Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a shipyard employee and two other men after approximately $100,000 of metal had been stolen from a shipyard in Port Fourchon over the past several months. Travis Bouziga, 38, of Golden Meadow was an employee of the shipyard and is suspected to have arranged for the theft of metal by two other men – David Ingram, 53, of Galliano and Davin Burns, 34, of Cut Off.

On January 3, 2019, deputies responded to Port Fourchon shipyard where various metal items were reportedly stolen. Through investigation, detectives identified Ingram and Burns as suspects in the theft. They also identified Bouziga, an employee of the shipyard, as having assisted in the theft. Further investigation revealed there had been multiple instances of metal theft dating back several months. Detectives learned Bouziga had arranged for Ingram to steal metal on numerous occasions and have it scrapped. They would then split the cash obtained from the scrapyard. Detectives also learned Burns assisted with the theft of the metal on several occasions. Detectives found Ingram had scrapped over one million pounds of metal since June 2018.

On Wednesday, January 9, arrest warrants were obtained for Bouziga, Ingram, and Burns. Detectives made contact with them, and they were arrested. Each was booked with one count of Felony Theft. They were all released after posting $10,000 bond each.

Detectives say the investigation is ongoing.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of three suspects wanted for a series of vehicle burglaries and the theft of a vehicle in Raceland. Warrants have been issued for the arrest of Andre Antonio Brown, 30, of New Orleans. The other two suspects have not yet been identified.

At around 12:15 a.m. on Friday, January 4, deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle and a vehicle burglary in the 200 block of Landmark Drive in Raceland. A gray 2012 Toyota Tundra pickup had been stolen, and a second vehicle at the residence was burglarized. During the course of the day, detectives investigated several other vehicle burglaries and attempted burglaries reported on that street.

During the course of the investigation, detectives received images and videos of the suspects. Most notably, a concerned citizen noticed the stolen vehicle at a gas station and obtained video of the driver. Investigators were able to identify the suspect as Andre Brown and obtained warrants for his arrest for six counts of Simple Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and one count of Theft of a Motor Vehicle. He also has seven outstanding warrants for Contempt of Court.

Anyone who knows Andre Brown’s whereabouts or anyone with information on the other two suspects in this case is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Meanwhile, detectives are still investigating the burglaries. Residents of Landmark Drive and adjacent streets are asked to check their vehicles for signs of burglary or attempted burglary. Residents are also asked to check surveillance videos in hopes of obtaining video of the other two suspects. To report a burglary or any video of the suspects, please call (985) 532-2808.

WANTED – Andre Antonio Brown

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of three men following a traffic stop on January 2, 2019. Tate Cantrelle (age 53) of Cut Off was arrested in the incident along with Donny Dodson (age 31) and Chad Hebert (age 30), both of Grand Isle.

At around 7:30 p.m. on January 2, 2019, narcotics agents conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on LA Highway 1 just north of Larose. A K-9 deputy in the area arrived shortly after to assist agents on the traffic stop. Agents approached the vehicle and immediately detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. Agents identified the driver as Tate Cantrelle who had two active warrants for drug distribution. Cantrelle was taken into custody and found to have heroin, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia in his possession.

Meanwhile, agents identified one passenger as Donnie Dodson. He was found to have suspected methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and a digital scale in his possession, and he was placed under arrest. The second passenger initially gave agents a false name. Agents identified him as Chad Hebert and found him to have active warrants stemming from a Port Fourchon Harbor Police investigation. Hebert was placed arrested and found to have suspected marijuana in his possession as well.

In all, agents seized approximately 17.1 grams of marijuana, 8.4 grams of methamphetamine, 4.6 grams of cocaine, and 1.1 grams of heroin on the traffic stop.

Cantrelle was booked with Possession of Heroin, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as improper lane usage. His bond is set at $53,100.

Dodson was booked with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine, Heroin, Marijuana, and Methamphetamine, as well as Possession of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. His bond is set at $35,500, and he is being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.

Hebert was booked on the outstanding warrants and also charged with Possession of Marijuana. His bond is set at $58,300.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Chackbay man who allegedly had sexual contact with a teenage girl. Jace Wempren, 20, faces multiple charges following the investigation.

During the early morning hours of December 19, 2018, juvenile detectives began searching for a runaway teenage girl in the Thibodaux area. Detectives found the girl later that afternoon. Through investigation, detectives learned Jace Wempren had reportedly been with the juvenile while she was missing. On Wednesday, December 26, detectives met with Wempren and questioned him about his involvement. Wempren told detectives he knew the girl was an underage teen. He admitted to assisting the girl in running away from her home on December 19 and to having inappropriate sexual contact with her on that date. He further admitted to picking the juvenile up from school on several occasions without permission of her parents, and he admitted they had sexual contact on more than one encounter.

Wempren was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was booked with Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile, two counts of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and six counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile. His bond is set at $10,500.

The teenage girl was charged as a runaway and placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a body found in Thibodaux on Saturday has been identified as a Larose woman. Rani Pinel, 44, was found dead inside a truck parked in a sugar cane field located along Lasseigne Road in Thibodaux. An investigation into her death is underway. 

Pinel’s family had reported her missing earlier in the day on Saturday. She was last seen on Monday afternoon and had contacted her father on the morning of December 18, 2018. She had told her father she had traveled to Texas for a funeral. Through investigation, detectives located Pinel’s father’s truck in a sugar cane field a few hundred feet from Lasseigne Road. Pinel’s body was found inside the truck.

Foul play is suspected in Pinel’s death. Anyone with any information in this case is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online atwww.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.