Archives: December2016

Woman arrested with more than 40 small bags of crack cocaine worth about $1,000 during investigation of a stolen television

Crystal Lewis, arrested with about $1,000 worth of crack cocaine.

More than 40 bags of crack cocaine, digital scales and other items seized in the arrest.

A Violet woman was arrested with more than 40 small bags of crack cocaine worth about $1,000 during an investigation of a stolen television, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Crystal Lewis, 37, 6505 4th St., was booked Dec. 6 with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute after the drugs were found in her home during the execution of a search warrant signed by a judge.

Lewis was also booked with five counts of possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of minors, which involved five juveniles in the home at the time the drugs were found. Also, she was booked with possession of drug paraphernalia which included several digital scales and other items.
Lewis is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $25,000,

A television was found hidden in a closet and was seized pending its identification by the victim of a Dec. 5 theft on Reunion Drive in Violet.

Sheriff’s detectives doing a follow-up investigation on the television theft determined it might be in Lewis’ home, the sheriff said.

JJ the Saints Super Fan at 14 brings his contagious spirit to the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and has a chance to play with some law enforcement equipment

The boy with his father, Jordy Robertson.	JJ the Saints Super Fan, lifts his folder holding a sheriff’s deputy badge given to him by Sheriff James Pohhlmann, standing behind him.
JJ, the sheriff and Sheriff’s Dep. Richard Scheuermann, who befriended the boy at Saints games.	Deputies Randy Scheuermann, Capt. Bret Bowen, Lt. Mike Ingargiola, Sgt. Chris Scheeler and Richard Scheuermann, with JJ kneeling.
JJ speaking on a patrol car public aaddress speaker.	JJ with Dep. Richard Scheuermann.

Jarrius Robertson, better known as JJ the Saints Super Fan, has a small stature because of a chronic liver disease called biliary atresia, which has affected his physical growth.

But he makes up for it with a big spirit and personality that is contagious to be near.

JJ and his father, Jordy Robertson, who live in St. James Parish, visited the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday and captivated employees.

At 14 he is larger than life.

When Sheriff James Pohlmann presented him with the badge of a sheriff’s deputy he immediately raised it high and began talking about how he was going to put bad guys “in his closet’’’ and said he could pepper spray them. But Sheriff Pohlmann joked with him, saying “We don’t pepper spray people anymore. We spray them with perfume.’’

The boy was invited to St. Bernard by Sheriff’s Dep. Richard Scheuermann, who has come to know the teen at Saints games, which Scheuermann and his father, Randy – who is also a sheriff’s deputy – attend.

Richard Scheuermann helped collect toys for JJ to bring to Tulane Medical Center’s children’s wing.

After meeting the sheriff and others at the department, JJ rode in a Humvee vehicle driven by Sgt. Chris Scheeler, who brought him to a department equipment warehouse where he wore a vest and toured the department’s mobile command center and a S.W.A.T. truck.

But when JJ got to talk over the public address system in a police car he was really having fun. “Pull over,’’ he told an imaginary driver on an imaginary road. “You’re going to jail. If you don’t pull over I’ll hit your car.’’

His father, Jordy, was loving seeing the boy have fun.

The father said JJ has been a regular in hospitals. He had a liver transplant when he was a year old, which left him in a coma for an entire year. From that point he has often been in a hospital and has had 13 surgeries.

He is on a list for another liver transplant.

The boy first met members of the New Orleans Saints when he was hospitalized at Ochsner Hospital and has become a regular at games and practices. That’s how he became JJ the Saints Super Fan.

Doing that and making excursions to the Sheriff’s Office and a Fire Department he visited has been good for the 14-year-old, the father said.

“It gets him out and keeps his spirits up,’’ Jordy Robertson said. “I try to keep him busy.’’

JJ is 10th on a list for a liver transplant, he said. “We’re close’’ and it could happen early next year, he said.

JJ admits he is enjoying going places, being interviewed and getting noticed.. “I am having a whole lot of fun,’’ the boy said. “I like being famous. Everybody knows you.”

75th anniversary of attack on pearl harbor marked in Chalmette

Sheriff gives crime preventtips for holiday season; Also reminds parents to be cautious about children’s activities during school break

People out shopping during the heightened excitement and stress of Christmas and New Year’s activities can easily become targets for criminals, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Whether St. Bernard residents are in the parish or elsewhere during the holidays as they shop for gifts or visit others, the sheriff said they should take precautions to avoid becoming a victim of theft or robbery.

“Remember to pay close attention to your surroundings in and outside of stores.’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.
“It’s possible someone may be watching to take advantage of those people distracted while busily rushing from place to place,’’ Sheriff Pohlmann said.

“Holidays are a time when people often are on the go and could let their guard down,” he said. “Just remember to follow common sense tips to reduce the chances of anything going wrong.’’

Here are some suggestions for having a safe and happy holiday time, Sheriff Pohlmann said:

Pay attention to where you park while shopping and, at night, park only in areas that are well-lit, and then lock all doors. Once in a store, men should protect their wallets from pickpockets and women should remember not to leave their purses unattended in shopping carts and don’t put them down on counters or floors where they can be taken.

Always escort young children to a restroom because minors could be photographed, molested or even abducted if left alone in public restrooms. If shopping in a large store or mall establish a meeting place in case parents and children become separated.

If possible, all parties should have cell phones to contact one another. Tell your children in advance that if they become separated from you they should go only to a store clerk or security officer for help, and not to a stranger who doesn’t work in the store.

When leaving a store for a vehicle, scan the parking lot for any suspicious activities, including people standing around in a group or sitting in a vehicle obviously watching patrons leave.

At night, you may want to ask a store officer to escort you. If walking alone, leave from a door nearest your parked vehicle, have your vehicle keys in hand and, once inside, lock the doors before leaving your parking space.

It is also a good idea to walk around your car and look inside it at night when you are in a crowded parking lot. It could prevent you from getting inside and finding someone waiting in the vehicle to rob you.

Also, when children are out of school for holiday breaks parents – just as they would during summer school breaks – need to take proactive steps and ask where they will be and establish times for them to check in.

Cell phones are the best method of directly staying in touch with teen-age minors who are away from their parents, but if they are going to another teen-ager’s home parents should insist on knowing the telephone number of an adult who will be there.