Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is deeply saddened to announce the death of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy who died after a suspect rammed the deputy’s vehicle early Sunday morning. The deputy’s identity is not being released at this time. The suspect is in custody, and Louisiana State Police is handling the crash and criminal investigation.

Just before 4 a.m. on April 2, 2023, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call informing deputies that the Houma Police Department was involved in a pursuit with a suspect who had entered Lafourche Parish. The pursuit led officers to near Lafourche Crossing in Thibodaux where the suspect stopped. After speaking with officers who were attempting to negotiate, the suspect accelerated and struck the deputy’s vehicle which was positioned nearby. The deputy inside the vehicle was transported to a local hospital where the deputy later succumbed to his injuries.

Sheriff Webre stated, “We are all processing and grieving this horrific and tragic death of one or our own. We are with the family providing them with support and prayers at this unbelievably difficult time. We ask for the community’s love, prayers and support as well.”

“Our office is forever grateful for the response of all those involved at the scene including the Louisiana State Police, Thibodaux Police Department, Houma Police Department, Nicholls State University Police Department, Thibodaux Volunteer Fire Department, Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office, and Acadian Ambulance, as well as the staff at Thibodaux Regional Health System for their efforts,” added Sheriff Webre.

Further information, including the deputy’s name, will be released at a later time.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the father of a six-year-old, who was shot by his brother in February, has been charged with negligent homicide in the incident. Davonta Michel Sr., 24, of Raceland has been arrested in connection with the death of his son, six-year-old Davonta “D.J.” Michel Jr.

At 7:45 p.m. on February 22, 2023, a man called 911 and reported a small child had been shot at a residence in the 2000 block of LA Highway 182 in Raceland. The boy, later identified as Michel Jr., became unresponsive. CPR was administered on the scene, and the child was transported by ambulance to a local hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Investigators learned the child and his six-year-old brother found a loaded handgun in a bedroom at the residence and began playing with it. At one point, the firearm discharged, striking Michel Jr. The boys were at the residence with their grandparents at the time of the incident.

Through further investigation, detectives learned the boys found the gun unsecured in their father’s bedroom. Following a full investigation into the incident, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Michel Sr.

On Monday, March 27, 2023, Michel Sr. turned himself in at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was booked with negligent homicide. Bail is set at $200,000.

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NOTE: Per Act 494 (effective June 2022), a mug shot cannot be released.

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a former Lockport mayor for falsifying community service reports while in office. Edward Reinhardt, 73, of Lockport was arrested on Tuesday.

Through investigation, deputies learned Reinhardt allegedly falsified community service documents for multiple individuals beginning in 2019. Reinhardt reportedly signed paperwork stating that court-ordered community service hours had been completed for individuals who had not completed all or any of the hours. Following an investigation into the matter, deputies obtained a warrant for Reinhardt’s arrest.

On March 21, 2023, Reinhardt was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with malfeasance in office. Bail is set at $25,000.

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NOTE: Per Act 494 (effective June 2022), a mug shot cannot be released.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Cut Off woman who embezzled over $120,000 from her employer. Christi Cheramie, 50, was arrested on Friday.

In late January 2023, detectives opened an investigation into Cheramie after her employer, a Larose company, reported over $120,000 having been stolen. The company discovered irregular charges to the business checking account over the span of five years dating back to May 2017. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Cheramie’s arrest.

On Friday, March 10, detectives arrested Cheramie at her residence. During questioning, she admitted to using company funds to pay off personal credit card statements.

Cheramie was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. She was charged with Felony Theft. Bail is set at $100,000.

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NOTE: Per Act 494 (effective June 2022), a mug shot cannot be released.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the persons responsible for burglaries at a boat storage facility in Galliano. There were three separate burglaries at the facility during daytime hours.

One instance involved what appeared to be a middle-aged white man and two other subjects who could possibly be juvenile girls who were traveling in a dark gray or blue Lincoln sedan. The man returned four days later in a dark gray Mitsubishi sedan with a woman. Another incident involved two females, who appeared to be middle-aged, traveling in a white Ford F250 4×4 truck pulling a trailer. Thousands of dollars in sheet metal were stolen during these incidents, and some property was also damaged.

Detectives are asking for the public’s help to solve this case. Anyone who can identify this man, or anyone with any knowledge of 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.