Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a seat belt checkpoint on May 22, 2023, in Lafourche Parish. The checkpoint will be conducted during the daylight hours. This checkpoint is being conducted in coordination with the Click It or Ticket campaign which runs from May 22 through June 4, 2023. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
During the seat belt checkpoint, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Galliano man for two incidents of rape, one in Galliano and one in Baton Rouge. Izak Barnett, 19, of Galliano was arrested on Tuesday by the LSU Police Department.
On March 29, 2023, LPSO detectives were notified of an alleged rape that had occurred in December 2022 during a party in Galliano. The party had taken place at a residence where many of the attendees were drinking alcoholic beverages. During the party, detectives learned Izak Barnett allegedly raped a 19-year-old female while she was asleep. The victim became conscious during the incident and found Barnett to be covering her mouth. During the investigation, detectives learned of another sexual assault that had occurred on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Detectives contacted the LSU Police Department which launched a separate investigation.
On May 16, 2023, LSU Police brought Barnett in for questioning in their investigation, and LPSO detectives also questioned him about the incident in Galliano. During questioning, Barnett admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim without verbal consent, and admitted to placing his hand over her mouth. He was subsequently arrested by LSU Police who also charged him in their investigation.
Barnett was charged with third degree rape by LSU Police. He was also charged with second degree rape by LPSO. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Total bail on both charges was set at $293,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced three teenagers have been charged after a carjacking in Thibodaux. The three teens were caught after wrecking the stolen cars hours after it was stolen.
At around 3:30 p.m. on May 12, 2023, deputies responded to a report of a carjacking in the 100 block of Michelle Place in Thibodaux. Three males, believed to be in their teens, flagged down the driver of a black sedan and then stole the car at gunpoint.
At around 12:30 a.m. on May 13, 2023, the victim’s car was involved in a crash. Three juveniles were inside the car and had suffered minor injuries in the wreck. The 17-year-old male and two 15-year-old males were transported to a local hospital for treatment. Each was later charged due to their involvement in the crime.
The investigation is continuing. The names of the juveniles cannot be released due to their ages.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced one man has been arrested in a shooting incident that occurred Saturday morning in Bayou Blue. Noah Mills, 20, of Bayou Blue was arrested on Monday after admitting to his involvement.
At around 9:20 a.m. on May 13, 2023, deputies responded to Smithwillow Drive in Bayou Blue after receiving a report about shots having been fired in that area. A blue Hyundai car was seen in the area at the time of the incident. A short time later, officers with the Houma Police Department made contact with a man, later identified as Mills, who as driving a blue Hyundai. Mills had suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh and was taken to the hospital at that time for non-life-threatening injuries.
Following his release from the hospital, Mills was brought in for questioning regarding the incident. During questioning, Mills admitted to his involvement in the incident. He was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, aggravated criminal damage to property, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. Bail has not yet been set.
Detectives are continuing to investigate the incident to find the second shooter. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or through the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices. 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 is joining other local law enforcement agencies in participating in the Click It or Ticket campaign which runs from May 22 through June 4, 2023. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Additional deputies will be assigned to saturated patrol efforts in conjunction with the campaign. Deputies will be checking motorists for proper seat belt and safety seat use, as well as other violations. A checkpoint will be scheduled and announced at a later date.
Click It or Ticket is a seat belt enforcement campaign aimed at increasing the national seat belt usage rate. Louisiana’s seat belt usage rate for 2022 was 86.1%, which is below the national rate of 91.6%.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Thibodaux man for crimes involving a juvenile under the age of 13. Seth Zeringue, 29, confessed to his involvement in the crimes.
On the afternoon of May 6, 2023, Zeringue contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office wishing to confess to a crime involving a juvenile. Deputies met with Zeringue at the LPSO Law Enforcement Complex in Thibodaux. Zeringue admitted that while dating a woman a few years back, he watched pornographic videos with the woman’s child who was under the age of 13 at the time.
Through further investigation, detectives learned Zeringue had used a smartphone to record a video of the child changing clothes in the child’s bedroom. Zeringue admitted to this as well. Detectives then obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Zeringue was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with video voyeurism and indecent behavior with a juvenile. Bail is set at $75,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced one man has been arrested another is being sought in connection to an armed robbery in Cut Off. Eddie Coleman Jr., 25, of Golden Meadow has been arrested. Detectives are seeking to identify the second suspect.
The incident occurred at a bank on West Main Street in Cut Off. Two individuals were walking away from the ATM machine at the bank when a small car pulled up. Two masked men reportedly pointed guns at the two individuals and stole hundreds of dollars in cash from one of the victims.
Through investigation, detectives identified one of the men as Eddie Coleman Jr. and obtained a warrant for his arrest. Coleman was subsequently arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with armed robbery with use of a firearm. Bail is set at $1 million.
Detectives are seeking to identify the second person involved in this crime. Anyone with any information is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or through the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices. 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 two men from Thibodaux were arrested for sex crimes involving the same teenager. Christopher Borne, 34, and Henry Scott Jr., 38, each face charges in connection to the teenager.
Last week, juvenile detectives opened an investigation after learning that Borne and Scott each reportedly had sexual contact with a 16-year-old. Both had made initial contact with the teenager through a smartphone app designed for social networking and online dating. During questioning, both admitted to their roles. Detectives also found evidence that Borne’s encounter with the juvenile was captured on video.
Borne and Scott were both arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. Borne was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile, pornography involving a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. His bail is set at $175,000. Scott was charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and carnal knowledge of a juvenile, and his bail is set at $150,000.
Due to the nature of the allegations, no further information will be released.
Sheriff Webre again encourages parents to take an active role in their children’s lives, especially when it comes to smartphone usage and social media. “Ensure you are constantly monitoring what your child is doing on their smartphone or device. Define rules and parameters for using those devices, and be sure you have all the current passwords for your child’s own safety.”
For more information on the dangers of cybercrime including tips for parents, please visit www.LPSO.net/Cybercrime.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Cut Off man arrested for sex crimes in May 2022 has been booked on new charges after new victims came forward. Ralph Cheramie Jr., 62, now faces charges for three separate females who were victimized between 12-20 years ago.
Through investigation, detectives learned Cheramie had inappropriate sexual contact with a juvenile girl beginning approximately 20 years ago. The first incident occurred when the girl was a young teenager. Following the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant and arrested Cheramie on May 31, 2022. At the time, he was charged with two counts of oral sexual battery, sexual battery, and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
After the announcement of his arrest, additional victims came forward. Detectives were able to find probable cause for additional charges for Cheramie for inappropriate sexual contact with two more victims that occurred when the females were juveniles – one of which was under the age of 13 at the time of the incident. Cheramie was subsequently booked on new charges including three counts of sexual battery (forcible fondling), three counts of indecent behavior with juveniles, and molestation of a juvenile under the age of 13.
Due to the nature of these crimes, no additional information will be released.
The investigation into Cheramie is continuing. Any other victims are encouraged to contact Lieutenant Rodney Morrison of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4359.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Cut Off man who stole a vehicle in a convenience store parking lot on Tuesday afternoon. Eric Vincent, 36, was arrested within two hours of the incident.
Just after 4 p.m. on May 2, 2023, deputies responded to a report of a vehicle stolen outside a convenience store located on West Main Street in Cut Off. A family had gone into the convenience store and left the car unlocked with the keys inside. When they exited the store, they found the vehicle was gone. Deputies later received a tip that Eric Vincent had stolen the car and was traveling northbound on West Main Street. Deputies located Vincent in the Cut Off area. Vincent resisted deputies, but they were able to take him into custody. The car was found abandoned in a wooded area nearby with minor damages and other missing items including a cell phone.
Vincent was transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was booked on charges of theft of a motor vehicle, felony theft, and resisting an officer. Bail has not yet been set.
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NOTE: Per Article 234 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, booking photos cannot be released.
