Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Webre Shares Details of Arrests Since Hurricane Ida

Sheriff Craig Webre announced 48 individuals have been arrested/charged in Lafourche Parish since Hurricane Ida Struck on August 29, 2021. This includes three arrests for looting.

“Our community has come together like never before as we recover from this powerful storm,” said Sheriff Webre. “Still, there are always those criminals who see disasters as an opportunity to steal. Our deputy shifts are supplemented by dozens of officers from across the state and the country, and we will continue to protect property, especially at night. If you are caught looting, you WILL be arrested.”

Additionally, 14 people were charged with drug possession, two were charged with theft, and ten were charged with battery, including two people charged with battery of a peace officer.

A total of 29 people have been charged for violating the 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew. Sheriff Webre said deputies are using discretion when encountering people during these times. “If you’re out after curfew, you will be stopped,” said Sheriff Webre. “Our deputies will be understanding depending on the circumstances, especially if it’s an emergency, but anyone out after curfew is subject to be charged accordingly.”

Citizens are reminded that 911 and LPSO dispatch lines are still down. Please continue to use the emergency lines to contact us at (985) 772-4810 or (985) 772-4824.

Lafourche Parish Officials Announce Creation of Contractor Fraud Response Team

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

As people begin to clean up their property and rebuild, we want to send a clear message to anyone seeking to take advantage of our citizens,” said Sheriff Webre. “Together, we will pursue, arrest and prosecute anyone committing contractor fraud in Lafourche Parish.”

A hotline has been established to report contractor fraud in Lafourche Parish. If you are a victim of contractor fraud, please call (985) 413-4498. Please leave a message with your name and contact information if there is no answer (due to service issues).

While the Contractor Fraud Response Team will investigate cases of fraud, prevention is also just as important. Citizens should check references and ensure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured. Citizens who use an unlicensed contractor do so at their own risk of liability, no warranty, and no recourse for substandard work.

Any contractor working in Lafourche Parish MUST have an occupational license. Those can be obtained at the Lafourche Parish Mathews Government Complex, 4876 Highway 1 in Mathews. Contractors can begin the process by downloading a form online at lafourchegov.org/economic-development.

Citizens should also be alert to the warning signs of common contractor scams, such as door-to-door solicitations, demands for cash, unusually large down payments, no references, no permanent address, high-pressure sales or scare tactics, no insurance, or license, or no contract. If there is any concern, citizens are encouraged to photograph the contractor’s representative, vehicle, and license plate.

“As we begin to rebuild in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we want to send a very clear message to those who would take advantage of our community in this vulnerable state – you will not go unchecked, and you will be prosecuted,” said District Attorney Russell.

Officials urge citizens to report suspected fraud even if they are unsure whether actual criminal fraud has been committed, or if it is a civil matter. All reports will be fully investigated.

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

Sheriff Webre Asks Public to Use LA 308 When Possible to Reserve LA 1 for Essential Workers

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking citizens to primarily use LA 308 for traveling in Lafourche Parish. This will allow first responders, utility workers, and other essential personnel to utilize LA 1.

The only exception is a temporary road closure of LA 308 from U.S. Highway 90 to the Champagne-Harrelson Memorial Bridge due to Entergy working on utility lines in that area. This along with several other factors has created a bottleneck on LA 1 near U.S. Highway 90. To avoid this bottleneck, residents returning to the South Lafourche area are encouraged to exit U.S. Highway 90 at LA 316 and then travel to LA 24 (Bourg-Larose Highway).

“We understand that people may need to travel on LA 1, but if you’re just passing through an area, please use LA 308 when possible,” said Sheriff Webre. “With gas being such a scarce commodity, the best thing citizens can do is conserve fuel by staying off the roads. We have more and more residents coming in, and traffic is going to increase. I understand people don’t necessarily want to stay home, but you’ll be faced with even more frustration on the highways.”

Hurricane Ida Donations and Relief for Lafourche Parish

Lafourche Parish officials have received an overwhelming number of requests for the best avenues to donate to the Hurricane Ida relief efforts. Parish officials have already begun working with local non-profit organizations to help funnel donations to the community.

Bless Your Heart Nonprofit Corporation will be accepting monetary donations as well as items such as cleaning supplies, non-perishable food items, water, industrial garbage bags, toiletries, baby items, and wasp spray. They will coordinate donation events in Lafourche Parish in the near future. If you would like to donate items, please submit information on your donation using bit.ly/LafourcheIdaRelief. Monetary donations can be made on Venmo (@blessyourheartnonprofit) or via Paypal (blessyourheartnonprofit@gmail.com). For questions, contact Danielle Trahan at (985) 413-4624 or email blessyourheartnonprofit@gmail.com.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux is also coordinating donations of food, supplies, and money, as well as volunteers. You can sign up to donate or volunteer at CatholicCharitiesHT.org/Ida.

Additionally, the Bayou Community Foundation is able to funnel larger monetary donations to various nonprofit organizations throughout the Bayou Region. Nonprofits can apply for grants and donors can give online at BayouCF.org.

Other avenues for donations and volunteers are Volunteer Louisiana, American Red Cross of Louisiana, United Way of Southeast Louisiana, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson said, “Thank you to everyone for their effort over the last few days. The community has come together in the most fantastic way to help with recovery throughout Lafourche Parish. The residents of Lafourche are second to none.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre also cautions donating to an unknown source, especially individuals. “Scam artists use disasters to take advantage of honest, generous people,” said Sheriff Webre. “Only donate to verified, trusted sources such as ones identified by local, state, federal officials. If we are made aware of any fraudulent activity, we will fully investigate with the possibility of criminal charges.”

Lafourche Residents Can Return at Noon, Nightly Curfew Set for 7pm to 6am

Lafourche Parish residents will be allowed to return home beginning at noon today (Tuesday, August 31). Checkpoints are set up, and you must show proof of residency such as your driver’s license. A nightly curfew is now in place from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. All alcohol sales are suspended until further notice.

Please know there is no clean water access from Raceland to the South Lafourche area. There is no power in the parish, and it will not be restored for some time. Nearly all communication is down, including cell phone service parish-wide. Your home may be severely damaged and uninhabitable. We do not have access to food at this time due to the amount of damage to stores, so please bring all supplies you need to self-sustain while you are here. Parish officials are working on phone services now to ensure emergency services can be contacted and dispatched.

911 and LPSO Phone Lines Down

911 and our phone lines are down at this time . FOR EMERGENCIES ONLY, call (985) 772-4810 or (985) 772-4824 in Lafourche Parish. If busy, please keep trying.

Lafourche Parish Curfew Set for 6pm for Hurricane Ida

Lafourche Parish officials will enact a 6 p.m. curfew tonight due to the updated weather forecast for Hurricane Ida and will stay in place until further notice for the duration of the storm. All businesses should be closed by 6 p.m. in time for employees to make it home and prepare for the incoming storm. Lafourche a Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies will be out enforcing the curfew but will allow a grace period until 7 p.m. for business workers to arrive home. Essential personnel should be carrying their ID or placard displaying they are indeed essential personnel. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has a full deployment of staff to maintain security in our community.

Larose Man Found with Meth and Handgun During Traffic Stop

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Larose man found with methamphetamine and a firearm during a traffic stop. Scotty Wade, 35, faces several felony charges in relation to the incident.

Narcotics agents had been investigating Scotty Gisclair and his involvement in the sale of illegal narcotics at his residence on East Avenue A in Larose. Gisclair also had three warrants for Contempt of Court. At around 10:45 p.m. on August 24, 2021, agents located Gisclair traveling in the Raceland area and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, a K-9 unit alerted to the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Agents then conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered a handgun and approximately four ounces of methamphetamine located in close proximity to children passengers inside the vehicle.

Based on their investigations, deputies then obtained a search warrant for Gisclair’s residence. There, agents found additional drug paraphernalia commonly associated with the sale of illegal narcotics.

Gisclair was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was booked with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Illegal Use of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of Persons Under 17, Illegal Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and improper lane usage. He was also booked on three outstanding warrants for Contempt of Court. Bail is set at $189,400.

Citizens are reminded that they can report any drug-related or suspicious activity. Information can be reported directly to the Narcotics section commander, Lieutenant Derek Champagne, at (985) 532-4365 or derek-champagne@lpso.net. Information can also be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices.

UPDATE: Man Injured in Officer-Involved Shooting Booked on Charges from Incident

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man who was injured in a shooting incident in Mathews involving a deputy on Sunday has been booked on charges stemming from the incident. Daniel Boudreaux, 34, of Dulac was booked with Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and other charges.

As previously released, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call on the night of August 22, 2021, regarding Boudreaux causing a disturbance at a residence on Linda Street in Lockport. He was reportedly armed with a rifle and possibly suicidal. As deputies were responding, they learned Boudreaux had left the residence in a pickup truck. A deputy located the truck and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Boudreaux refused to stop and turned onto Adams Street in Mathews. Boudreaux stopped the vehicle in the 200 block and exited with a rifle. He began running, and the deputy gave commands for him to stop. Boudreaux then turned and raised the rifle toward the deputy. The deputy then fired at Boudreaux, striking him in the arm. The deputy rendered first aid until an ambulance arrived and transported Boudreaux to a hospital. He was eventually transported to University Medical Center in New Orleans for treatment.

Through investigation after the incident, an eyewitness told investigators the man had made statements earlier in the evening indicating a desire to die in a “suicide by cop” situation. Detectives also learned he had stolen the rifle from the Linda Street residence. Detectives obtained warrants for Theft of a Firearm, Flight from an Officer, and Reckless Operation.

Per Sheriff Webre’s request, Louisiana State Police investigated the shooting itself and obtained warrants for Boudreaux for Aggravated Assault upon a Peace Officer and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon.

On Wednesday, August 25, Boudreaux was released from University Medical Center and was taken into custody. He was initially booked into Orleans Parish Prison. He was then transferred to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex where he was booked on the aforementioned warrants. Bail is set at $176,000.

RUNAWAY TEEN: Trent Truxillo

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Trent Truxillo of Lockport. He was last seen on or around August 14, 2021. Truxillo has a history of leaving home and not returning in a timely manner. He is described as 5’5″ tall, weighing approximately 155 pounds with dark brown hair. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.