Archives: September2017

Chalmette man booked with second-degree murder for killing his ex-wife with an ax

St. Bernard Parish Sheriff James Pohlmann said a Chalmette man was arrested Wednesday, Sept. 27 for killing his ex-wife with an ax in front of her Chalmette home.

Mark Owens, 56, who is from Chalmette but was staying in Arabi, was booked with second-degree murder after he surrendered.

At approximately 8 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about a disturbance involving a man attacking a woman with an ax outside her home.

When deputies arrived on the scene the suspect had fled, but Kimberly Owens, 48, was found fatally wounded as a result of the attack.

The investigation is ongoing.

This is the second homicide in St. Bernard Parish in 2017. The last homicide was involving a murder-suicide that took place in March in Chalmette.

St. Bernard Parish man dies in tractor accident

A St. Bernard Parish man was killed in what appears to be an accident involving a tractor he was attempting to load on a boat in the Violet Canal, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Eddie Beloso, 67, in St. Bernard community, was pronounced dead at the scene after Sheriff’s Office detectives and members of the Marine Division retrieved Beloso’s body and the tractor from the bayou.

Just after 11 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15, Sheriff Pohlmann said, St. Bernard deputies responded to a call about an overturned tractor in the Violet Canal off Packenham Road in Violet. When deputies arrived on the scene they were met by a witness who said he was there looking for his friend when he noticed his tractor upside down in the canal.

For reasons still under investigation, the tractor appeared to run off the road and into the bayou while Beloso was operating it. Footage from a nearby business surveillance system shows Beloso driving the tractor as it was submerged in the canal, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

According to Beloso’s wife, who last heard from him around 4 p.m., Beloso had gone to the location to load the tractor on a boat for transport to a local hunting camp. When she had not heard from him in a reasonable amount of time, she summoned a friend to go check on him.

Heroin, Marijuana Seized During Several Arrests

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office narcotics agents recently made numerous heroin and marijuana arrests, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Adam Brown, 24, of the 2900 block of Legend Drive in Meraux, was booked Sept. 1 with possession of heroin (10 units), possession of drug paraphernalia and probation violation. Brown is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $65,000 bond.

Cornelius Johnson, 24, of the 2000 block of Goodwill Drive in Violet, was booked Sept. 11 with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana (101 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Johnson was released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $12,000 bond.

Nicholas Triche, 32, of the 3600 block of Decomine Drive in Chalmette, was booked Sept. 7 with possession of heroin (.15 grams) and failure to use a turn signal. He was released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $5,000 bond.

Devin Lindsay, 17, of the 2400 block of Livaccari Drive in Violet, was booked Aug. 21 with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana (139 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $10,500 bond.

Justis Lindsay, 23, of the 2400 block of Livaccari Drive in Violet, was booked Aug. 21 with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana (139 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released from St. Bernard Parish Prison on a $10,500 bond.

Register your Night Out Against Crime gathering with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office

There’s no doubt St. Bernard Parish is one of the safest communities around the New Orleans metropolitan area. While St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies do a fine job of protecting our residents, citizens also can play a pivotal role in making their hometown a safe place to live and raise a family.

One such way residents can get involved is to host or attend a gathering in their neighborhood in observance of National Night Out Against Crime.

Although National Night Out is held in August across the country, several local leaders in Southeast Louisiana opted in 2011 to move the event to October to escape the summer heat.

On Tuesday, Oct. 17, the 34th annual event will be held locally in an effort to strengthen neighborhood bonds and increase crime prevention awareness, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

“We encourage residents to get together as a way to show they want to take a stand against crime,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “It’s a great way to foster relationships between neighbors and fight crime in their neighborhood.”

Residents who plan to celebrate the event with a neighborhood gathering are asked to call the Sheriff’s Office to register their celebration. The Sheriff’s Office will send out a deputy to meet residents and answer any questions they may have about law enforcement issues and crime prevention.

Residents can call Capt. Charles Borchers at (504) 278-7628 or Sgt. Eric Eilers at (504) 278-7799 to register their event. Capt. Borchers, who also heads the Neighborhood Watch program, can help residents organize a group in their area.

Borchers said nearly three dozen events were held in St. Bernard last year, some at churches and public places, as well at private homes.

Sheriff Pohlmann said St. Bernard is doing well in the fight against crime, evidenced by extremely low numbers of violent crimes – especially random incidents involving people who don’t know one another. He urges residents to report suspicious happenings in their area by calling the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

“Timely reports lead to arrests,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Two off-duty St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies involved in ATV accident

Two off-duty St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s deputies were transported to the hospital today (Sept. 13) after an accident involving 4-wheelers, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Both deputies were airlifted to University Medical Center in New Orleans after the ATV accident which occurred shortly after noon on private property off Bayou Road in eastern St. Bernard Parish.

The cause of the accident is being investigated by the Sheriff’s Office, and the extent of the deputies’ injuries are unknown at this time. The names of the deputies are not being released at this time.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office searching for Meraux teen reported missing Aug. 29

Krystal Vicknair

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Police, is asking for the public’s help finding a 15-year-old Meraux teen who was reported missing by her family.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said Krystal Vicknair was last seen at her home on the morning of Aug. 29, prior to leaving for school. Krystal has not returned home or been heard from since, but was reported as being seen in New Orleans near Tulane Avenue and Canal Street.

When she left her residence, Krystal was wearing a navy blue Chalmette High ROTC uniform.

Krystal, who family members say may have changed her hairstyle to an afro style, has worn braids in the past. She is 4’8” tall and weighs about 150 pounds.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Krystal Vicknair is asked to contact Detective Joe Warren with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office (504) 271-2501 or State Trooper Lisa Quijano at (504) 255-5489.

Closed for Labor Day

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office administrative offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 4 in observance of Labor Day. The administrative offices will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 5.