** UPDATE ** SBSO books two men with armed robbery, issues warrant for third

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office books two men with armed robbery, issues warrant for third.

**UPDATE** Cory Kelly is now in custody.

Two men were booked Nov. 5 in connection with an armed robbery in Meraux, and an arrest warrant has been issued for a third, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Cory Catanese, 26, of the 3000 block of Judy Drive in Meraux, and Jermaine Miller, 37, of the 2400 block of Cora Ann Street in Violet, were both booked with four counts of armed robbery.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Cory Kelly, 30, of the 2100 block of Livaccari Drive in Violet, for four counts of armed robbery.

Shortly after 1 p.m. on Nov. 5, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about an armed robbery in the 2800 block of Munster Boulevard in Meraux.

When deputies arrived on the scene, they came into contact with four victims who said two masked gunmen approached one of them in their driveway, brandished an AR-15 style rifle and demanded entry into their home.

The victims said the suspects made one of them enter a bedroom and open a safe. The suspects took pain medication and $100 in cash and fled the scene.

Through eyewitness accounts, detectives with the Criminal Investigations Bureau were able to identify Catanese as one of the suspects. A search warrant was executed on Catanese’s home, where detectives apprehended Catanese and Miller.

Kelly was identified through the use of video surveillance.

Detectives have reason to believe the men were aware one of the victims had just filled a prescription for pain medication.

The victims were not injured during the incident and the gun used in the robbery was recovered, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Cory Kelly, or other information about the case, is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (504) 271-2501 or Crimestoppers GNO at (504) 822-1111. Tipsters who call Crimestoppers can remain anonymous, do not have to testify and could be eligible for a cash reward.

2018 Property Tax Notices Mailed

2018 St. Bernard Property Tax notices mailed; Due by Dec. 31

The St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, in accordance with Louisiana law, has mailed the 2018 property tax notices via U.S. mail to parish property owners and the taxes must be paid by Dec. 31 before becoming delinquent.

These notices were mailed to the address on file as provided to the St. Bernard Parish Tax Assessor’s Office.

If anyone receives a tax notice for property they no longer own, please notify the Sheriff’s Civil Tax Office at (504) 271-2504 during regular business hours – Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If a property owner has moved and hasn’t received their 2018 tax bill, they need to call the Sheriff’s Office to give their new mailing address so the tax bill can be sent to them, and they also must call or visit the St. Bernard Tax Assessor’s office to give their permanent address change.

The Tax Assessor’s office is located at 2118 Jackson Blvd., directly behind the Parish Courthouse in Chalmette. The Tax Assessor’s number is (504) 279-6379.

The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office only maintains the address change for the current mailing. The Assessor’s Office keeps the permanent address.

The Sheriff’s Civil Tax office is located on the second floor of the Sheriff’s Annex, at #2 Courthouse Square in Chalmette. The Annex – which is raised above ground – faces Pakenham Drive and is the second of two buildings directly behind the Courthouse.

Property taxes for 2018 are due by Dec. 31 and afterward are considered delinquent.

The Civil Division office, where such bills are paid, will close at 3 p.m. on Dec. 21 and will be closed Dec. 24 through Dec. 26 for the Christmas holiday. The office will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Dec. 27.

The office also will be closed Dec. 31 for the New Year’s holiday and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 2.

There is a drop box at the front entrance to the building for after-hours use. Tax bills can also be paid online on the Sheriff’s Office website at www.sbso.org. Go to the left side of the front page to a tan-colored box near the top which says Pay Property Taxes.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office books two men in connection with robbery in Chalmette

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office books two men in connection with robbery in Chalmette

Two Chalmette men were arrested Nov. 5 in connection with a robbery that took place overnight in Chalmette, St. Bernard Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Treyvon Magee, 19, of Old Hickory Avenue in Chalmette, was booked with two counts of attempted first degree robbery.

Dayton Walters, 17, also of Old Hickory Avenue in Chalmette, was booked with two counts of principle to first degree robbery.

Shortly after midnight on Monday, Nov. 5, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about a robbery in the 3000 block of Jean Lafitte Parkway in Chalmette.

When deputies arrived on the scene they were met by a male and female victim who stated two unknown males approached them in a black Toyota sedan as they were walking on Jean Lafitte Parkway near the intersection of Galleon Drive.

The victims said one of the male suspects exited the vehicle with his hand under his shirt implying he had a weapon, and demanded the female hand over her purse.

During the incident, the male and female victim said they attempted to flee, but came into contact with the suspects again nearby. The male victim said one of the suspects, later identified as Magee, lunged at him, causing him to stab Magee in self defense with a pocket knife he was carrying.

Both victims were unharmed during the incident, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

The suspects fled the scene, but were later apprehended when Magee sought  treatment at a nearby hospital.

Walters was transported to St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked. Magee was booked following being treated and released from the hospital.

A criminal background check was conducted on both suspects, which revealed Magee was wanted on an outstanding warrant out of Picayune, Mississippi for armed robbery.

****photos not available at this time****

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office hosts police motorcycle training

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office hosts police motorcycle training for its own deputies and other departments.

St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with officers from several other agencies, recently participated in a rigorous two-week motorcycle training course to obtain certifications to safely ride with their respective motorcycle divisions on the street, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Participants in the course, held throughout October, included deputies from St. Bernard, as well as the Louisiana State Police, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Orleans Criminal Sheriff’s Office, Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office, Gretna Police Department and the Orleans Levee District Police Department.

Course instructors included St. Bernard Dep. Glen Markham and Sgt. Bryan Fleetwood, as well as Lt. Markus Smith with the Louisiana State Police, Sgt. Jeff Navo with Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office, Eddie Brauner with the Orleans Levee District Police Department, and Dep. Jonathan Balestra with Plaquemines Parish Sheriff’s Office.

In addition to passing the initial 80-plus hour certification course, deputies must recertify once a year and state troopers every six months in order to continue riding on the street.

The skills taught during the course include: rider and motorcycle preparation, defensive riding strategies, riding in a straight line, cornering, braking, shifting, clutch-throttle control, and basic crash avoidance techniques. Following successful completion of the course, deputies also spend an additional week on the road in escort training.

Sheriff James Pohlmann said holding this type of training for deputies gives the Sheriff’s Office more options for using motorcycle officers and provides them with the tools to be safe on the road.

Currently, the Sheriff said, there are eight St. Bernard deputies who are certified to ride motorcycles for the department.  Deputies in the motorcycle division ride during parades, road races and special events, and they also serve as escorts and sometimes help with traffic enforcement.

Marrero man shot after striking unit with stolen vehicle

** UPDATE ** Marrero man shot in shoulder after striking St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office unit with stolen vehicle.

** Christopher Pace, 25, of the 1700 block of Betty Street in Marrero, was booked Nov. 1 with three counts of attempted first degree murder on a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, and aggravated criminal damage to property. **

Christopher Pace, 25, of the 1700 block of Betty Street in Marrero, Arrested

A Marrero man driving a stolen vehicle was shot in the shoulder after he struck a St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office unit several times while fleeing from deputies attempting to make a traffic stop, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Shortly before 2 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, Sheriff Pohlmann said, deputies responded to a call about a 2015 black Chevy Malibu listed as stolen out of New Orleans being spotted in Chalmette.

Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle near the intersection of St. Bernard Highway and Pakenham Drive in Chalmette.

The driver, a 25-year-old male, refused to stop and led deputies on a pursuit, eastbound on St. Bernard Highway and onto the Chalmette Ferry landing.

As the suspect was attempting to flee on the ferry landing, he struck a patrol car several times with the stolen vehicle.

A deputy fired at the vehicle as it careened toward him, striking the suspect in the shoulder.

The suspect was apprehended and transported to an area hospital with non-life threatening injuries, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

An arrest warrant has been issued and will be executed upon his release from the hospital.

The suspect is wanted for three counts of attempted first degree murder on a police officer, possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, and aggravated criminal damage to property.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges may filed.