Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Contractor Fraud Response Team Activated in Response to Hurricane Francine

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre, Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III, and Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell have once again assembled the Contractor Fraud Response Team to fight contractor fraud during the recovery efforts from Hurricane Francine.

“Legitimate contractors are already in the area attempting to assist residents with repairs, and so, scam artists won’t be far behind,” said Sheriff Webre. “From roof inspections to tree removal and major repairs, con artists will take advantage of anyone in need. Our team is ready to pursue, arrest and prosecute anyone committing contractor fraud in Lafourche Parish.”

Citizens should be alert to warning signs of common contractor scams, such as door-to-door solicitations, demands for cash and unusually large down payments, and high-pressure sales tactics. Be wary of anyone with no insurance, no license, no permanent address, or cannot provide references. If there is any concern, citizens are encouraged to photograph the contractor’s representative, vehicle, and license plate. Residents are also cautioned not to allow contractors to work directly with the resident’s insurance company.

Any contractor working in Lafourche Parish MUST have a Lafourche Parish occupational license, and a permit must be obtained for all work performed. Those can be obtained at the Lafourche Parish Mathews Government Complex, 4876 Highway 1 in Mathews. Permit fees have been temporarily waived.

Citizens should check references and ensure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. Ask for a copy of the Lafourche Parish occupational license and a copy of the permit for the work. Projects over $7,500 also require a state contractor’s license which can be verified on the Louisiana State Licensing Board website: LSLBC.gov. Citizens who use unlicensed or uninsured contractors do so at their own risk of liability, no warranty, and may not have recourse for substandard work.

“Citizens should proceed with caution and follow the tips from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office,” said Parish President Chaisson. “This team will be diligent in monitoring activity throughout the parish.”

Victims should call our Contractor Fraud Hotline at (985) 413-4498 or email contractorfraud@lpso.net. Officials urge citizens to report suspected fraud even if they are unsure whether actual criminal fraud has been committed, or if unsure if it is a civil matter. All reports will be fully investigated.

“We want to send a clear message to those who would take advantage of innocent victims in our community: you will not go unchecked, and you will be prosecuted,” said District Attorney Russell.

Deputies Rescue Several Families from Rising Waters Caused by Francine

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies rescued multiple families in the Thibodaux area on Wednesday night who were trapped due to rising water following Hurricane Francine. A total of 26 people were rescued and most were transported to the emergency shelter at the Lockport Community Center.

At around 7:30 p.m., deputies responded to a call of residents trapped in housing units on Lasseigne Road in Thibodaux due to rising water caused by rainfall. All residents, including many small children, were safely evacuated from the units. Deputies also rescued residents from rising waters in other areas in Thibodaux and in the Kraemer community.

Deputies will have an increased presence in Lafourche Parish overnight with most of the parish out of power and a curfew in effect until 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 12. They will work to assess and clear roadways overnight to allow restoration efforts to begin on Thursday morning.

Residents are reminded that the best way to stay informed is by downloading the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app: LPSO.net/MobileApp.

Residents are also reminded that LPSO phone lines are still down. Please continue to contact 911 for emergencies. If you experience any issues dialing 911 or you otherwise need to contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, please call any of the following numbers:

(985) 413-5677
(985) 413-7158
(985) 413-7556

Lafourche Parish Curfew Extended; Phone Lines Down

Due to the impacts from Hurricane Francine, Lafourche Parish officials have extended the curfew currently in effect until 10 a.m. on Thursday, September 12. Everyone in Lafourche Parish should remain sheltered in place until that time. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies are actively enforcing the curfew, and essential personnel should be carrying their ID or placard.

Phone services have also been affected. Please continue to contact 911 for emergencies. If you experience any issues dialing 911 or you otherwise need to contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, please call any of the following numbers:

(985) 413-5677
(985) 413-7158
(985) 413-7556

Lafourche Parish Curfew Set to Begin at Noon on Wednesday for Francine

Due to the impacts expected from Francine, Lafourche Parish officials will enact a curfew to begin at noon on Wednesday, September 11, and end at sunrise on Thursday, September 12. All businesses should be closed by noon on Wednesday for employees to make it home before the strongest storm impacts begin. Lafourche a Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies will be out enforcing the curfew but will allow a grace period for business workers to return home. Essential personnel should be carrying their I.D. or placard displaying they are indeed essential personnel.

LPSO Offices to Close at Noon Tuesday due to Incoming Storm

Due to the approaching storm, Sheriff Craig Webre has announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office administrative offices will close at noon on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, and remain closed until further notice. LPSO will also be increasing the number of deputies patrolling the parish beginning later today.

“Our deputies have always answered the call for every storm, and we are ready to respond to this one as well,” said Sheriff Webre. “Stay vigilant, stay informed, and stay safe.”

Sheriff Webre encourages residents to download the LPSO mobile app which features the most up-to-date information on this storm. The app will also send out push notifications for the most important updates. Download the app on iOS or Android here: LPSO.net/APP.

LPSO Employee Honored as Detention Officer of the Year by National Organization

Sharlette Brown Receives Award — *Sharlette Brown receives award at JAILCON24 in Mobile, Alabama.*

Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office employee has been awarded Detention Officer of the Year by a national organization. Correctional Officer Sharlette Brown was honored by the National Institute of Jail Operations at the JAILCON24 Southern Regional Conference in Mobile, Alabama, on August 29, 2024.

“Sharlette is an exceptional employee and is most deserving of this prestigious honor,” said Sheriff Craig Webre. “She is a shining light at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and an inspiring role model for her fellow employees.”

Brown began her career at LPSO in 2018. She started as a part-time bonding clerk and later became a full-time Master Control clerk. She now serves as a correctional officer at the Correctional Complex where she was recognized as the Employee of the Month in June 2023. She also received shift awards in both 2022 and 2023 as acknowledgement of her consistent service to the shift. Also notably, she received a lifesaving award in August 2022 for saving an infant’s life.

Major Cortrell Davis, who serves as Corrections Department Head and Warden at the Correctional Complex, nominated Brown for the award. He said, “Ms. Brown is a prototype employee. She leads with her heart and never disappoints.”

Brown said that when she read the mission of the Correctional Complex – to provide and ensure a safe, secure, efficient and constitutional new-generation facility – she felt an overwhelming sense of excitement. Her heart was full of joy because she has a deep desire to help the facility staff reach the mission in the spirit of excellence. Brown said, “This profession gives me the opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of others.”

ABOUT NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JAIL OPERATIONS:
The National Institute for Jail Operations (NIJO) is dedicated to serving those that operate jails, detention, and correctional facilities. Training is often based on best practices rather than case law due to administrators not having the time, resources, or ability to research relevant case law training. Policies, procedures, and training must be centered and built around current case law and statutes. Recognizing the enormous liability and litigation facing administrations and, in an industry where resources are scarce, NIJO provides a compilation of legal-based resources specific to various state statute requirements or Circuit Courts of Appeal. By having these guidelines, NIJO can provide agencies access to a database of industry standards, the ability to conduct self-audits, customizable training, legal consultation, and the opportunity to have their facility Nationally Accredited. Established in 2011, NIJO is the only organization to offer resources under one umbrella with legal-based emphasis.

Kenner Man Dies after Two Dump Trunks Collide in Cut Off

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Kenner man died as a result of a two-vehicle crash involving dump trucks on Monday. Leonardo Martinez, 37, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just after noon on August 26, 2024, deputies responded to a dirt roadway off East 40th Street in Cut Off after two dump trucks were involved in a head-on collision. Martinez was driving one of the trucks. The driver of the other truck was airlifted to University Medical Center in New Orleans for treatment. He is in stable condition.

No further information is available at this time. The crash remains under investigation.

Rape Aggression Defense Course Scheduled for September in Raceland

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on September 24-26, 2024, at the LPSO Shooting Range Classroom, located at 3451 Hwy 182 in Raceland.

This self-defense course designed for women will take place over three days. The class will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 9:30 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 and is non-refundable. Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. You can register and pay for the course online at www.LPSO.net/classes. The class registration deadline is September 20, 2024, at 11 a.m.

For more information, please call Lucie Morvant at (985) 446-2367 or email Captain Kevin Johnson at kevin-johnson@lpso.net.

Deputies Arrest Female for Pulling out a Gun on Thibodaux High School Grounds

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a 19-year-old female for aggravated assault with a firearm in a parking lot at Thibodaux High School after school hours. Tylaiah Adams of Thibodaux was arrested on Tuesday night after the incident.

At around 8 p.m. on August 20, 2024, LPSO deputies and officers of the Thibodaux Police Department responded to the Thibodaux High School football stadium parking lot in reference to a report of a female with a firearm. When they arrived, the individuals had already left the scene. Through investigation, they learned two male students were involved in an altercation when a female, later identified as Adams, allegedly got out of a vehicle and brandished a gun. At that point, all parties involved fled the scene.

Deputies made contact with Adams at her home, and she was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. She was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm and violation of a firearm-free zone. Bail is set at $251,000.

The incident remains under review and investigation by both the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Lafourche Parish School District. Additional deputies were present on Wednesday morning at Thibodaux High School out of an abundance of caution.

NOTE: Tylaiah Adams is not a student at Thibodaux High School.

Labor Day Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign Underway, Checkpoint Planned

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced plans for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign which is now underway through the Labor Day holiday on September 2, 2024. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

As part of the campaign efforts, LPSO deputies will conduct a DWI checkpoint during the evening hours of August 20, 2024, and continue into the early morning hours of the following day. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues, including but not limited to seat belt usage. Additional deputies will also be assigned to saturated patrol efforts to target impaired drivers and help keep motorists safe.

Remember that Lafourche Parish is a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested. Sheriff Webre reminds everyone to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Have a plan on how you will arrive home BEFORE you leave home.