Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Bayou Blue man wanted for cashing fraudulent checks and other similar crimes in the parishes of Lafourche and Terrebonne. Michael Doren Jr., 39, also faces charges gun and drug charges following a search of his home at the time of his arrest.

The investigation into Doren began in October 2020, and deputies recently acquired a warrant in reference to Doren cashing a fraudulent check at a local bank. They also obtained a search warrant for his home as part of the investigation.

On Tuesday, November 17, detectives made contact with Doren at his home in Bayou Blue. During a search of the residence, detectives found fraudulent checks, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, one pistol and one rifle. During questioning, Doren admitted to cashing fraudulent checks.

Doren was transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged in Lafourche Parish with Monetary Instrument Abuse, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail on those charges is set at $21,300. He was also booked on the outstanding warrants for Terrebonne Parish for four counts of Monetary Instrument Abuse and one count of Bank Fraud. Bail for the Terrebonne charges is set at $80,000.

The investigation into Doren is continuing.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man has been arrested for extortion involving a female teenage victim. Trey Verdin, 22, of Bourg was arrested on Friday.

Juvenile detectives began investigating Verdin last month after learning Verdin had sent threatening messages to a teenage girl via social media. Detectives learned Verdin and the girl had exchanged messages for some time during the past year. Recently, he sent messages to the girl requesting sexual intercourse. When the girl refused, Verdin responded by making several violent threats to the girl. Following an investigation,  a warrant was obtained for Verdin’s arrest.

On November 13, 2020, detectives made contact with Verdin at his home and he was arrested. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on one count of Extortion. Bail is set at $10,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest in an investigation into a theft at a hardware store.

Last week, deputies were called to investigate an incident of shoplifting that occurred last month. The theft was recently discovered while the store manager was reviewing surveillance video. On October 16, 2020, a man walked into the store and stole circuit breakers. Seven breakers were found to be missing with a total value of several hundred dollars. The man then exited the store without paying for the items. He then drove away in a dark-colored car with a rusted roof.

Anyone who can identify this man or anyone with any other 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 through 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 the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office’s two correctional facilities are in line for accreditation by the American Correctional Association (ACA) following an assessment of the programs and facilities this week. The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex is in line for its initial accreditation, while the Transitional Work Program is seeking re-accreditation. The final decision will be made following a formal hearing at the ACA’s Winter Conference in February 2021.

“This is a great day for Lafourche Parish,” said Sheriff Webre. “Our citizens can rest assured that yet another aspect of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff Office is being administered at the highest standards possible. We relish this moment as another step forward toward a brighter future in Lafourche Parish.”

The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex was found to be in compliance with 100% of mandatory standards and all applicable voluntary standards. Meanwhile, the Transitional Work program was also found to be in 100% compliance with mandatory standards. Of the applicable voluntary standards, the program was found to be in 99.5% compliance, having met 196 out of 197 standards. The only standard that was unable to be met was having natural light in the inmates’ sleeping areas.

Robbin Bell (Michigan) and Fred Schoonover (Marksville, La.) served as auditors along with ACA Audit chairman David Eberhard (Arkansas). During the exit interview on Friday, Eberhard said, “In my history of performing audits around the country, I’ve never seen two programs so aligned in their mission of doing whatever it takes to rehabilitate those in a correctional environment.”

Lafourche Parish becomes only the second parish in Louisiana to have its parish-operated facilities accredited by the ACA. Lafayette Parish is the other with accreditations for its Correctional Center and Transitional Work Program.

“I’m at a loss for words to express my genuine appreciation and admiration for the efforts of our correctional staff at both facilities,” said Sheriff Webre. “Now, those efforts have been validated by the ACA. The results of these audits represent the commitment to excellence of our agency, and we look forward to a final decision on accreditation in February.”

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Lockport man has been charged with Third Degree Rape involving a teenage girl. Derine Harris, 24, was arrested and booked on Tuesday, November 3.

Through investigation, detectives learned the alleged incident occurred at a gathering on the night of October 29, 2020, at a residence on North Willow Street in Lockport. The teenage girl attended and had consumed alcoholic beverages. While the girl was impaired, Harris engaged in sexual activity with the her. During questioning, Harris admitted to knowing the girl’s age and that she was impaired at the time of the incident.

Harris was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Third Degree Rape. Bail is set at $50,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred on Halloween night in Thibodaux. One man suffered injuries in the shooting which were not life-threatening.

Just after 10 p.m. on October 31, 2020, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received calls about shots having been fired on Karla Drive in Thibodaux. A man in his 40s was struck in the arm and hip and was taken to a local hospital for treatment. His injuries were not life-threatening. Two vehicles were also damaged in the incident.

Deputies learned the victim was standing in his driveway with other individuals when a vehicle passed by. Several shots were fired from occupants of the vehicle.

No arrests have been made yet in this incident. As this investigation continues, Sheriff Webre is asking for the public’s help on this case. 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 through 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.