Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

One Arrested Following a Pursuit after a Shooting in Raceland

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Raceland man has been arrested following a pursuit after a shooting incident which left one man injured on Monday night. Deputies arrested Kourtland Jones, 21, of Raceland after getting into a pursuit after the shooting which occurred in Raceland. Jones is a person of interest in the shooting. No other arrests have been made.

While patrolling in the Raceland area just after 9:50 p.m. on December 14, 2020, deputies heard gunshots in the area of St. Louis Street. While proceeding toward the area, deputies saw a car leaving the area and attempted a traffic stop. The driver refused to stop, and deputies pursued the car onto LA 1 and then onto LA 182 heading toward Bayou Blue. The driver continued along LA 182 until reaching the intersection with LA 316. At that point, the driver pulled up behind a convenience store and exited the car. He began running on foot.

With the assistance of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies searched the area and located the driver who was identified as Kourtland Jones. He was found to have narcotics in his possession. During questioning, Jones denied taking part in the shooting. He was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges of Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Possession of Xanax, and Failure to Display License Plate. He was released on Tuesday afternoon, December 15, after posting $15,050 bail. Jones remains a person of interest in the shooting as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, during the pursuit, a man arrived at a local hospital with gunshot wounds. He was transported to a New Orleans hospital for treatment. His injuries are currently not considered to be life-threatening. The victim told detectives he was taking out the trash when he was shot.

The investigation into the shooting is continuing. Anyone with information on the shooting 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.

UPDATE: Second Suspect in November Shooting in Thibodaux In Custody

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man wanted in connection to a shooting in Thibodaux last month is now in custody. Jacob Scott, 25, of Thibodaux was arrested in Avoyelles Parish last week. Scott and Willie Williams, 27, who is also from Thibodaux, are each charged with six counts of attempted murder in the shooting.

At around 9:40 a.m. on November 13, 2020, deputies and detectives responded to a report of shots fired on Carol Street in Thibodaux. Detectives learned a man, two women, and three children were traveling on Carol Street in Thibodaux when they saw a pickup truck on the street. As they approached the truck, one armed man emerged from the bed of the truck, and another from the cab. The two men began shooting at the vehicle with the six occupants. The male victim in the vehicle returned fire, and the other two shooters then left the area. No one was struck during the incident and no injuries were reported.

Through investigation, detectives identified the shooters as Willie Williams and Jacob Scott. They learned Williams had an ongoing feud with the male victim over a woman. Following the investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Williams and Scott. Detectives arrested Williams on November 18, and he was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on six counts of Attempted Second Degree Murder. He remains there in lieu of $250,000 bail.

Then, on December 10, 2020, Scott was arrested in Avoyelles Parish on the warrants. He was transported to Lafourche Parish on Friday and booked on the aforementioned charges. His bail is also set at $250,000, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.

RUNAWAY TEEN: Kohl Bouzigar

UPDATE: Bouzigard has been found and is safe.

ORIGINAL POST:

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Kohl Bouzigar of West 191st Street in Galliano. He was last seen walking away from his residence at around 3 p.m. on December 10, 2020, following an argument with a family member.

Kohl Bouzigar is described as 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing khaki pants, a black hooded sweatshirt and gray Adidas shoes. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 9-1-1.

UPDATE: Detectives Still Searching for Two Runaway Teens from Larose

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are still searching for two runaway teens from Larose. Lena Davis, 17, of East 25th Street has been missing since August 2020, and Katherine Villeda-Hernandez, 14, of South Main Street has been missing since November 2020.

Davis left her Larose residence on August 24, 2020, carrying two bags of clothes with her. She has contacted relatives via social media, but she did not disclose her location. Investigators believe she is either in Lafourche or Terrebonne Parish. Davis is described as 5’0 tall and 130 pounds with red or auburn hair and several tattoos.

Villeda-Hernandez was last seen at her residence at on November 8, 2020. She had left overnight, leaving behind a handwritten note indicating she was running away from home. She also left with a bag of clothing. Villeda-Hernandez is described as 5’0” tall and 100 pounds with black hair. While she may still be in the area, detectives say it’s also possible she left the state.

As these investigations continue, anyone with information on the whereabouts of either girl is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

LPSO Receives Safety Grant, Announces Plans for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has received funding to assist with awareness and enforcement of occupant protection and impaired driving. The funding is provided through a grant by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

The grant will provide funding for saturated patrol efforts wherein deputies will be patrolling the highways targeting impaired driving. It will also allow for seat belt checkpoints and DWI checkpoints when deemed appropriate in the future. While these efforts will continue throughout the grant year, there will be a special emphasis during national campaign periods such as “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns.

The first campaign will be “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.” It begins December 18, 2020, and will last through January 1, 2021, centered around the Christmas and New Year holidays. Additional deputies will be patrolling the streets of Lafourche Parish during this period looking to remove impaired drivers from our roadways.

Detectives Investigating Vandalization of Church Property in Bayou Blue

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest of the person or persons responsible for vandalizing church property in Bayou Blue.

On December 7, 2020, deputies responded to a report of property damage at St. Louis Catholic Church on Bayou Blue Road. A bathroom was found to have several areas spray painted inside and outside. A brick wall behind the rectory and another building were also found to have been vandalized.

Through investigation, deputies determined the vandalization occurred sometime between the evening of December 5 to the morning of December 6.

Deputies are seeking the public’s help in this investigation. Anyone with knowledge of 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.

Tax Notices for 2020 Being Sent to Property Owners

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will send out 42,945 tax notices this week to Lafourche Parish property owners. An additional 11,046 properties are homestead exempt, and no taxes are owed. A total of $117,860,905.94 in property taxes are now due and can be paid online, by mail or in person. These taxes help fund all aspects of public service in the parish such as roads, drainage, levees, law enforcement, fire departments, hospitals, ambulance services, schools, and recreation.

Property taxes are due by December 31, 2020, and unpaid taxes become delinquent on January 1, 2021. Per state law, delinquent taxes accrue interest at a rate of 1% per month until paid.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and for your own safety and well-being, Sheriff Webre is strongly encouraging citizens to utilize online and mail-in payments. Lobby space is extremely limited, and because of this, practicing safe social distancing while paying taxes in person may be difficult. Also, please be aware that beginning this year, local bank branches are no longer accepting payments. Traditionally, several local bank branches accepted in-person payments through December 31, but that service is no longer available.

Payments can be made in full online at LPSO.net/PayMyTaxes. Full payments can also be mailed using the envelope provided to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 679538, Dallas, TX 75267-9538. Having been used since 2018, the out-of-state address is due to processing payments through a third-party service for faster payment processing and disbursement of tax dollars. This service also helps reduce staffing and overtime during the tax collection process resulting in a cost savings to taxpayers.

If a taxpayer wishes to pay in person, full payments via cash, credit card, debit card, check, or money order can be made at the LPSO Administrative Office (200 Canal Boulevard, Thibodaux) and at the South Lafourche Sub-station (102 West 91st Street, Cut Off). For those unable to pay in full by December 31, 2020, partial payments can be made at these locations or sent by mail to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, P.O. Box 5608, Thibodaux, LA 70302. Each partial payment must be at least 25% of the total amount of property tax due, and the first partial payment must be made prior to December 31, 2020. The remaining unpaid amount is still subject to the 1% monthly penalty per state law.

All unpaid taxes will accrue additional costs associated with the tax sale. If the property is sold at the tax sale, the property owner is subject to loss of the homestead exemption. Property sold at the tax sale may be redeemed up to three years from the date the property is sold, but per state law, a 5% penalty will apply as well as a monthly interest rate of 1%. The owner must contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to redeem the property.

Any unpaid taxes on movable/inventory property may cause the property in questions to be seized and sold at auction or a writ may be sought to levy the property owner’s bank account for the amount of taxes owed.

The current property owner is responsible for all taxes due. Anyone who purchased property in 2020 may not receive a tax bill due to it being sent to the previous owner. Homeowners with mortgages should check with their mortgage company before making a payment as those companies generally collect escrow and pay property taxes on behalf of the property owner. Please check whether your mortgage company will make your tax payment before you make a separate payment directly to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

As a reminder, 2020 is a reassessment year. Any questions regarding property assessment or ownership should be directed to the Lafourche Parish Assessor’s Office at (985) 447-7242.

For more information about tax payments, property owners can contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 449-4431.

LPSO Deputies to Keep Beards for “Do It Again December” Fundraiser

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will extend its “no shave” fundraiser for another month. LPSO raised nearly $4,000 for the American Cancer Society through this year’s No Shave November fundraiser. For Do It Again December, deputies can keep their facial hair for an additional donation, this time to benefit both the American Cancer Society and the Special Olympics.

LPSO employees who donate $25 will be allowed to grow a beard – or keep their existing beard – during the month of December. Women who donate will be permitted to wear jeans on Fridays during the month of December. Like many law enforcement agencies, LPSO policy prohibits facial hair other than a mustache. This policy will be suspended again for the month of December for those employees who donate. Half of the money collected for December will be donated to the American Cancer Society, while the other half will be donated to the Special Olympics.

“With everything that 2020 has brought, we wanted to do something positive for our employees while also giving to a worthy cause,” said Sheriff Webre. “With the continued success of our No Shave November fundraiser, we decided to extend these fundraising efforts to the month of December. Through the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, the men and women of our agency annually give to these worthy causes, and this is just one more way in which we will contribute this year.”

The public is welcomed to join in our efforts to participate to raise money for this great cause. Checks can be made out to American Cancer Society or Special Olympics and dropped off at any Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office location through the month of December.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Joins National ABLE Project

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has been accepted into the Active Bystandership for Law Enforcement (ABLE) Project. The ABLE Project is Georgetown University Law Center’s national training and support initiative for U.S. law enforcement agencies committed to building a culture of peer intervention that prevents harm.

By demonstrating the agency’s commitment to transformational reform, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office joins a select group of approximately 60 other law enforcement agencies and statewide and regional training academies chosen to participate in the ABLE Project’s national rollout. To date, hundreds of agencies across the country have expressed interest in participating.

ABLE gives officers the tools they need to overcome the innate and powerful inhibitors all individuals face when called upon to intervene in actions taken by their peers. Backed by prominent civil rights and law enforcement leaders, the evidence-based, field-tested ABLE Project was developed by Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program in collaboration with global law firm Sheppard Mullin LLP to provide practical active bystandership strategies and tactics to law enforcement officers to prevent misconduct, reduce officer mistakes, and promote health and wellness.

Sheriff Webre said seeking inclusion to join the ABLE Project reflected important priorities of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“As Sheriff, it is my responsibility to ensure our deputies are maintaining the highest possible levels of professional service and using proven best practices in all areas,” said Sheriff Webre. “As a nationally accredited law enforcement agency, we have policies for deputies to intervene when they witness inappropriate actions by another deputy. By participating in the ABLE project, we will take that a step further by providing intervention training to all current deputies and to any new recruits who join our agency.”

Those backing the sheriff’s office application to join the program included Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson III, Burnell Tolbert of the Lafourche Chapter of the NAACP, and Bishop Herbert K. Andrew of Beacon Light Baptist Church of Houma. Each wrote letters in support of LPSO’s participation in the project.

“As a former reserve deputy with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, I can attest first-hand that this agency is committed to excellence at every level,” said Parish President Chaisson. “Their proactive approach to policing and awareness of the needs of our community is what helps them maintain a positive rapport with our citizens.”

Professor Christy Lopez, co-director of Georgetown Law’s Innovative Policing Program, which runs ABLE, explained: “The ABLE Project seeks to ensure every police officer in the United States has the opportunity to receive meaningful, effective active bystandership training, and to help agencies transform their approach to policing by building a culture that supports and sustains successful peer intervention to prevent harm.”

Chair of the ABLE Project Board of Advisors, Sheppard Mullin partner Jonathan Aronie, added: “Intervening in another’s action is harder than it looks after the fact, but it’s a skill we all can learn. And, frankly, it’s a skill we all need – police and non-police. ABLE teaches that skill.”

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ABOUT THE ABLE PROJECT:
The ABLE Project is guided by a Board of Advisors comprised of civil rights, social justice, and law enforcement leaders, including Vanita Gupta, the president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; Commissioner Michael Harrison of the Baltimore Police Department; Commissioner Danielle Outlaw of the Philadelphia Police Department; Dr. Ervin Staub, professor emeritus at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the founder of the Psychology of Peace and Justice Program; and an impressive collection of other police leaders, rank and file officers, and social justice leaders.

The ABLE Project Train-The-Trainer event begins in December. By the end of the month, LPSO instructors will be certified as ABLE trainers. Over the coming months, all LPSO deputies will receive eight hours of evidence-based active bystandership education designed not only to prevent harm, but to change the culture of policing.

For more information on the ABLE Project, visit the program’s website.

LPSO Now Accepting Names of Children for 27th Annual Christmas Bicycle Giveaway

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is now taking names of children in need of a bicycle for the 27th Annual Christmas Bicycle Giveaway.

Any Lafourche Parish parent with a child in need can submit their child’s name, age, gender, address, phone number, and other qualifying information by calling (985) 632-8836. Due to high demand, requests should be limited to no more than two bicycles per family. The children must live in Lafourche Parish.

Through this program, more than 4,500 bicycles have been distributed to needy children in our area over the years, including more than 100 in 2019 alone.

Bicycles and monetary donations are still being accepted for this year’s giveaway. Sheriff Webre asks that any bicycles donated at this time be either brand new or gently used due to the giveaway taking place around mid-December. For monetary donations, checks should be made payable to the Lafourche Deputies Association with the words “Bike Giveaway” in the memo line. Bicycles and monetary donations may be dropped off at any Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office location throughout the parish.