Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Public’s Help Sought in Galliano Business Burglary Investigation

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for a burglary at a Galliano business.

Deputies responded to SL Cleaners and Tuxedo Rentals at 18306 West Main Street in Galliano on the morning of Thursday, February 15 in reference to a burglary. Through investigation, detectives found that someone had pried open the cash register as well as a filing cabinet. A small amount of cash was taken in the burglary, and a window on an interior door was also broken during the incident.

Anyone with knowledge of this crime is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433 or by texting “GIVEATIP” plus your message to 274637. Tips can also be submitted using the TipSubmit Mobile application or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tipsters will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash if the information given leads to an arrest.

Seat Belt Checkpoints Slated for March 8 and 14

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of Thursday, March 8 and Wednesday, March 14, 2018. During these checkpoints, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. Checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

Two Female Students Charged with Terrorizing at Thibodaux Schools

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Matthews announced two juvenile female students have been charged with terrorizing on Thursday, March 1. These are the latest students charged in a series of similar incidents over the past two weeks.

One of the girls, a 14-year-old Thibodaux High School student, was charged for allegedly sending private electronic messages to another student in which the lives of faculty members were threatened. She was placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux.

The second girl, a 12-year-old East Thibodaux Middle School student, allegedly threatened to stab several students and a faculty member. She was charged with Terrorizing and placed at the Juvenile Justice Facility.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has investigated numerous threats, rumors, and allegations which have surfaced during the past two weeks. Sheriff Craig Webre said, “Our investigators thoroughly investigated every situation, and thus far, we have yet to find any that represent an active, ongoing credible threat at any Lafourche Parish school. In the event any student is charged with a significant crime, those details will be released to the public. We will continue to work with school officials to ensure the continued safety of all students and faculty throughout the parish.”

Sheriff Webre said he understands there is fear regarding these incidents, but he reminds the community that our schools are still safe. “We need to remember these are just words and gestures,” said Sheriff Webre. “Thus far, the students and faculty have done an outstanding job of reporting everything that seems even remotely suspicious, which has helped us stay ahead of these investigations. We will continue to act swiftly and precisely in our response to any threat or allegation of suspicious behavior.”

Lafourche Parish Law Enforcement and School Officials Look to Further Enhance School Security

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Matthews announced officials from both public agencies met on Tuesday, February 27 to continue discussions in the interest of enhancing safety and awareness at Lafourche Parish schools.

While the Lafourche Parish School District and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office have always worked together on these issues, officials say the partnership has never been more critical.

We have an outstanding relationship with the sheriff’s office, and we have many successful joint ventures,” said Dr. Matthews. “That partnership is critical to ensure the continued safety of our students. At the administrative level, now is a great time to review all of the physical safety measures at every school and see how we can improve. We will also work together with LPSO to better educate everyone about school policies and laws and the consequences of violating either.”

Officials say they will initially focus on improvements in policy and practices at schools which will come at little to no cost before looking at measures which would require funding. Officials will also look to improve the methods and speed at which parents are informed about incidents.

Sheriff Craig Webre said his office will cooperate closely in these efforts, but he also pointed out that these efforts are improvements, not repairs, to the existing system.

“While many parents are on edge, and understandably so, it should be noted that no shots were fired, and no firearms were brought to school this past week,” said Sheriff Webre. “In each incident, it was words and/or gestures that resulted in enforcement action, and in all cases, other students came forward with information. I believe this past week’s events have shown that the system is working. Students are reporting this behavior, perhaps now more than ever before. The schools are taking the threats seriously, and we as law enforcement officers are following through with investigations.”

In addition to addressing safety, officials say they will continue to look at the root causes of these incidents, including bullying and mental health.

“Both the sheriff’s office and the school district will continue to evaluate our responses to bullying and mental health needs,” said Sheriff Webre. “There are many conversations occurring at the national level, and we are closely following those discussions to see how it might impact us here in Lafourche Parish.”

UPDATE: Second Thibodaux High School Student Now Booked with Terrorizing

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the second of two students facing charges in reference to reported threats to Thibodaux High School has also been booked. Mason Dupre (age 17) of Thibodaux was arrested on Wednesday, February 28 and transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center following a mental health evaluation. He is charged with Terrorizing. Keith Usea (age 17) of Chackbay was also booked with Terrorizing and Simple Assault in relation to the incident.

As previously reported, on Monday, February 19, a school administrator reported to a school resource officer that students had come forward about a 17-year-old male student, later identified as Usa, allegedly having a list of students he planned to kill. Through investigation, detectives learned a second 17-year-old male student, now identified as Dupre, allegedly planned to assist Usea in killing students on the list. Detectives made contact with both students, and both admitted to their involvements. Usea told investigators he had created a list on paper some time during the previous school year, but he claimed to have disposed of it. He also described a plan to detectives to bring a shotgun to school to kill specific students. During questioning, Dupre admitted to knowing about Usea’s plan and agreeing to assist him. Detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of both individuals. They were then sent to hospitals for mental health evaluations prior to arrest and booking.

Dupre was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on the charge of Terrorizing on Wednesday. His bond is set at $1 million.

Usea was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on charges of Terrorizing and Simple Assault on Tuesday. His bond is set at $1,010,000.

UPDATE: Thibodaux High School Student Involved with Threat Booked with Terrorizing

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced one of the students facing charges in reference to reported threats to Thibodaux High School has been booked. Keith Usea (age 17) of Chackbay was arrested on Tuesday, February 27 and transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center following a mental health evaluation. He is charged with Terrorizing and Simple Assault.

As previously reported, on Monday, February 19, a school administrator reported to a school resource officer that students had come forward about a 17-year-old male student, now identified as Usea, allegedly having a list of students he planned to kill. Through investigation, detectives learned another 17-year-old male student allegedly planned to assist Usea in killing students on the list. Detectives made contact with both students, and both admitted to their involvements. Usea told investigators he had created a list on paper some time during the previous school year, but he claimed to have disposed of it. He also described a plan to detectives to bring a shotgun to school to kill specific students. During questioning, the other student admitted to knowing about Usea’s plan and agreeing to assist him. Detectives obtained warrants for the arrest of both individuals. They were then sent to hospitals for mental health evaluations prior to arrest and booking.

Usea was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on charges of Terrorizing and Simple Assault on Tuesday. His bond is set at $1,010,000.

The second student will be booked on the charge of Terrorizing following his mental health evaluation, and his identity will be withheld until he is booked. His bond will be set at $1 million.

This case remains under investigation. Both students have been suspended from school pending an expulsion hearing.

Detectives Seek to Identify Shoplifter

3/1/2018 UPDATE: The suspect has been identified as Terry Rodrigue (age 40) of Ponchatoula. He has been charged with misdemeanor theft.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in a recent shoplifting case. At around 10:20 a.m. on Saturday, February 24, a male subjected exited the Walmart Supercenter in Raceland with a large screen television for which he had not paid. The subject fled in a white, four-door Chevrolet truck. Surveillance cameras captured images of the suspect and the suspect’s vehicle. Detectives are asking for the public’s help to solve this crime. Anyone who can identify the suspect, or anyone with knowledge of this crime, is asked to contact Crime Stoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433 or by texting “GIVEATIP” plus your message to 274637. Tips can also be submitted using the TipSubmit Mobile application or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tipsters will remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash if the information given leads to an arrest.

Suspect Photo 1 02242018 — Suspect Photo 1

Suspect Photo 2 02242018 — Suspect Photo 2

Suspect Photo 3 02242018 — Suspect Photo 3

Suspect's Vehicle 02242018 — Suspect’s Vehicle

Bayou Boeuf Man Booked with Fourth DWI Offense after Crashing into Swamp

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Logan Cortez (age 32) of Bayou Boeuf for his fourth DWI offense and other charges. Just after 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash on Sanchez Road in Choctaw wherein a vehicle had flipped into a swamp, crashed into trees, and left the scene of the crash. Deputies later found the driver, identified as Cortez, and questioned him about the crash. While speaking to Cortez, deputies detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and conducted a field sobriety test on which he performed poorly. A breathalyzer test showed him to have a blood alcohol content of .258g%. Cortez was booked with DWI (4th Offense), Hit and Run, and Careless Operation. He was also booked on an outstanding warrant for Domestic Abuse Battery. His bond is set at $51,100.

One Student Charged with Terrorizing, Three Charged with Assault

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Lafourche Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Jo Ann Matthews announced detectives have charged a middle school student with Terrorizing, and three other students were charged with assault due to direct threats to other students on Thursday.

As previously reported, a 12-year-old male student at Larose-Cut Off Middle School made a statement about bringing a weapon to school on Wednesday, February 21. During the initial investigation, detectives found the student was not in possession of any firearms, nor did he have access to any. He was initially admitted to a hospital for a mental health evaluation. As the investigation continued, detectives developed probable cause and obtained a warrant for the charge of Terrorizing. The child was released from his evaluation on Friday afternoon, and he was placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux.

On Thursday, February 22, school administrators at Raceland Middle School learned that a 15-year-old male student planned to shoot and kill a female student. A school resource officer questioned the student who confirmed a plan to retrieve a firearm from his home and kill the girl. He was charged with Simple Assault and placed at the Lafourche Parish Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux. While the female victim was riding the bus home that afternoon, a 13-year-old male student confronted her about the incident. During the confrontation, the boy allegedly threatened her, as well as a second girl. The 13-year-old boy was charged with two counts of Simple Assault. He was released to his mother’s custody and suspended from school.

Also on Thursday, a 10-year-old student at Bayou Blue Elementary School allegedly threatened a female student with bodily harm. Following an investigation by a school resource officer, the juvenile was charged with Simple Assault and released to parental custody. He also faced disciplinary action from the school.

LPSO deputies and Lockport Police officers also responded to Lockport Middle School Friday morning after receiving a report of suspicious subjects on the school campus. No suspicious subjects were found on the campus. Deputies learned the report arose from a misunderstanding during a conversation a teacher was having with students.

Sheriff Craig Webre said, “I am imploring parents to talk with their children over the weekend. Please make them understand the serious nature of threatening students, making comments or social media posts about threats or weapons, or even joking about such things. The students charged this week are facing serious charges with serious consequences. We are already beginning internal review of how we can better address this issue with students, but the education has to start in the home.”

Detectives Seeking Information on Marydale Shooting

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred in Thibodaux on Thursday evening.

At 6:25 p.m. on Thursday, February 22, deputies received a report of shots fired on Ridgeway Street in the Marydale community. Deputies also received a call of a gunshot victim who had arrived at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. The male victim was reportedly driving along Ridgeway Street toward Ridgefield Road when he passed by two male subjects wearing hooded sweatshirts. He then heard several gunshots. One of the rounds struck the victim in the back, and several rounds struck his vehicle. The victim was treated at the hospital and released.

Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance to solve this case. Anyone who may have information on this crime 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.