The course will begin at 8 a.m. and end around 5 p.m. with a break for lunch. Those taking the course as a prerequisite to obtain the state concealed carry permit must stay for the entire course. Those wishing to attend simply for informational purposes can leave at any time. All participants must bring a handgun in good working condition, 50 rounds of ammunition, eye protection (sunglasses or eyeglasses are sufficient), and ear protection (muffs or plugs).
The course is free, but online registration is required in advance due to the limited class size. Go to LPSO.net/classes to register for this course online. For more information, contact Captain John Champagne at (985) 449-4481 or by email at john-champagne@lpso.net.
ABOUT CONCEALED CARRY IN LOUISIANA: Louisiana law allows persons age 18 or older to carry a firearm concealed within the state without obtaining a permit or training. The law only applies to those not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm by any state or federal law. The law also only applies within the state of Louisiana and is not reciprocal to other states. To carry concealed in those states with existing reciprocity laws, you must still obtain a concealed carry permit from the State of Louisiana.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating Maya Douglas (D.O.B. 7/7/1990) of Spring Grove Loop in Thibodaux. She was last seen walking from her residence at around 3 a.m. on July 6, 2026. Maya is autistic, and it is believed she was intoxicated at the time.
Maya Douglas is described as 5’7″ tall, weighing approximately 105 pounds with black hair. She was last seen wearing a green shirt, green shorts, and white shoes. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced plans for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Independence Day campaign, which runs through July 6, 2026. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
Deputies will conduct a DWI checkpoint in Lafourche Parish beginning on the evening of Friday, July 3, 2026, and it will continue into the early morning hours of July 4, 2026. During the checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues.
Throughout the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign, additional deputies will be assigned to saturated patrol efforts to target impaired drivers and help keep motorists safe.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving is a deadly epidemic that resulted in the death of 11,904 individuals in 2024 alone.
Sheriff Craig Webre reminds citizens to have a plan to get home safely before you decide to drink. Never drive if you have had anything to drink containing alcohol. Remember that driving under the influence of illegal narcotics can also lead to a DWI arrest. In fact, some legal medications can impair your ability to drive. Always read warning labels and instructions on prescription and over-the-counter medications.
Sheriff Webre also thanks citizens for their cooperation and patience when passing through these checkpoints and for recognizing the importance of raising awareness for safety issues.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced three have been arrested in connection with an investigation into an early morning shooting incident that occurred in Raceland last month. Juwan Vedol, 27, of Raceland, Justin Lawson, 46, of Matthews, and Austin Barlow, 24, of Houma, all face charges in the incident.
As previously released on June 23, 2026, deputies responded to an early morning shooting in the 400 block of Mitchell Road in Raceland. It had been reported that two masked men with handguns had forced entry into a residence occupied by two friends, and a shooting had occurred among the parties, leading to two injuries.
Through investigation, detectives identified Vedol, Lawson and Barlow as the three individuals responsible for criminal activity in the incident. Detectives determined that evidence, including phone records, digital footage, physical evidence, and witness statements, showed that Vedol and Lawson traveled to the home, then carried out a home invasion, and the victim was shot. The victim was seriously wounded during the incident and has subsequently been released from the hospital. Barlow, who had been coordinating an illegal narcotics transaction with Vedol leading up to the incident, was found to have facilitated the events. Investigators obtained arrest warrants and search warrants on all three individuals and their residences.
At Barlow’s residence, investigators found illegal narcotics and an illegal firearm. Barlow was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on a warrant for principal to attempted second degree murder, possession of marijuana, possession of Xanax, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of narcotics, and possession of an unregistered weapon. Bail is set at $771,500, and he is also being held for Terrebonne Parish on an outstanding warrant.
A search of Lawson’s residence turned up additional drugs. Lawson was arrested and charged with attempted second degree murder and home invasion, as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana, synthetic marijuana, and Suboxone. He was additionally charged with possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Bail is set at $700,000.
Vedol was arrested at his residence on St. Louis Street in Raceland on Tuesday morning. A subsequent search of his residence turned up more narcotics. Vedol was booked into the Correctional Complex on charges of attempted second degree murder, home invasion, possession of drug paraphernalia, and criminal conspiracy, as well as possession with intent to distribute marijuana and synthetic marijuana. Bail is set at $771,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 17-year-old Brynn Matherne of Hospital Drive in Raceland. She was last seen on June 28th, 2026, and reportedly took her father’s silver 2022 Nissan Sentra (LA License Plate: 153JUQ) without permission last night from an address in the 3800 Highway 90 E, headed to an unknown destination.
Brynn Matherne is described as 5’8” tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds with brown hair. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two arrests in connection with an investigation into child rape. Matthew Dupree, 35, of Bayou Blue, has been charged with rape. His ex-wife, Carla Vaughn, 31, has been charged as an accessory and for failing to report the crime.
On June 22, 2026, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office opened an investigation following up on a report made to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. It involved a minor child allegedly being raped repeatedly over the course of several years by Dupree. Investigators learned Vaughn had knowledge of the alleged incidents and did not report them. Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Dupree and Vaughn.
Dupree was arrested on Tuesday. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on a warrant for first degree rape. His bail is set at $1.5 million. Vaughn was arrested on Wednesday. She was also booked into the Correctional Complex and charged with accessory after the fact to first degree rape, as well as failure to report the rape of a child. Her bail is set at $750,000.
Due to the nature of the allegations, no additional information can be provided at this time.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a shooting incident that occurred in Raceland early Tuesday morning.
Shortly after 4 a.m. on June 23, 2026, deputies responded to a residence in the 400 block of Mitchell Road in Raceland in connection with a shooting incident and a reported home invasion. Allegedly, two men with handguns entered a home occupied by two friends. The situation escalated, and there was a shooting among the parties, resulting in a facial injury to one of the residents and an abdominal injury to one of the suspects. Those injured were transported to out-of-parish hospitals for treatment. They are in serious but stable condition.
The investigation into this incident is continuing. Detectives have obtained search warrants and are following up on leads. They are working to establish a connection between the parties involved, but they do not believe this was a random act of violence.
Anyone with any information on any of this incident can submit a tip anonymously to Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices. Tips submitted through Crime Stoppers could lead to a reward of up to $1,000.00 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Thibodaux couple was arrested in connection with bestiality and child cruelty charges. Phillip Babin, 28, and Hailey Mire, 24, were arrested Wednesday.
In May 2026, Babin had reportedly struck Mire’s daughter in the face with a curtain rod, which led to injuries. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Babin’s arrest for second degree cruelty to a juvenile. He was arrested on May 15, 2026, and was subsequently released after posting bail in the amount of $50,000.
As the investigation continued, detectives obtained a search warrant for Babin and Mire’s residence. During the search, they recovered several digital devices belonging to Mire and Babin, which contained videos of sexual acts involving a dog.
Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Babin and Mire. On June 17, 2026, they were arrested and booked on the warrants into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux.
Babin was charged with 36 counts of sexual abuse of an animal in addition to his initial charge of second degree cruelty to a juvenile. His bail is set at $360,000.
Mire was charged with 47 counts of sexual abuse of an animal and obstruction of justice. Her bail is set at $520,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Thibodaux man for several charges, including attempted murder, following a shooting incident on Wednesday. Henry Green, 38, was arrested shortly after the incident.
At around 11:30 a.m. on June 17, 2026, deputies responded to the 200 block of Michelle Place in Thibodaux where a man had reportedly been shot. When deputies arrived, they found a man in his late 20s who had suffered apparent gunshot wounds to his arms and legs. Deputies rendered first aid until EMTs arrived, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Through investigation, detectives identified Green as the suspected shooter in the incident. As part of the investigation, they obtained a search warrant for his residence. During the search, they discovered various narcotics and two guns, one of which had the serial number scratched off.
Green was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with attempted second degree murder, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, and carrying a weapon in the presence of drugs. He was additionally charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. Bail is set at $1,011,000, but he is also being held for Terrebonne Parish due to multiple outstanding felony warrants, including drugs and weapons charges.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two women have been arrested for their roles in the theft from an elderly man. Renelle Batiste, 34, of Donaldsonville, and Jessica Thomas, 41, of Thibodaux, were booked on charges on June 1, 2026.
Last week, an elderly man reported his wallet having been stolen and several unauthorized purchases were made on his credit card. The man noticed his wallet was missing after visiting a casino in Thibodaux where he had an interaction with a woman, later identified as Batiste. Surveillance video at the casino showed the interaction as Batiste assisted the man while appearing to reach for his rear pocket. She left the casino moments later. The victim reported he had 13 unauthorized charges totaling over a thousand dollars in a 24-hour span that followed.
Through investigation and with assistance from the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives identified Batiste as the suspect in the theft. They also found evidence that Batiste and Thomas had both allegedly participated in the unauthorized charges.
Batiste and Thomas were arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. Each was charged with 13 counts of access device fraud. Thomas’ bail amount is set at $20,000. Batiste was additionally charged with purse snatching, and her bail amount is set at $40,000.
