Citizen Crime Watch Blog

Award doubled in Algiers slaying
Police seek gun, ‘person of interest’
The Times-Picayune
Thursday, February 28, 2008
By Allen Powell II

Stymied in their investigation of an Algiers homicide this year, New Orleans police and Crimestoppers officials are turning to the public for help in locating a “person of interest” and a handgun possibly involved in the shooting.

Police Department officers and Crimestoppers Executive Director Darlene Cusanza joined with the family of David Sisolak Jr. on Wednesday to announce that the reward for information about his death has been doubled, and that a new reward is available for information regarding the 9 mm handgun used in the crime. Sisolak was found dead from a gunshot wound in his car in the 1700 block of Hero Boulevard in Algiers on Jan. 7.

Cusanza said thanks to financial support from the victim’s family and friends, Crimestoppers is offering $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest and indictment in Sisolak’s death. The group also is offering $1,000 to anyone who can provide police with the weapon. Typically the Crimestoppers reward is $2,500.

[more]

Convicted ex-officer appears in court
Judge delays ruling on killer’s execution
The Times-Picayune
Thursday, February 28, 2008
By Gwen Filosa
Staff writer

Former police officer Antoinette Frank returned to an Orleans Parish courtroom Wednesday morning, almost 13 years after a jury condemned her to die by lethal injection for a 1995 rampage that left three people dead at a local Vietnamese restaurant.

Prosecutors and the relatives of one victim gathered with the expectation that the state court would issue an order for Frank’s execution.

But Criminal District Judge Frank Marullo, who presided over her trial and set Wednesday’s hearing, postponed the matter after meeting with Frank’s appellate attorneys. At issue is Frank’s recent appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on Feb. 19 refused to review her death sentence.

Frank’s attorneys have 25 days from that ruling to ask for a rehearing. Marullo rescheduled Wednesday’s status hearing for April 14.

Separate juries found that Frank and Rogers Lacaze orchestrated an ambush on the Kim Anh restaurant in eastern New Orleans in 1995 and deserve execution for gunning down New Orleans Police Department officer Ronald Williams and siblings Ha and Cuong Vu.

Williams, 25, had worked with Frank in 1995 when she was a 23-year-old NOPD rookie officer moonlighting at Kim Anh for security details. Williams’ family filled the front row in Marullo’s courtroom Wednesday.

Father awaits closure

Williams’ father said he is frustrated with the criminal justice system but will continue to closely follow Frank’s appeals in the hopes that the state will execute her for the triple murder that rocked New Orleans and became the nadir for the long-troubled Police Department.

Frank, 36, had failed parts of the psychological exams needed to enter the police academy and should never have been issued a badge and gun, the public learned only after the Kim Anh murders.

“I would rather she be executed, then I wouldn’t have to see her in court again,” said Ronald Williams, the father of the slain officer. “It’s frustrating not being able to get this closed out. The system is so cumbersome. That’s part of what makes the justice system ineffective.”

[more]

Dog missing after carjacking
The Times-Picayune
Thursday, February 28, 2008
From staff reports

In a brazen crime committed as Isidore Newman School was letting out Tuesday afternoon, and with several security guards, including at least one off-duty police officer, posted nearby, a woman with a gun forced a man and his fifth-grade daughter out of their sport utility vehicle, then drove away with the family’s car with a Pomeranian puppy in the back seat.

No one was hurt in the incident, but the dog and the vehicle were still missing Wednesday.

The family has offered a $500 reward for the return of the 5-month-old brown and cream colored female puppy named Maple.

Joseph Lasky had just picked up his 11-year-old daughter, Sasha, from the Uptown school and was in a parking lane in the 5300 block of Danneel Street when a white Ford SUV pulled alongside him, blocking him. A woman got out with a gun and demanded that Lasky and his daughter get out of their vehicle. When they complied, she got behind the wheel, and after a male accomplice drove away in the other vehicle, she drove off in Lasky’s SUV before he could retrieve the dog, police and Lasky said.

The family’s 2005 Acura MDX was still missing Wednesday night. The Ford SUV was recovered by police. Police did not say whether it had also been stolen.

There were no arrests in the incident.

Lasky said anyone with information about the dog should call him at (504) 717-9212.

Update:

Carjacked family gets dog back after 5 days
WWLTV.com

An Uptown family that had its car stolen at gunpoint with their dog in the backseat received some good news this weekend when its dog was returned to them. …

A search for the suspects has so far been unsuccessful, but the dog has been returned.

Police wouldn’t give many details but the dog was found in a home and Dr. Lasky picked it up at the Second District police station.

[more]

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

On February 26th at or about 3:30 pm, the victim was parked in the 5300 block of Daneel Street. While waiting in his vehicle, a white Ford Escape pulled in front of his vehicle – blocking him in. A black female exited the Ford Escape and ordered the victim and his daughter from the vehicle at gunpoint. The female entered the victim’s vehicle (2005 Acura MDX) and drove away. Unknown subject(s) who remained in the Ford Escape also drove away. The victim notified a nearby off-duty police officer (who was directing traffic) of the incident. Responding officers were unable to apprehend the subjects, although the Ford Escape was located shortly after the robbery. Detectives are continuing to work the case. The suspect is described as 20-25 black female, 5’5”, 170 lbs., dreadlock hairstyle, wearing a black hoodie sweatshirt, no further.

If you have any further information on this case, please contact Sgt. Shaun Ferguson or Det. Brian Baye at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 822-1111.

Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

As per discussion at the recent NONPACC meeting, we will begin sending out email notices on when/where officers will be on walking beats in the 2nd District.

On March 1st officers will be on walking beats in “Zone B”, between the hours of 7:00am – 7:00pm. We would encourage you to stop the officers and introduce yourself. Let them know about your neighborhood and any concerns you may have.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

NOTE: Before reading further, consider the fact that email blasts, like the one below, being fired off by 2nd District Major Bouyelas, are now appearing in the pages of The Times-Picayune. This is community policing in action, providing valuable information directly to the community, so that the community can guard itself against potential hazards, and be the extra eyes and ears of the police. We can only hope that this laudable trend will be embraced and adopted throughout the rest of the New Orleans Police Department.

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

The subject(s) detailed in the below listed Email Blast may have switched vehicles. A subject with the same general description was seen inside an unsecured car parked in the 2100 block of Audubon. The subject fled and was seen driving off in a grey 2004 Volkswagen Jetta bearing LA license NEA552. The Jetta was reported stolen from a residence in the 5400 block of S. Rocheblave Street .

Please make your neighbors aware of this situation. Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

From: Kirk M. Bouyelas
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 4:59 PM
Subject: 2nd District Email Blast

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

On February 17th at or about 11:00 am, a black Chevy Trailblazer or Chevy Envoy was observed driving around the University area. The vehicle was occupied by two (2) black males. The subjects were observed driving down the street slowly. The passenger would lean out the SUV and check door handles. If they were to locate an open door, he would exit the SUV and attempt to burglarize the open vehicle. This suspect is described as a black male, 5’11”, thin build, dark complexion, wearing a light colored shirt, white pants and white shoes. At this time, Officers are actively looking for this suspect vehicle and/or the individuals involved.

Please make your neighbors aware of this situation. Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

NOPD probes cops’ role in fight
Three are reassigned after incident at bar
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
By Brendan McCarthy

Three New Orleans police officers have been reassigned amid a criminal investigation into a Mardi Gras night melee at a Mid-City bar, police said Monday.

The department’s Public Integrity Bureau has opened a probe stemming from an incident at the Beach Corner Lounge that involved “a number of” officers, four employees of the Regional Transit Authority and several others, Police Department spokesman Sgt. Joe Narcisse confirmed.

[more]

Over in neighboring Jefferson Parish, an elderly woman was brutally murdered during a purse snatching.

Officials quickly arrested three defendants in the case. A caution to those who would ever consider trying meth was posted in the NOLA.com comments below the story:

Everybody,
take a good look at meth addicts look like. As a social worker since the late 80s, I can tell you that this is what meth does to you; on top of eating holes in your brain, literally, it ages one severly. Hayden, who is younger than Coe, looks like a 75 y.o. with a wig; with that collapsed mouth, no doubt she has lost all if not most of her teeth, extremely common amongst those that use crank. So, so sad and pathetic.

Parents, print this out and show your kids: this is tweakers look like. Meth is a one way street and you, often very soon after a single use, will end up looking like these cats, and spend the rest of your days circling the drain.

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

+++ UPDATE +++

Second District Detectives have identified the perpetrator in the below listed shooting. An arrest warrant has been obtained for Dennis Butler (BM, 11/17/77), residing at 2318 Valmont Street . Butler was the owner of the stolen Accord that the shooting victims were driving at the time of the incident. Investigators are currently looking for Butler in conjunction with this case.

If you have any information on the whereabouts of Dennis Butler, please contact Det. Francis Jarrot or Det. Doug Butler (no relation) at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 822-1111.

Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call 911 immediately.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

From: Kirk M. Bouyelas
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2008 5:03 PM
Subject: 2nd District Email Blast

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

On February 22nd at or about 12:00 pm, officers responded to a shooting in the 3000 block of Upperline Street . Upon arrival, officers discovered two black male juveniles who had been shot. One of the subjects was shot in the legs and will make a full recovery. The other subject was shot in the torso and is in critical condition. At the time of the shooting, both juveniles were driving in a stolen white Honda Accord. The perpetrator was observed driving a black SUV. He is described as a black male 28-32 years old.

If you have any further information on this case, please contact Sgt. Rick Pari or Det. Francis Jarrot at 658-6022 or 658-6020. You may also call Crimestoppers anonymously at 822-1111.

Remember to report any suspicious persons or activities you see in your neighborhood by calling 821-2222. In an emergency, call911 immediately.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department

Death leads to two heroin arrests
Feds to visit parents of drug-abusing teens
The Times-Picayune
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
By Brendan McCarthy

Two young men have been arrested and charged in a drug distribution ring that put heroin, cocaine and other drugs into the hands of local teenagers, including a 16-year-old Lusher High School student who died from an overdose last month, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced Tuesday.

The arrests and subsequent court filings lay bare a local network of buyers and sellers dealing with some of the most potent narcotics officials said they’ve seen in the area in decades. And the ongoing investigation also prompted federal officials to take an unusual step: Agents will visit the parents of children identified as drug buyers, letting them know their children use drugs.

The men allegedly responsible for dealing the drugs, David C. Battenberg, 27, of Metairie, and Diego A. Perez, of New Orleans, are charged in a federal criminal complaint with conspiracy to distribute and possess heroin, cocaine and other controlled substances.

The charges stem from a fast-tracked federal investigation initiated by the overdose death of 16-year-old Madeleine Prevost, a junior at Lusher High School who died in January from a toxic mixture of heroin and cocaine.

“The arrest of these two individuals on heroin distribution charges, which we announce today, signals something more important than the apprehension of drug dealers,” Letten said at a Tuesday morning news conference. “It signals the end of a drug distribution business which caused the loss of a child.” …

James Bernazzani, special agent in charge of the FBI’s New Orleans office, departed momentarily from his typical tough-on-crime rhetoric and called for loving intervention by parents of drug-abusing children. “This is not a time for punishment, this is a time for hugs. . . . Get them the treatment they need,” he said. “Love should rule the day, not anger.”

[more]

Related:

Cyndi Nguyen, A New Orleans Mother’s Message To Teens About Drug Overdose: “I don’t think any parent could ever imagine burying a child”, WGSO.

January ‘08 2nd District NONPACC report (Excel spreadsheet)

2nd District map (pdf)

The 2nd District map may also be used to locate the next walking beat on Sunday, February 24th as indicated by Major Bouyelas’ email blast:

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

As per discussion at the recent NONPACC meeting, we will begin sending out email notices on when/where officers will be on walking beats in the 2nd District.

On February 24th officers will be on walking beats in “Zone E”, between the hours of 7:00am – 7:00pm. We would encourage you to stop the officers and introduce yourself. Let them know about your neighborhood and any concerns you may have.

##########

Email Blast
NOPD 2nd District

As per discussion at the recent NONPACC meeting, we will begin sending out email notices on when/where officers will be on walking beats in the 2nd District.

On February 25th officers will be on walking beats in “Zone F”, between the hours of 7:00am – 7:00pm. We would encourage you to stop the officers and introduce yourself. Let them know about your neighborhood and any concerns you may have.

Major Kirk Bouyelas
Second District Commander
New Orleans Police Department