National Night Out Against Crime to be held Tuesday, Oct. 18; Call 278-7628 or 278-7799 to register a party and a sheriff’s deputy will come out to give crime prevention tips and answer questions

Sheriff James Pohlmann talks to young people at a bounce house set up on the grounds of a Pentecostal church in Chalmette at an event held for the Night Out Against Crime in 2015.

Officials from the Heart of Chalmette Neighborhood Association with sheriff’s deputies at a party held for Night Out Against Crime in 2015.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said he believes people getting together over food and drink to discuss their neighborhood and hear crime prevention tips from a sheriff’s deputy is still the best way to protect a neighborhood and celebrate National Night Out Against Crime.

On Tuesday, Oct. 18 the 33nd annual National Night Out Against Crime will be held across the country and it is still a fixture in St. Bernard Parish.

The sheriff urges parish residents to call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Dep. Sheriff Eric Eilers at 278-7799 to register any gathering of people being held that night and a sheriff’s deputy will be sent to provide crime prevention tips.

“Its still a good way for people to show they want to fight crime in their neighborhood and have their questions answered by a sheriff’s deputy who knows the parish,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“And we continue to get a good response to our decision five years to move National Night Out from its past dates in early August to mid-October,’’ the sheriff said. “The weather is so much more pleasant and fun for families to be outside with others.”

Sheriff Pohlmann added, “We encourage getting together as a way to show that people have taken a stand against crime and intend to watch out for each other’s property.’’

Some 30 group events were held in St. Bernard last year, some at churches and public places as well at private homes.

The sheriff said St. Bernard is doing well in the fight against crime, evidenced by extremely low numbers of violent incidents – especially random incidents involving people who don’t know one another.

He reminds everyone that if they see something suspicious happening in their area they should quickly call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 and try to give a description of people and vehicles involved. “Timely reports lead to arrests,’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Narcotics activity can be reported either to the main number or anonymously to the sheriff’s drug hotline at 271-DOPE, which is 271-3673. All calls will be acted upon.

Capt. Borchers, who also heads the Reserve Officers Division, Neighborhood Watch programs and coordinates the free classes held for Citizens Police Academy, said Night Out Against Crime remains a good way to get to know neighbors.

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

Borchers or Eilers can also be called to organize a Neighborhood Watch group or sign up for the next free session being held on “Refuse to be a Victim,’’ which gives personal safety tips for parish residents. That class is held in early December.

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.

Last year’s National Night Out campaign involved more than 30 million nationally, including residents, law enforcement agencies, civic groups, businesses and at military bases.

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Two adult teen males arrested for Chalmette home burglary in which a $5,000 ring and other items were recovered and one has confessed to a burglary in Algiers

Peyton Teal, arrested in a Chalmette burglary.

Arthur Reddick, arrested in Chalmette burglary.

Two adult teen-age males were arrested for a Chalmette home burglary in which a $5,000 ring and other items were recovered and one has confessed to a burglary in Algiers in which stolen property was recovered, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Peyton Teal of Arabi, and Arthur Reddick of Pointe a la Hache, both 18, have been booked with burglary of an inhabited dwelling, possession of stolen property and criminal damage for destroying a door they kicked in to burglarize a home on Lyndel Drive in Chalmette on Sept.7, the sheriff said.

They were arrested on Sept. 8 after an investigation by sheriff’s detectives led to them and the recovery of the $5,000 ring, other jewelry and a gaming system all stolen in the Lyndel burglary.

Both Reddick and Teal have confessed to the Chalmette burglary and Teal, interviewed on Friday by New Orleans police detectives, confessed to a recent burglary in Algiers in which a big-screen television and numerous computer tablets were recovered during a search of Teal’s vehicle after a warrant was obtained from a judge, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The two suspects are being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bonds set at $17,500 each.

Detectives found the ring and other items in a pawn shop and they were identified by the burglary victim, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

A warrant was issued by a judge for the arrest of Reddick, who pawned the items, and it was learned another man, unidentified, was with him at the time.

Later, detectives received information the second man, who turned out to be Teal, was again at the pawn shop on Thursday. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Teal and he confessed to the Chalmette burglary in an interview with detectives, the sheriff said.

While detectives were still interviewing Teal, it was learned Reddick who hadn’t been found on the warrant issued for his arrest, had also returned to the pawn shop in an attempt to pawn another ring, the sheriff said. Reddick was arrested there. The ring he had the seconf time hasn’t been tied to any thefts or burglaries but an investigation is continuing.

Reddick has denied taking part in the Algiers burglary which teal confessed to but New Orleans police are investigating.

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All three women arrested in beating, pepper-spraying and robbery of a woman they knew are now in St. Bernard Parish Prison and bonds of $200,000 to $250,000 have been set

All three New Orleans women arrested for beating, pepper-spraying and robbing a woman they knew, which happened Aug. 21 in eastern St. Bernard Parish, are now in St. Bernard Prison and bonds of $200,000 to $250,000 have been set, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

All three attackers were booked with attempted murder and second-degree robbery.

Trebrekiante “Breke” Wickem, 20, who the victim identified as the one who pepper-sprayed her, was transferred from New Orleans to St. Bernard Prison on Thursday, Sept. 8.
Wickem joined Jarrell Holmes, 22, and Holmes’ sister, Akira Homes, 20, who were already in St. Bernard Prison.

Bonds of $200,000 each were set Friday for Wickem and Akira Holmes. Jarrell Holmes, who has been jailed in St. Bernard since Sept. 3, is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond.

Jarrell Holmes had also been arrested Aug. 24 in Jefferson Parish as a principal to murder after the fact, three days after she and the others beat the woman who had been lured to Violet under the pretext of picking up clothes at a house, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The victim, who also lives in New Orleans, told authorities she believes the incident happened as an outgrowth of her dating one of the others’ ex-boyfriend, the sheriff said.

When they arrived on Angelique Drive, the three arrested women attacked the fourth as she was still in the vehicle – with Wickem allegedly pepper-spraying her – and then they all pulled her out and began viciously beating and kicking the victim to the head and torso. Her purse was also stolen in the incident.

The injured woman was taken for treatment at Tulane Medical Center and she may still require an operation, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The friend who drove the victim to Violet was identified as Jarrell Holmes.

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Three women arrested in vicious beating, pepper-spraying and robbery of a woman they knew

Jarrell Holmes

Akira Holmes

Three New Orleans women, including one recently arrested in Jefferson Parish as a principal to murder after the fact, are in custody in connection with a vicious beating, pepper-spraying and robbery of a woman they knew, which happened Aug. 21 in eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

He said all three attackers are being booked with attempted murder and second-degree robbery.

The 21-year-old victim, who also lives in New Orleans, told authorities she believes the incident happened as an outgrowth of her dating one of the others’ ex-boyfriend, the sheriff said.

He said the victim was lured to a street in Violet by a friend of hers and two other women she knew under the pretext of picking up clothing at a house.

When they arrived on Angelique Drive, three attacked the one as she was still in the vehicle – with one woman pepper-spraying her – and then they all pulled her out and began viciously beating and kicking the victim to the head and torso. Her purse was also stolen in the incident.

The injured woman was taken for treatment at Tulane Medical Center and she may still require an operation, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The friend who drove the victim to Violet was identified as Jarrell Holmes, 22, who on Aug. 24 was arrested in Jefferson Parish as a principal to murder after the fact.

Holmes was transferred to the St. Bernard Parish Prison on Sept.3 and is being held in lieu of bond set at $250,000

Holmes’ sister, Akira Holmes, 20, is also being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison and no bond has been set.

A third woman, Trebrekiante “Breke” Wickem, 20, who the victim identified as the one who pepper-sprayed her, is being held in New Orleans but will be transferred to St. Bernard.

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Man and woman in bullet-riddled car with the holes covered with stickers to disguise them arrested with $400 of heroin, crushed pain pills, and a stolen gun

If a New Orleans pair was trying to drive inconspicuously because of drugs in their car they made a couple of mistakes.

Sheriff’s narcotics officer Capt. Ronnie Martin spotted an Audi with illegal tinting on its windows and being driven erratically, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

When Martin stopped the car on West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette the afternoon of Aug. 31, he also noticed something odd as he walked toward it: the vehicle was riddled with bullet holes in front and on the side and they were covered by stickers as a poor disguise.

And the smell of burned marijuana hinted of drugs inside

In the car, sheriff’s deputies found nearly four grams of heroin worth about $400, five grams of crushed prescription tablets, a hit of Ecstasy, a small amount of marijuana, two tablets of Alprazolam and a handgun reported stolen.

Reginald Johnson, 34, 4629 Eastern St., New Orleans – who is a convicted felon who served prison time for attempted murder and aggravated battery – and Keshon Holmes, 25, 6021 N. Derbigny St., New Orleans, were both booked with possession with intent to distribute heroin and the crushed prescription tablets, and possession of Ecstasy, marijuana and Alprazolam.

Johnson was also booked with possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm in connection with controlled, dangerous substances. possesion of drug paraphernalia and the illegal window tinting count.

Officers never learned where the bullet holes came from, the sheriff said. When Johnson was asked about it his reply was that he “was in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Both Johnson and Holmes were being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison with no bond, pending an appearance before a magistrate judge.

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