Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Juanches Shelby, 39, of Cut Off on Thursday, September 27, 2018.
On Thursday, narcotics agents made contact with Shelby due to an outstanding warrant for Distribution of Methamphetamine, and he was taken into custody. Agents then executed a search warrant at Shelby’s Cut Off residence. During the search, agents located a variety of illegal narcotics, most of which was packaged in a manner commonly associated with the individual sale of narcotics. Agents also located a large sum of money in the pockets of several items of clothing, as well as multiple cell phones. When questioned, Shelby admitted that the drugs belonged to him.
Shelby was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux on the outstanding warrant for Distribution of Methamphetamine. He was additionally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Heroin, and Crack Cocaine, as well as Possession of Marijuana, Tramadol, Hydrocodone, and Drug Paraphernalia. His bond is set at $135,800, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole due to a parole violation.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Cut Off man arrested for Aggravated Incest in July now faces additional charges. Wesley Todd, 62, was arrested again on Tuesday for additional charges uncovered by the investigation.
In late June, juvenile detectives opened an investigation into Todd after receiving allegations that he reportedly molested a child several years ago who is also a relative. After attempting to run away from officers, Todd was arrested and booked on the warrant for Aggravated Incest, and he was additionally charged with Resisting an Officer. He was released the same day after posting $100,100 bond.
Detectives uncovered additional allegations of sexual misconduct and continued the investigation into Todd. They found he committed additional sexual crimes against relatives, and struck two teens in multiple instances, including using a wooden object to strike one of them. Detectives obtained additional warrants for Todd’s arrest for First Degree Rape, Aggravated Crimes Against Nature, Cruelty to Juveniles, and Aggravated Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.
On Tuesday, September 25, Todd turned himself in at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on the aforementioned warrants. He was booked on the charges, and his bond was set at $450,000.
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on October 15, 16, and 17, 2018, at the LPSO Law Enforcement Complex, located at 1300 Lynn Street in Thibodaux.
This self-defense course is designed exclusively for women and will take place over the course of all three days. The class will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 9 p.m. each day. Participants must attend all three days. Course instruction will be provided by certified R.A.D. instructors from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The cost of the course is $10 to cover the cost of course materials. Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. You can register online here: www.LPSO.net/RADsignup. Payment cannot be made through the online sign-up form, but the fee must be pre-paid and is non-refundable. Please send payment by mail, along with your name, address, and phone number to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Captain Lafate Day, 1300 Lynn Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301. Please make checks payable to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. The deadline to register for the class is Friday, October 12, 2018 at 11 a.m.
For more information, please contact Captain Lafate Day at (985) 449-4485 or by email at lafate-day@lpso.net.
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will take part in Operation Clear Track as part of the second annual Rail Safety Week, September 23-29, 2018. The operation is a cooperative initiative among Amtrak, Operation Lifesaver, and hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.
The goal of Rail Safety Week is to reduce pedestrian and driver injuries and fatalities around railroad tracks through increased public awareness. Federal statistics show that about every three hours in the United States, a person or vehicle is hit by a train.
Operation Clear Track will specifically take place on Tuesday, September 25. This operation, which began in 2017, was started to help reduce grade crossing and trespassing incidents along railroad tracks throughout the country. LPSO traffic deputies will spend a portion of their time throughout the week, including Tuesday, monitoring the rail crossings in Lafourche Parish, such as the crossing on LA Highway 307 near LA Highway 182, as well as Lafourche Crossing in Thibodaux. Deputies will have information cards with railroad safety tips to distribute to motorists and pedestrians they encounter in these areas.
“With regard to safety, we are not aware of any major or ongoing issues with any of the rail crossings in our parish,” said Sheriff Webre. “With that said, it is still important for people to remember basic safety tips when they happen upon a rail crossing anywhere, including Lafourche Parish.”
In conjunction with Operation Clear Track, Sheriff Webre offers these rail safety tips:
Never drive or walk around lowered grade crossing gates.
Never stop your vehicle on a grade crossing while waiting for traffic to move. Wait until you drive completely across the tracks before trying to cross.
Never attempt to outrun an approaching train. A train can take a mile or more to stop.
Be aware that the average train is three feet wider than the track on each side.
Never walk run, play, or take photos on the railroad right-of-way. If you are on or near the tracks, you are trespassing on private property. Also, if you are standing on rail tracks, you may not hear or feel an oncoming train in time to get away safely.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Bayou Blue woman has been charged with murder after stabbing her boyfriend in the chest early Saturday morning, September 22. Shanell Thompson, 28, of Bayou Blue is charged with Second Degree Murder in the death of Justin Nixon, 28, of St. Francisville.
Just after 1 a.m., detectives responded to a call that a man had arrived at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center for treatment of a stab wound to the chest. The man was later transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he died.
Through investigation, detectives learned the incident occurred at Thompson’s residence on Hummingbird Drive in Bayou Blue. Investigators learned Thompson and Nixon were involved in a verbal altercation which turned physical. At one point, Thompson retrieved a knife from the kitchen and stabbed Nixon in the chest.
Detectives made contact with Thompson and questioned her about the incident. During questioning, she confessed to stabbing Nixon. She was arrested and charged with Second Degree Murder. She was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. Her bond is set at $1,000,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported detectives are investigating a death of a man after he was stabbed in the chest early Saturday morning, September 22.
Just after 1 a.m., detectives responded to a call that a man had arrived at Leonard J. Chabert Medical Center for treatment of a stab wound to the chest. The man was later transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he died.
Anyone with any other information on 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.
We will release more information as it can be made available.
Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan (holding frame) received the Sheriff’s Star for 2018.
Several law enforcement officers and local heroes were honored at the 2018 Lafourche Pride Awards Banquet which took place on Saturday, September 15 at Nicholls State University. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office employees and local citizens were honored for feats of bravery, exceptional work, and dedication to public service during the 25th annual awards program.
Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan was awarded the Sheriff’s Star, which is considered one of the highest honors at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Lt. Martinez-Jordan was recognized for her outstanding work in the area of domestic violence awareness – specifically for developing a process for law enforcement to identify, track, and monitor domestic abusers who cannot possess firearms based on laws she helped pass in 2014. Her process was developed into a state law in 2018, and Lt. Martinez-Jordan now teaches that process to law enforcement agencies throughout the state.
Lt. Martinez-Jordan was one of many law enforcement officers and civilians honored, along with retirees Jane Bascle (13 years), Dale Savoie (14 years), Milfred Zeringue (15 years), Kristin Pitts (15 years), Gene Richard (20 years), DeAnn Barrios (20 years), Gail Meyers (23 years), Alvin Bourgeois (27 years), Mark Adams (28 years), and Chet Caillouet (31 years).
Eight individuals received Medals of Valor for boldness and courage when facing extreme danger. One was awarded to a citizen, Lynette Pitre, who shielded her seven-year-old nephew as they were being shot at during an incident in Golden Meadow in May 2018. Two deputies, Chasity Thompson and Aaron Buckley, received the honor for entering a home engulfed in flames and leading a man inside to safety. Four law enforcement officers involved in a vehicle pursuit in the South Lafourche area in October 2017 were awarded Medals of Valor due to being shot at during the pursuit, and ultimately taking the suspect into custody. Those officers awarded included Sergeant Jeremy Milstead, Deputies Moe Verdin and Walter Theriot, and Louisiana State Trooper Richard Verdin.
A Thibodaux resident, Araya Henry, was given a Lifesaving Medal for pulling her own mother out from under a truck when she was in danger of being run over following a domestic incident involving two others. Deputy Jonathan Crabtree was also given a Lifesaving Medal for jumping into Bayou Lafourche around 3 a.m. one morning to save a woman who had crashed into the bayou. Also receiving Lifesaving Awards were Captain Cortrell Davis, Lieutenant Stanley Jones, Sergeant Denise Boudreaux, Sergeant Patrick Bowen, Agents Patrick Zaruba, Zachary Sciortino, and Deputies Aaron Buckley, Brittney Pecoraro, Michael Leone, Yaun Tullis, Blake Thibodaux, Moe Verdin, Lance LeBlanc and Mike Collason, Nurse Amanda Savoy, and Jay Guidry of Probation and Parole.
Explorer Captain Naomi Winston was honored with a Distinguished Service Award for her outstanding leadership on a local, regional and national level. She was one of six individuals to receive the award, which also included Dr. Bart Denys, a local cardiologist who also volunteers as a reserve deputy. Also honored with Distinguished Service Awards were Sergeant Blair Mitchell, Reserve Deputies James Wendell and La’Kita Robertson, and former employee, Henry Cancienne.
The LPSO Traffic Section and Range Safety Officers were commended for their outstanding work throughout the past year. Others receiving certificates of commendation included Lieutenant John Champagne, Sergeants Derek Champagne, Alex Diaz, Jeremy Milstead, Ronnie Verdon, Jeff Chamberlain, and Robert Mason, Detective Joseph Anderson, Detective Barry Hebert, Deputies Phillip Guidry, Charles Todaro, Joseph Sciortino III, Michelle Verrett, Agents Patrick Zaruba and Zachary Sciortino, Jay Guidry of Probation and Parole, and former traffic guard, Walter LeBlanc.
ABOUT LAFOURCHE PRIDE:
The Lafourche Pride Awards are held annually to recognize and honor Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office employees and local citizens for feats of bravery, exceptional work, and dedication to public service. The Lafourche Deputies Association sponsors and organizes the program through the financial support of its members who are employees of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Craig Webre utilizes this annual event to publicly honor employees and civilians who perform commendable work, save someone’s life, or perform their job in a distinguished and commendable manner.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Houma man is wanted for stabbing a Thibodaux woman in an incident that occurred on Tuesday, September 18. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of Joseph Hawkins, 25, of Houma.
At 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday, deputies responded to Carol Street in Thibodaux after receiving a call that Hawkins had stabbed a woman and fled the scene. Officers from Thibodaux Police Department and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office also responded to the area to assist in searching for the suspect. Through investigation, detectives learned Hawkins had an argument with the woman at her residence, and as he was preparing to leave the residence, he allegedly stabbed the woman with a knife in the abdomen and fled the scene. The victim was transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans and is scheduled to be released later today.
Hawkins is wanted for Aggravated Second Degree Battery in the incident. His last known address was an apartment on Arlington Avenue in Houma. Anyone with any information on his whereabouts 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.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Gheens man for Third Degree Rape of a juvenile. Michael Ernst Jr., 40, was arrested Monday, September 17 following an investigation.
Through investigation, juvenile detectives learned Ernst had inappropriate sexual contact with a teenage juvenile in January 2018. Following an investigation, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Detectives made contact with Ernst on Monday, and he was placed under arrest.
Ernst was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. He was charged with Third Degree Rape. His bond is set at $200,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man was arrested after attempting to break into a Chackbay residence Thursday night. Daniel Raby, 30, of Bourg faces multiple charges in the incident.
Just after 10 p.m. on Thursday, September 13, deputies responded to Sugar Ridge Drive in Chackbay in reference to a prowler. A resident reported that a man had been knocking at his front door and then attempted to break into the residence. Deputies arrived and discovered Raby in the backyard of the residence, and he was taken into custody. Deputies learned Raby had been knocking at the door when he took a clay pot from the porch and threw it at the glass, attempting to break into the residence.
Raby refused to cooperate with the investigation. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on charges of Attempted Unauthorized Entry into an Inhabited Dwelling, Criminal Trespassing, and Simple Criminal Damage to Property. His bond is set at $27,000.
