Gina was at the home of a 16-year-old frienddof his in Chalmette who allegedly had been with him when he stole the bike.

Hardy was arrested and is being held in lieu of bond set at $40,000. The deputy met the 16-year-old suspect and that boy’s father and was shown the bike at issue. The 16-year-old was booked with possession of stolen property and the bike was returned to its owner.

Deputies went to Hardy’s residence, spoke to his mother, and were shown two other motorbikes there, one of which Hardy admitted he had stolen, but he said the other was his.

Authorities believe the other was also stolen.

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