Archives: September2016

Churches come together for prayer night which included praying over sheriff’s deputies for their safety and service

Several St. Bernard Parish churches came together Sept. 26 for a prayer night which included praying over a number of sheriff’s deputies for their safety and service in the community. The event was held at Celebration Church on West Judge Perez Drive in Arabi.

From left, Sheriff’s Dep. Amanda Roh, Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Aaron Johnson, Sgt. Darren Miller and Celebration Church Assistant Pastor Trevor Truitt take part in a prayer ceremony. In back is Pastor Patrick Eagan.

Shown are Chaplain Aaron Johnson, Sgt. Darren Miller, Assistant Pastor Trevor Truitt and Dep. Eric Eilers. In back is Pastor Patrick Eagan.	Det. Lt. Richard Mendel is prayed over.

Man booked with $1,000 in crack cocaine and with being a felon in possession of firearms after his girlfriend called Sheriff’s Office to report two guns were stolen from a car

Here’s a lesson a man just learned: Don’t call the Sheriff’s Office if you have something to hide or intend to lie when they arrive.

                             Rayvinel Colbert

A man was booked with $1,000 in crack cocaine and with being a felon in possession of firearms after his girlfriend called the Sheriff’s Office to report two guns were stolen from a car, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Rayvinel Colbert, 29, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison without bond. He was booked Sept. 22 with being a convicted felon in illegal possession of two firearms, possession with intent to distribute 10 grams of crack cocaine worth about $1,000 and possession of a small amount of marijuana. He previously has a burglary and drug conviction.

His girlfriend, who lives in Chalmette, called to report two guns were missing in a car burglary.

But investigating detectives determined there had not been in a burglary in St. Bernard Parish, the sheriff said.

Further investigation led to detectives getting a search warrant for the house, where two guns and drugs were found. Ammo was also recovered.

                                                                         Drugs, guns and other items recovered in the arrest of Colbert.

Club the Chit Chats makes and donates bags of comfort items for Sheriff’s Office to give children removed from parents who have been arrested or otherwise failed to provide proper care for them

Members of the Chit Chats, a club in St. Bernard Parish, hold bags of items being donated to the Sheriff’s Office for children being removed from negligent parents. From left are Judy Hoffmeister, Lynn Siegfried, Jackie Donnelly, Verleen Showalter, club President Shirley Pechon, Maxine Wilson, Sheriff James Pohlmann, Fay Shirley, Audrey Serigne and Betty Showalter In back row are Sheriff’s Office Det. Capt. Mark Jackson. Det. Joe Warren and Det. Sgt. Michelle Canepa. Not pictured is Jamie Shultz, who also participated in making bags for children.

Shirley Pechon holds a blanket, one of the items in a bag for children.. In the background is club member and former Parish Council member Judy Hoffmeister.	Shirley Pechon and Judy Hoffmeister check bags to be donated to the Sheriff’s Office to give to children.

It’s obviously a sad and possibly traumatic situation when children are removed from parents who have been arrested or otherwise failed to provide proper care for them.

But a St. Bernard Parish group, the Chit Chats, is trying to give some comfort to the young people in their moment of need.

The group of about 15 women made and are donating a dozen or so bags of items for the Sheriff’s Office to give children thrust into a situation where they are removed from the custody of negligent parents.

“It’s just to give them (children) a little comfort’’ in a change of situation for them, said Shirley Pechon, president of the Chit Chats.

Bags contain items such as blankets, stuffed toys, toiletries for children, Pechon said.

The group, which is more than 40 years old, is part of the St. Bernard Volunteers for Family and Community, which helps fund projects in the parish to help schools, clubs and non-profit groups including Special Olympics, Project Graduation and the 4-H Club.

“We try to do what we can for the community,’’ Pechon said.

Some bags were given recently to Sheriff’s Office detectives from the Juvenile Division, who deal with situations involving minors being removed from homes by the State Department of Children and Family Services. Such children go to relatives if possible or, if not, into state custody.

Sheriff James Pohlmann attended a meeting of the Chit Chats group in Arabi to say thanks for their donation. “These things we appreciate,’’ he told the group. The sheriff said of Juvenile Division detectives, “The job they deal with is tough work.’’

Det. Capt. Mark Jackson, Det. Sgt. Michelle Canepa and Det. Joe Warren also attended.

Canepa said sometimes children being removed from a home because of negligence by parents have been living in dreadful circumstances, such as in filthy conditions, and literally have nothing of their own to bring when they are
brought somewhere else.

Detectives sometimes have bought things including diapers for infants whose parents were providing no sanitary items to them, she said.

The bags will help give such children something to help them, Canepa said.

Chalmette bar holds fund-raiser to donate protective vests for Sheriff’s Office and money for the Fire Department and ambulance service; $2,161 raised

Shown at the fundraiser at Wimpy’s bar in Chalmette are, from left, Parish Council member at-large Richie Lewis, employee Daffanie Buras, Parish President Guy McInnis, employee Michelle Varnado, owner Lori Cantrell, Sheriff James Pohlmann and employee Jessica Richardson.

Sheriff James Pohlmann, Col. Robert McNab and Capt. Mark Jackson.	Lt. Donald Sixkiller and Steve Goettz.

Lori Cantrell, owner of Wimpy’s bar in Chalmette, had been thinking for some time about wanting to help sheriff’s deputies by donating protective vests.

“I thought this was a good time to start,’’ said Cantrell, who decided to begin a yearly tradition of holding a fundraiser to benefit not only deputies but the parish Fire Department and paramedics with Acadian Ambulance, the parish’s ambulance provider.

“We need to keep them all safe like they keep us safe,’’ said Cantrell, who said she was bothered this year by people killing police officers around the country. “We wanted to help them keep themselves safe’’ with protective vests.’’

And through the desire to help deputies, the Fire Department and paramedics the fundraiser was planned.

The event, held Sept. 17, raised $2,161, she said. And other parish businesses helped in the effort, Cantrell added.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said he and his department appreciate it when people support law enforcement.

“St. Bernard is blessed when it comes to public safety,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said. “The Sheriff’s Office, the Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance are always here to help the public. So I am not surprised when the public shows its support.’’

Parish President Guy McInnis and Council member at-large Richie Lewis, who both were also there, echoed the sheriff’s comments.

“We have enjoyed community support,’’ McInnis said. “Our citizens have always supported first-responders.”

Lewis said, “It’s because of citizen support we have such a strong Sheriff’s Office that keeps us safe.’’

Second man arrested who had been sought in robbery of $160 from a third man at a Chalmette car wash

Albert Reaux

A second New Orleans man has been arrested who had been sought by St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives in the robbery of $160 from a third man at a Chalmette car wash, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Albert Reaux, 42, who ran from the car wash after the Sept. 14 robbery and was seen by the victim getting into a vehicle driven by another man now in custody, was caught in New Orleans on Monday night, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Reaux will be transferred to the St. Bernard Parish Prison and booked with one count of simple robbery.

The driver of a getaway vehicle, Charles B. Johnson Jr., 34, also of New Orleans, was arrested Monday by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and also booked with simple robbery.

After Johnson’s arrest it was found he had more than $1,100 of drugs on his person, including 25 aluminum foils containing heroin, as well as more than 70 tablets of the painkiller Tramadol and five hits of Ecstasy, or MDMA, Sheriff Pohlmann said. He was also booked with possession with intent to distribute the drugs.

The robbery occurred when Reaux approached a man at a Chalmette car wash on Paris Road, asked for money for a change machine, then stole $160 from the man and ran to the getaway car.

Johnson is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison without bond, pending an appearance before a judge.

Man arrested trying to sell silver coins to a Chalmette pawn shop which had been stolen in a Mandeville burglary; Total of $2,500 of stolen coins and silver bars recovered, including many in his vehicle

Sloam Johnson, booked with possession of stolen property, which was silver coins and bars taken in a Mandeville burglary.

A New Orleans man was arrested Sept. 17 as he tried to sell silver coins to a Chalmette pawn and jewelry shop which had been stolen in a Mandeville burglary, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

A total of about $2,500 worth of stolen coins and silver bars were recovered, including many in his vehicle during a search authorized by a judge after his initial arrest, the sheriff said.

Sloam Johnson, 37, who also misrepresented his identity while being booked into St. Bernard Parish Prison, was being held in lieu of $5,500 bond set on one count of possession of stolen things and the misrepresentation charge. Bond hasn’t been set on a second count of possession of stolen things.

Sheriff’s deputies were called to a Chalmette pawn and jewelry shop by its operator who said a man was trying to sell possibly stolen silver coins, the sheriff said.

The operator said she was aware that a number of coins were stolen in a recent Mandeville burglary and had been in touch with the owner.

The owner arrived at the shop and identified 30 coins offered for sale by Johnson as among items taken in his burglary.

Johnson denied knowledge the coins were stolen and said he had bought them from another man he identified only by a first name. Johnson also said he had nothing else in his vehicle.

But after his initial arrest, a search of the vehicle authorized by a judge turned up numerous silver bars also stolen.

Silver coins and bars Johnson tried to sell or had in his vehicle.

One man arrested and one sought in robbery of $160 from a third man in Chalmette: Also, $1,100 worth of drugs including heroin, Ecstasy and the painkiller Tramadol seized in the arrest by SBSO

One New Orleans man was arrested by St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s detectives Monday and another is sought in the robbery of $160 from a third man at a Chalmette car wash, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Albert Reaux, wanted on robbery of a man at a Chalmette car wash.

Charles Johnson Jr., arrested in simple robbery of a man at a Chalmette car wash.

Also, after the arrest of Charles B. Johnson Jr., 34, it was found he had more than $1,100 of drugs on his person, including 25 aluminum foils containing heroin, as well as more than 70 tablets of the painkiller Tramadol and five hits of Ecstasy, or MDMA, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Johnson, the getaway driver in the incident that happened Sept. 14, was booked with simple robbery of a man who had $160 stolen from him when he agreed to give some cash to a man who asked for money for a change machine at a car wash on Paris Road in Chalmette, the sheriff said.

Johnson, who is on parole from a drug conviction, was also booked with possession of the heroin, Ecstasy and Tramadol with intent to distribute.

He is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison without bond, pending an appearance before a judge.

Being sought on one count of simple robbery for taking the money is Albert Reaux, 42, of New Orleans, who ran from the car wash after the robbery and was seen by the victim getting into a vehicle allegedly driven by Johnson.

Anyone with knowledge of Reaux’s whereabouts should call the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111.

No. 3274: Drugs recovered in Johnson’s arrest, including 25 aluminum fails containing heroin, more than 70 Tramadol painkiller tablets and five hits of Ecstasy, or MDMA.

Sheriff’s Offices in Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes combine to arrest two men believed responsible for armed robberies in five parishes; Also handguns, masks, a back pack and other items seized

Sheriff’s Offices in Jefferson and St. Bernard parishes have combined to arrest two Marrero men believed responsible for armed robberies in multiple parishes and seized handguns, masks, a backpack and other items used in the crimes, Sheriffs Newell Normand and James Pohlmann said.

Sam J. Williams, 38, and Travis L. Davis, 37, both living at 2820 Bayou Teche Drive, were stopped by Jefferson Parish sheriff’s deputies early Sept.17 while in a sports utility vehicle that was being sought in connection with at least four armed robberies in Jefferson, one in Chalmette, and possibly others in three other parishes.

Travis Davis, arrested in Chalmette one armed robbery and four in Jefferson Parish.

Sam Williams, arrested in one Chalmette armed robbery and four in Jefferson Parish.

Further investigation led to a warrant being executed to search their residence, where two handguns and items believed used in robberies including masks, bandanas, a unique tan back pack, gloves and clothing were found. Also, cigarette packs with markings matching those taken in a Chalmette store robbery the night of Sept. 13 were also found at the residence.

The men are being held at the Jefferson Parish Corrections Center, booked with 12 counts of armed robbery, based on the multiple victims in the four robberies in Jefferson. The robbers took both store property and personal property of employees in the Jefferson and St. Bernard robberies.

St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives participated in the investigation after the men were stopped in the SUV and intend to obtain warrants of arrest charging both men with armed robbery and possibly other charges, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

It was St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives who through investigation learned the possible license plate number of an SUV believed to be the getaway vehicle in the Sept. 13 robbery of a Family Dollar store on Paris Road in Chalmette.

Sheriff’s detectives were able to locate video through the cooperation of owners of residences in the area of the robbery and that led to identifying a possible license plate number, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Jefferson Parish authorities determined a vehicle with that plate number had also been spotted in areas near where armed robberies were committed in recent months.

Jefferson investigators had been conducting follow-up investigations into a number of businesses in Jefferson Parish that have been robbed between July 25 and August 28.

Jefferson deputies stopped the vehicle based on the plate number.

The registered owner of this vehicle was identified as 33 year-old Lawnada Tapp, who told investigators her boyfriend, identified as Williams, often used her vehicle. As a result, a search was underway to locate and question Williams in regards to these robbery investigations.

On Saturday, September 17, Jefferson deputies observed this vehicle being operated on Highway 90 near Beechgrove Boulevard in Westwego. The vehicle was being driven by Williams and seated in the front passenger seat was Davis.

Both of these individuals were detained and later turned over to Robbery Section detectives. After being questioned, Williams and Davis were transported to the JPCC and booked accordingly.

During the execution of a search warrant, JPSO Robbery detectives located the tan back pack that was observed in the video at each robbery scene; two firearms, as well as several pieces of clothing seen in the stores’ video surveillance

Williams has a prior arrest history for distribution of cocaine, indecent behavior with juveniles, sexual battery, battery on a police officer, simple battery, criminal trespass and resisting an officer. Davis has a prior arrest history for first-degree robbery, simple robbery, second degree battery, intentional exposure to AIDS virus, stalking, illegal possession of stolen things, simple burglary, distribution of marijuana and theft of goods.

Based on the fact that both Williams and Davis are convicted felons, investigators are in the process of issuing warrants for the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Two men arrested after one touched a woman inappropriately while she was outside a business charging her cell phone and the other stole the phone

Manuel Josue, booked with simple robbery in Chalmette

Armado Francisco, booked with sexual battery in Chalmette

Two men were arrested after one touched a woman inappropriately while she was outside a Chalmette business charging her cell phone and the other stole the phone, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Armado Francisco, 20, booked with misdemeanor sexual battery, and Manuel Josue Suyy Ajqui, 23, booked with simple robbery, were arrested about 3:30 a.m. Sept.11 after an incident that happened minutes earlier in the 300 block of East Judge Perez Drive, the sheriff said. Neither gave an address when arrested.

A driver passing by the scene called the Sheriff’s Office and reported seeing two men harassing a woman outside a closed business, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

When deputies arrived and spoke to the victim she said she was charging her personal cell phone on an exterior outlet of a business when the men approached and began trying to lure her over to a residence.

The man later identified as Francisco then began touching her inappropriately, putting a hand over her clothing and ignoring her protests for him to stop, she said.

At the same time, the other man removed her cell phone from a pocket where she had placed it and ran away with it, the sheriff said.

Francisco stayed on the scene and continued to touch her, the victim said, until the one who ran with the cell phone returned a minute or so later and handed it back to her, disassembled.

Afterward, she said, both men fled west-bound on East Judge Perez Drive and she described them and their clothing to officers.

Deputies searched the area and found two men matching the descriptions she gave, who were at a gasoline station at Paris Road and Judge Perez Drive.

The woman was brought to that location and identified the men involved, the sheriff said, and they were arrested.

Both Francisco and Josue are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds set at $12,500 each.

Special Effects Test to be conducted in Arabi

On Thursday, September 15, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., the Ranch Studios and Sphere will be conducting a one-time Special Effects test of simulated gunfire and small explosions. The test will take place behind the old Ford Plant at 7201 N. Peters Rd. in Arabi. Approximately 300-400 rounds of ammunition will be detonated and 10-15 small explosions will take place.

St. Bernard Parish Sherriff’s Office and the St. Bernard Fire Department will be present to ensure public safety throughout the duration of the test.