Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking the public for help in solving a case involving theft at a Lockport consignment store last week.

On March 29, 2021, deputies responded to a reported theft at a consignment store in Lockport. The store manager arrived at the store to find the donation bin to be empty. Upon reviewing surveillance video, a white Chevrolet truck was seen leaving with several donated items. An unknown white male subject was also seen loading the truck. Two other individuals were inside the truck at the time of the theft. It is estimated that items valued at approximately $1,000 were stolen. The unknown subjects arrived at 3:21 a.m. and the site left at 4:13 a.m. on March 29, 2021.

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 to Crime Stoppers via the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. 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 inmates at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex recently took part in the first White Flag Exposition. Inmates posted white flags on the front lawn outside the complex during a ceremony on April 1, 2021. This event was created to mark the beginning of Second Chance Month which has been annually observed during the month of April since 2017.

As an internationally recognized sign of peace and surrender, a white flag was personalized and signed by each participating inmate as a symbol of atonement for their past and to proclaim their desire for a new life. Some wrote heartfelt messages on the flags to acknowledge the effects of their past actions on others. Members of the Southeast Central Regional Reentry Program team were joined by Sheriff Webre, Major Cortrell Davis (Warden), LPSO Police Social Services staff, and representatives from the Louisiana Department of Corrections to assist participants in planting the flags. Their participation signified the staff’s willingness to do whatever it takes to help the inmates achieve their second chance.

“We wanted to provide the inmates an opportunity to confirm their intent to renounce their past and strive for a new peaceful life,” said Captain Karla Beck, coordinator of the White Flag Exposition project. “Re-entry programs like those offered at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex are crucial in giving offenders the opportunity and the power to change. As we intervene while they are incarcerated and begin to provide the tools needed for reform, we significantly reduce the probability of re-incarceration and we increase community safety. That’s what second chances are really about.”

Second Chance Month is a national effort to raise awareness of the collateral consequences of criminal conviction and unlock second-chance opportunities for those who have completed their sentences to become contributing citizens.

The flags will remain on display throughout the month of April, which will also include recognition of the 40^th anniversary of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, April 18-24, 2021. This annual commemoration is aimed at raising awareness about victims’ rights and associated issues. Sheriff Webre and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office have been leaders in the provision of services and support for victims.

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MEDIA FILES

Link to video testimony of inmates: https://youtu.be/-LfaFZLrmQ4

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a boy abducted by his non-custodial father has been found safe, and his father has been arrested. Luke Brown, 40, is in custody after allegedly kidnapped his four-year-old son on April 3, 2021.

A family member was granted emergency custody of the boy after Brown was involved in a standoff with Nicholls State University Police on March 25, 2021. Brown had barricaded himself in his vehicle threatening to harm himself. The situation was eventually resolved peacefully, and Brown was taken into custody. Brown was ordered to stay away from the child, as well as the family member and their residence.

On Saturday, April 3, Brown reportedly violated those orders by contacting the family member and later arriving at the residence. At around 8 p.m., he reportedly took the boy from the residence and never returned. During the course of the investigation, detectives submitted information to Louisiana State Police which issued a Level II Endangered/Missing Child Advisory early Sunday morning. Detectives also obtained a warrant for Luke Brown’s arrest.

Later Sunday morning, investigators learned the child was at a residence in Schriever. With assistance from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, a resident of the home transported the child to meet up with deputies, and he was safely returned to the family member. Meanwhile, investigators learned Brown was at the residence. Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived at the residence, and Brown was taken into custody without incident.

Brown was initially booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. He was later transferred to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and booked on warrants for Simple Kidnapping and four counts of Violation of a Protective Order. He was additionally booked on outstanding warrants for Simple Battery and five counts of Contempt of Court. Bail is set at $57,600, and he has been ordered to pay an additional $850 in fines and costs related to the contempt warrants. He is also being held as a fugitive of Assumption Parish due to an outstanding warrant there.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Larose man for molestation of a juvenile. Jeremy Moore, 30, was arrested following an investigation.

In March 2021, juvenile detectives opened an investigation into Moore. Detectives learned he reportedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13 several years prior. That behavior included forcing the child to touch him in a sexual manner. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Moore was arrested in Beauregard Parish on the active warrant on March 28, 2021. He was transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on Wednesday, March 31. He was booked on the warrant for one count of Molestation of a Juvenile Under 13 Years of Age. Bail is set at $100,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Bayou Blue man has been arrested for stealing money from a donation box at a Raceland church in February 2021. Rusty Dupre, 23, was also charged in two other investigations including a burglary at a Lafourche Parish Government field office. Shawn Meier, 31, of Bayou Blue, is also wanted in connection with the field office burglary.

On February 2, 2021, deputies responded to a burglary at St. Hilary of Poitiers Catholic Church in Raceland. A man had entered damaged a lock to the candle room door, entered the room and stole cash from the donation box. Surveillance cameras captured images of the man and his vehicle which were released to the public. Crime Stoppers Bayou Region received several tips identifying Rusty Dupre as the suspect, and investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Then on March 8, 2021, detectives began investigating a burglary at the Lafourche Parish Government field office in Bayou Blue. Various items including a television, radio equipment, power tools, and food items were stolen in the incident. Dupre and Meier was identified as suspects in the crime, and detectives obtained warrants in that case.

Nine days later, on March 17, patrol deputies obtained another warrant for Dupre after surveillance cameras captured video of him stealing a basket of snacks a woman had left on her porch for a delivery truck driver.

Finally, on Tuesday, March 30, an anonymous tip provided information on Dupre’s possible whereabouts. This led investigators in the direction to track down Dupre to a hotel in Terrebonne Parish. With assistance from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Dupre was taken into custody at the hotel without incident.

Dupre was transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on booked on active warrants for two counts of Simple Burglary, Criminal Trespassing, Theft, and Simple Criminal Damage to Property. Bail is set at $78,750.

Detectives are still searching for Shawn Meier in reference to the burglary at the field office in March. Anyone with knowledge of his whereabouts 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 to Crime Stoppers via the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. 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 detectives are investigating a pair of shooting incidents that recently occurred in the in Raceland. No injuries were reported. One of the incidents occurred on Sunday afternoon, and the other occurred on Monday.

At around 3:20 p.m. on March 28, 2021, deputies responded to a call of several shots fired in the area of Samuel Tilden Street in the Alidore community in Raceland. Several bullet casings from at least two firearms were found at the scene. One vehicle was struck by a single round, but no injuries were reported. Through investigation, detectives learned that two men were reportedly arguing prior to the shots being heard.

Then, at 3:45 p.m. on March 29, 2021, deputies responded to another call of shots fired. This time, detectives found bullet casings in the 200 block of St. Louis Street and in the 100 block of St. Phillip Street. No injuries were reported in this incident either, but another vehicle was struck by rounds, as well as a residence.

Detectives are continuing their investigations into both incidents. Anyone with any knowledge of either shooting incident 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 to Crime Stoppers via the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. 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 a Raceland man was arrested on Saturday on numerous charges including Terrorizing after multiple violations of a protective order. Dennis Matherne Jr., 31, was found to have ammunition, body armor, and an unregistered rifle suppressor at his residence. His bail is set at over $2 million.

On March 27, 2021, deputies responded to a report that Matherne was violating a protective order. Matherne had tried texting and calling the protected person several times that morning. At one point, Matherne sent several threatening text messages to the individual’s phone. He also made threats to several other individuals.

While taking that report, deputies were called to a disturbance on Country Village Drive near Matherne’s residence. When deputies arrived, they learned Matherne had thrown items at a neighbor’s vehicle and retreated to his residence. After receiving permission to enter the residence, deputies searched the residence, but they could not locate Matherne. Deputies did, however, see ammunition and body armor (vest) in plain view.

Based on the threats and items seen at the residence, investigators obtained a search warrant. During the search, investigators found several types of ammunition and an unregistered suppressor for a rifle. They also found methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

With the help of officers from the Lockport Police Department, deputies located Matherne at another residence, and he was arrested. He was transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and booked on charges including Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of an Unregistered Weapon, Terrorizing, and 20 counts of Violation of a Protective Order. Bail is set at $2,016,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced six people have been charged after narcotics agents executed search warrants and arrest warrants in the South Lafourche area on March 26, 2021.

First, agents conducted a search at a residence on West 64th Street in Cut Off. They found marijuana, heroin, methamphetamine, Xanax, and drug paraphernalia. Three individuals living there were charged:

• Brian Martin, 54: booked with Distribution of Heroin (warrant), Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $61,000.
• Jill Williford, 48: two counts of Possession of Methamphetamine, two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Xanax. She was released on Saturday after posting $7,800 bail.
• Ann Williford, 74: issued a criminal summons for Maintaining a Structure for Narcotics Use.

Agents next conducted a search at the residence of Bryce Arabie, 33, on East 40th Street in Cut Off. During the search, agents found cocaine, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, four handguns and one shotgun. One of the firearms was found to have the serial numbered destroyed. Arabie was arrested and booked into the Correctional Complex on charges including Possession of Cocaine, Methamphetamine, and Drug paraphernalia, as well as Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Number. He was released on Friday after posting bail in the amount of $40,500.

Finally, agents conducted a search at Trudy Gremillion’s residence on Orange Street in Galliano and a shed on the property. Gremillion was found at the residence along with Kaleb Smith who was in the shed. During the search, they found heroin, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and several bags of methamphetamine. Smith was found to have ingested methamphetamine and was taken to a local hospital for an evaluation prior to booking. The two individuals were arrested and booked as follows:

• Trudy Gremillion, 41: two counts of Contempt of Court (warrants), Possession of Heroin and Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $60,500.
• Kaleb Smith, 23: two counts of Contempt of Court (warrants), Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Obstruction of Justice, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $41,000.

Sheriff Webre says investigators continue to vigorously pursue drug offenders and encourage citizens to report any drug-related or suspicious activity. Information can be reported anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the P3 Tips mobile app.