Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Houma man who led deputies on a high-speed pursuit in a stolen vehicle. Roy Leonard (age 40) faces multiple charges in the incident and is being held for authorities in Lincoln Parish regarding the stolen vehicle.

At around 12:05 a.m. on Sunday, December 31, deputies observed a vehicle traveling on LA Highway 3185 which proceeded through a four-way stop at the intersection with Talbot Avenue. Deputies then observed the vehicle make a left turn on red at St. Mary Street. Deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop, but the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Roy Leonard, refused to stop. Leonard continued northbound on St. Mary Street at a high rate of speed before eventually making a U-turn and traveling southbound. Thibodaux Police and Louisiana State Police Troop C responded to assist. Leonard stopped briefly at the intersection of St. Mary Street and Jackson Street, and officers ordered him to step out of the vehicle. He ignored officers and continued on Jackson Street, traveling to Canal Boulevard. Leonard then continued traveling into Terrebonne Parish where deputies used spike strips to disable the tires. The vehicle eventually came to a stop on West Main Street where Leonard was taken into custody.

Deputies learned the vehicle Leonard was driving was reported stolen, and Leonard had a warrant out of Lincoln Parish in reference to the investigation. Several containers of alcoholic beverages were inside the car, and he was exhibiting signs of possible intoxication. Leonard refused to submit to a field sobriety test, but he did submit to a breathalyzer test which showed him to have a blood alcohol level of .104g%. Deputies found he was previously charged with a DWI offense in 2010.

Leonard was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with DWI (2^nd Offense), Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, Possession of Alcoholic Beverages in a Motor Vehicle, failure to stop at a stop sign, and turning left on red. His bond is set at $113,500. He is also being held as a fugitive of Lincoln Parish.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Raceland man has been arrested in connection with the burglary of a convenience store. Dante Hester (age 25) was arrested on Wednesday. Investigators are searching for at least one other unknown suspect in the crime.

Just before 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 27, deputies responded to a convenience store located along LA Highway 1 in Raceland in reference to a possible burglary. Upon arrival, they observed signs of forced entry. Deputies searched the store, but no one was on scene. Through investigation, deputies discovered two suspects entered the store and stole several items of merchandise, and they developed Dante Hester as one of the suspects. Then later that morning, deputies located Hester inside the same convenience store. During questioning, Hester admitted to his involvement in the crime. He was placed under arrest and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with one count of Simple Burglary. His bond is set at $5,000.

Investigators are searching for at least one other suspect in the burglary. Anyone with 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.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Van Andre (age 34) of Thibodaux on December 23, 2017. Just after noon on December 23, deputies responded to a call of a kidnapping on Waverly Road in Thibodaux. Deputies learned Van Andre had made contact with an ex-girlfriend at her residence and a verbal altercation ensued. When the woman walked inside her residence, Andre followed and later forced the woman out of the house and into his vehicle. He then drove the woman to his residence on Ledet Drive. Deputies made contact with Andre at his residence and he was immediately taken into custody. The victim was found inside the residence, and Andre had allegedly struck her several times. Andre was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux where he was booked with Simple Kidnapping and Domestic Abuse Battery. He was additionally booked on a warrant for Contempt of Court for Thibodaux City Court. His bond is set at $106,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Michael Adams (age 59) of Thibodaux for Sexual Battery of the Infirmed.

On December 22, 2017, detectives opened an investigation in reference to Michael Adams. Investigators learned Adams allegedly committed a sexual battery on an elderly woman on November 3 and again on December 21. The first incident occurred in Lafourche Parish, and the second incident occurred in Terrebonne Parish. Detectives made contact with Adams later that day, and he admitted to making sexual contact with the elderly woman.

Adams was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on one count of Sexual Battery of the Infirmed. He was also booked as a fugitive of Terrebonne Parish for the same charge. His bond on the Lafourche charge is $50,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced Jarius Griffin (age 32) of Raceland and Phillip Bell (age 39) of Larose were arrested on Wednesday, December 20. Through prior investigations, narcotics agents had obtained warrants for both Griffin and Bell in reference to methamphetamine distribution. On Wednesday, agents in the Raceland area identified Griffin traveling south on LA 308 in the Raceland area and conducted a traffic stop. Agents made contact with Griffin, and he was immediately taken into custody. Agents also observed Bell to be traveling as Griffin’s passenger, and he was also taken into custody. During a search, agents discovered Griffin to have several narcotics in his possession. In all, agents seized nearly 16 grams of cocaine, four bags containing over 11 grams of heroin, and approximately 11 grams of marijuana. Bell and Griffin were transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. Griffin was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Heroin and Cocaine. He was also booked on outstanding warrants for two counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine, four counts of Contempt of Court, and a parole violation. His bond is set at $185,600, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole. Bell was booked on warrants for three counts of Distribution of Methamphetamine and one count of Contempt of Court. His bond is set at $185,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Tarkus Pitre (age 44) of Cut Off on Tuesday, December 19, after deputies found a variety of narcotics inside his vehicle during a traffic stop.

At around 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, deputies conducted a traffic stop on LA Highway 1 in Mathews. Deputies made contact with the driver and identified him as Tarkus Pitre. In speaking to deputies, Pitre advised he was in the process of purchasing the vehicle and did not have any documentation for the vehicle. A K-9 unit arrived on scene, and during a perimeter sweep of the vehicle, the K-9 alerted to the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, deputies discovered several small bags of suspected narcotics and various drug paraphernalia. In all, deputies seized 67 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 41 hydrocodone pills, 10.7 grams of suspected marijuana, 13 Suboxone strips, and small amounts of heroin and LSD. Pitre admitted the items belonged to him. Through further investigation, deputies learned the license plate on the vehicle was registered to another vehicle.

Pitre was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Hydrocodone, Marijuana, and Suboxone. He was also charged with Possession of LSD, Heroin, and Drug Paraphernalia, as well as Switched Plates and failure to use a turn signal. His bond is set at $51,100.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of a man wanted for using another man’s identity to acquire a store credit card.

On December 7, detectives began investigating a complaint wherein a man’s identity was used to open a credit card at a local department store. Through investigation, detectives learned an unidentified male suspect opened a line of credit at the store on November 28, 2017, and made a purchase in excess of $1,500. The subject was captured on surveillance cameras.

Anyone who may be able to identify this suspect 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.

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a seat belt checkpoint during the daytime hours of Thursday, December 21, 2017, in Lafourche Parish. During the checkpoint, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and insurance. Checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

This checkpoint is being conducted in conjunction with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign which runs through December 31, 2017. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is conducting multiple checkpoints throughout the campaign, and additional deputies are assigned to saturated patrol efforts to target impaired drivers and help keep motorists safe.

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 the arrest of Larone Gray (age 43) of Thibodaux on Saturday, December 16. At around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, deputies responded to Ethel Street in Thibodaux in reference to a man parking his car along the street who was possibly intoxicated. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the driver, identified as Larone Gray, and detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from him. Gray submitted to a field sobriety test on which he performed poorly. He refused to submit to a breathalyzer test, and a warrant was obtained for a blood test. Gray’s criminal history showed three prior DWI offenses in the past ten years. Gray was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with DWI (4^th and Subsequent Offenses). His bond is set at $50,000.