Archives: September2018

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office 30-year veteran deputy passes away.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office 30-year veteran deputy passes away following a single-car accident on Twin Span

Sgt. Henry Maitre Jr., a 30-year veteran of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office passed away Friday, Sept. 28, 2018

A 30-year veteran of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office passed away Friday, Sept. 28, from injuries he suffered in a traffic accident, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Sgt. Henry Maitre Jr., 83, of Chalmette, passed away at University Medical Center in New Orleans where he had undergone emergency surgery following a single-vehicle accident which occurred Friday morning shortly after 11 a.m. on the southbound lanes of the Twin Spans.

The cause of the crash is undetermined at this time and is being investigated by Louisiana State Police Troop L.

Sheriff Pohlmann is saddened by Sgt. Maitre’s passing.

“The passing of Sgt. Maitre brings me great sadness,” Sheriff Pohlmann said. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.”

Sgt. Maitre, a detective with the Criminal Investigations Bureau, was an investigator with the sex offender compliance unit.

First hired in 1986 by former St. Bernard Sheriff Jack Stephens, Sgt. Maitre served until 1997 and then returned in 2007. Sgt. Maitre also has served under Sheriff Pohlmann since he took office in 2012.

Sgt. Maitre, a widower, leaves behind five children, and a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrest Chalmette man for possession of marijuana, recover handgun following a traffic stop.

Willie Holmes, 33, of the 2700 block of Buffon Street in Chalmette, was booked with possession of marijuana, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to use a turn signal and no driver’s license.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrest Chalmette man for possession

of marijuana, recover handgun following a traffic stop.

A Chalmette man was arrested Sept. 20 for possession of marijuana, and a handgun was recovered after deputies conducted a traffic violation stop, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Willie Holmes, 33, of the 2700 block of Buffon Street in Chalmette, was booked with possession of marijuana, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to use a turn signal and no driver’s license.

On Sept. 20 shortly before 10:30 a.m., Sheriff Pohlmann said, agents with the Special Investigations Division conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for turning without signaling by hand or lamps while traveling eastbound on West Judge Perez Drive in Chalmette near the intersection of Lloyds Avenue.

During the traffic stop, agents noticed a strong odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. Following a search of Holmes and his vehicle, agents recovered several clear plastic bags containing marijuana, a scale, and a Taurus revolver.

A criminal history check on Holmes revealed he is a convicted felon for a 2017 charge out of St. Bernard.

Holmes was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked. He is being held on a $11,850 bond.

#SBSOARREST

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrest Chalmette man for possession with intent to distribute crack, possession of marijuana

Tyrone Smothers, 36, of the 300 block of West Magnolia Street in Chalmette, was booked with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office arrest Chalmette man for possession

with intent to distribute crack, possession of marijuana.

A Chalmette man was arrested Sept. 20 for possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of marijuana, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Tyrone Smothers, 36, of the 300 block of West Magnolia Street in Chalmette, was booked with possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Responding to a complaint from an anonymous source, St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Agents arrived shortly before 10 p.m. at Smothers’ home where they came in contact with him standing outside his residence near the doorway of his home.

As they approached Smothers, agents noticed a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the interior of the residence. Following a search of Smothers’ home, agents recovered several clear plastic bags, including several smaller individual baggies, containing crack cocaine, as well as marijuana, and a digital scale.

A criminal history check on Smothers revealed he has several prior narcotics arrests in Orleans Parish.

Smothers was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked. He was released Sept. 24 on a $16,500 bond.

#SBSOARREST

Citizens Police Academy’s 20th year (S.O.D.)

Citizens Police Academy’s 20th year (S.O.D.)

Capt. Bobby Norton, who oversees the Special Operations Division, center, speaks with Citizens Police Academy participants during this week’s gathering. With Capt. Norton, Lt. Daniel Bostic, left, and Lt. Brent Bourgeois, right.

Sgt. Chris Scheeler, of the Special Operations Division, shows Citizens Police Academy participants some of the equipment used by deputies. With Sgt. Scheeler, Agent Brian Canepa, center, and Dep. Skyler Rauch, right.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy participants were visited this week by members of the Special Operations Division and shown how to use a firearms simulator, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Members of the SOD, which includes the Special Weapons and Tactics team, or S.W.A.T. team, and the Bomb Squad, showed participants some of the equipment used by the division and discussed in what scenarios they would be used.

Citizens Police Academy participants use a computerized firearms training simulator designed to provide participants with various situations a real officer might face that would require them to make a split-second decision: shoot a criminal suspect or hold their fire.

Borrowed from Louisiana State Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office, the computerized firearms training simulator was used to provide participants with scenarios of various situations a real officer might face that would require them to make a split-second decision: shoot a criminal suspect or hold their fire.

Two members of the class at a time were equipped with non-firing type guns as they viewed on a large screen scenario of what officers on a call might experience, such as a motorist pulling a weapon at a traffic stop, a domestic battery scene or even hostage situations. The participants with the mock guns were then called upon to decide whether or not they would use deadly force on a suspect.

Sheriff Pohlmann said the annual 10-week program is designed to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.

This year’s program began Aug. 22 and will wrap up with a graduation ceremony on Oct. 24.

The course is coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers. For more information, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.

Section of St. Bernard Highway closed due to accident.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police are on the scene of a traffic accident involving one vehicle on St. Bernard Highway in Meraux, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

St. Bernard Highway between Meraux Lane and Frances Place will be closed until further notice.

Training Event Notification

Sidney Torres Memorial Park in Chalmette will be closed to the public tonight, Sept.  25, 2018 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will be conducting law enforcement training in the park located behind the Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, 8245 W. Judge Perez Drive.

There may be some noise associated with the training, so please be advised.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at 504-271-2501.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office searching for missing Chalmette woman ***SUBJECT HAS BEEN LOCATED***

***SUBJECT HAS BEEN LOCATED***

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help finding a 79-year-old Chalmette woman who was last seen in the early morning hours of Saturday, Sept. 22.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said Maria Diaz left her home in the 3800 block of Despaux Drive in Chalmette, and has not returned home or been heard from since.

Diaz, who family members say has dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, walks with a slight limp. She is hispanic and has black and gray hair and brown eyes. She is 5’4” tall and weighs 130 lbs.

Family members are not sure what Diaz was wearing when she left her home.

Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Diaz is asked to contact the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy’s 20th year (F.O.B.)

Participants in the 20th session of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Citizens Police Academy were visited by members of the Field Operations Bureau Traffic Division and Criminal Investigations Bureau on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said the annual 10-week program is designed to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.

Lt. Brent Bourgeois, of the Field Operations Bureau Traffic Division, spoke this week to participants about traffic-related issues, including the importance of wearing seatbelts, carrying automobile insurance, and obeying speed limits. He also talked about how the department holds sobriety and seat belt checkpoints several times a year to promote safety on the roads.

Members of the Criminal Investigations Bureau, Lt. Al Clavin, Sgt. Ryan Melerine and Detective Danny Carreras spoke about how criminal investigations are handled. They also stressed the importance of residents keeping their vehicles locked at all times and items of value out of plain sight in an effort to reduce their chances of being the victim of theft.

This year’s program began Aug. 22 and will wrap up with a graduation ceremony on Oct. 24. The course is coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers. For more information, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.

Lt. Brent Bourgeois, of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Field Operations Bureau Traffic Division, left, speaks with a Citizens Police Academy participant during this week’s gathering.

Members of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Bureau, from left: Sgt. Ryan Melerine, Lt. Al Clavin and Detective Danny Carreras, spoke at this week’s Citizens Police Academy class about how criminal investigations are handled and the importance of residents keeping their vehicles locked at all times.

Citizens Police Academy’s 20th year

Maj. Angie Huff, commander of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office 911 Center, was the guest speaker at the Citizens Police Academy’s Sept. 12 gathering. Maj. Huff spoke to participants about how the 911 Center operates and what dispatchers do to keep residents safe on a daily basis and in emergency situations.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office is currently about halfway through the 20th session of its Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program designed to provide residents with the opportunity to learn more about what the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office do on a day-to-day basis to keep their community safe.

This year’s program, which kicked off Aug. 22 and will wrap up with a graduation ceremony on Oct. 24, is affording a few dozen residents with an inside look at the multiple aspects of police work.

Throughout the course of the annual program, Sheriff James Pohlmann said, participants hear from veteran representatives of each division of the Sheriff’s Office who speak on various phases of law enforcement, including patrol work, narcotics enforcement, detective duties, and SWAT team demonstrations.

“This course gives great insight on how and why things are handled in a certain manner,” Sheriff Pohlmann said.

This week, Maj. Angie Huff, commander of the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office 911 Center, spoke to participants about how the 911 Center operates and what dispatchers do to keep residents safe on a daily basis and in emergency situations. She also gave participants advice on when it is appropriate to call 911 and when it’s best to call (504) 271-2501 instead.

Next week, participants will hear from members of the Field Operations Bureau Traffic Division and detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau.

The course is coordinated by Capt. Charles Borchers and Sgt. Eric Eilers. For more information, call Capt. Borchers at (504) 278-7628.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office administrative offices closed Wednesday due to Tropical Storm Gordon

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office administrative offices will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 5 due to Tropical Storm Gordon.