The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on August 12, 13, and 14, 2019, at Alstarz Cheer Academy, located at 13347 W Main Street in Larose.
This self-defense course is designed exclusively for women and will take place over the course of all three days. The class will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 9 p.m. each day. Participants must attend all three days. Course instruction will be provided by certified R.A.D. instructors from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
The cost of the course is $10 to cover the cost of course materials. Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. You can register online here: www.LPSO.net/RADsignup. Payment cannot be made through the online sign-up form, but the fee must be pre-paid and is non-refundable. Please send payment by mail, along with your name, address, and phone number to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Captain Lafate Day, 1300 Lynn Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301. Please make checks payable to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. The deadline to register for the class is Friday, August 9, 2018, at 11 a.m.
For more information, please contact Captain Lafate Day at (985) 449-4485 or by email at lafate-day@lpso.net.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Christopher Grant, 29, of Galliano on June 27, 2019.
At around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, a man was traveling on a bicycle along LA Highway 3162 in Cut Off when another man, later identified as Christopher Grant, emerged from a vehicle in a driveway and began arguing with him. The man said that during the argument, Grant threatened to shoot him. The man also claimed that Grant showed him a handgun tucked into his pants. At that time, the man flagged down a deputy who was passing by to report the incident, and Grant quickly ran into the nearby residence.
Grant had an active warrant for his arrest. Additional deputies responded to the residence. Grant exited the residence and was taken into custody. He was not found to have any weapon on his person. Deputies obtained a search warrant for the residence in an attempt to locate the firearm. During the search, deputies discovered suspected narcotics including approximately 26.5 grams of synthetic marijuana, 21.6 grams of cocaine, 10.2 grams of methamphetamine, 15 doses of Xanax, and 2 doses of Valium. They also located various drug paraphernalia commonly associated with the selling of illegal narcotics. All illegal items were determined to have been in Grant’s possession. Deputies did not locate a gun during the search, but the investigation is continuing.
Grant was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Synthetic Marijuana. He was also charged with Simple Assault and Possession of Valium, Xanax, and Drug Paraphernalia. He was additionally booked with an outstanding warrant for Contempt of Court. His bail is set at $42,500.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced plans for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign which runs from July 1-7, 2019, centered around the Independence Day holiday. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
As part of the campaign efforts, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will assign additional deputies to saturated patrol efforts to target impaired drivers and help keep motorists safe. Additionally, LPSO deputies will conduct a seat belt checkpoint and a DWI checkpoint. A seat belt checkpoint will be conducted during the evening hours of July 3, 2019. A DWI checkpoint will also begin during the evening hours of July 3, 2019, and continue into the early morning hours of the following day.
During the seat belt checkpoint, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as other violations such as expired inspection tags. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues, including but not limited to seat belt usage. Remember that Lafourche Parish is a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.
Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Sheriff Webre also asks for patience and cooperation when passing through these checkpoints and for recognizing the importance of raising awareness for safety issues.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Anthony Adams, 39, of Thibodaux on Saturday, June 22. Adams faces charges of kidnapping and sexual battery.
At around 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 22, Thibodaux Police responded to a report that a mentally disabled woman in her 40s was missing. It was suspected that Anthony Adams, who is known to the family, may have picked up the woman earlier in the evening. Through investigation, officers learned Adams was located at a motel outside the city limits.
Deputies with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office responded to the motel where Adams vehicle was located. After determining which room Adams was in, deputies attempted to make contact. After some time, Adams eventually came to the door. Deputies located the missing woman inside the hotel room, and she appeared to be emotionally distraught.
Detectives responded to the scene. Through investigation, they learned Adams committed a sexual battery on the woman after removing her from her home without proper permission. The woman asked to leave, but Adams refused to take her home.
Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant, and Adams was placed under arrest. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on the charges of Simple Kidnapping and Misdemeanor Sexual Battery. He was released on Sunday, June 23 after posting $6,500 bail.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Markell Folse, 18, of Raceland on Friday, June 21. Folse faces charges which include possession of stolen property and aggravated flight from an officer.
At around 11:35 a.m. on Friday, deputies in the Raceland area saw a man wearing a mask and riding an off-road motorcycle (“dirt bike”) on Morristown Road. When deputies approached, the man saw the deputies and attempted to flee on the motorcycle. The mask had been moved, and deputies identified the man as Markell Folse. Folse made his way to Wilson Street and continued to LA Highway 1 where deputies lost sight of him. In searching the area, deputies discovered Folse hiding in a nearby abandoned trailer. Deputies recovered the motorcycle and learned it had been reported stolen in Houma the previous day. It was returned to the owner. During questioning, Folse admitted he knew the bike was stolen but did not have any knowledge of the theft.
Folse was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, and wearing a mask/hood in public places (R.S. 14:313). His bail is set at $5,500, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct dual seat belt and DWI checkpoints on Friday, June 21, 2019, in Lafourche Parish. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.
Two seat belt checkpoints will be conducted Friday evening in Lafourche Parish, and deputies will focus on checking motorists for seat belt and child safety seat violations. Two DWI checkpoints will begin Friday evening following the seat belt checkpoints and will continue into the early morning hours of Saturday, Saturday, June 22. During the DWI checkpoints, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues.
Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Motorists suspected of DWI who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test will lose their driver’s license for one year (first offense). For a second offense, the penalty increases to two years. Anyone convicted of a DWI offense while their driver’s license is suspended because of another DWI offense will face automatic prison time. Lafourche Parish is also a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Criminal Investigations Division supervisor has graduated from the fourth session of the National Command and Staff College. Lieutenant Benjamin Dempster was among 31 law enforcement commanders who completed the course. A graduation ceremony was held at the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in Luling, Louisiana, on June 14, 2019.
The International Academy of Public Safety, Inc. founded the course in collaboration with the National Sheriffs’ Association and the National Tactical Officers Association. The comprehensive 8-week course blends command and leadership programs. The program entails dozens of comprehensive modules that focus on leadership theories and practices, futures and foresight, social media, recruitment, issues in policing, intelligence-based policing, restorative policing, ethics, diversity and inclusion, and leadership in organizations by armed forces.
College President Anthony Normore, Ph.D., said students read seven books and as a class produced over 10,075 hours of blended online and classroom contact hours (325 hours each). Each student wrote 48 essays, participated in 48 discussion boards, completed six case studies, and produced six group capstone research reports.
Sheriff Webre stated: “Lieutenant Benjamin Dempster has a clear passion for serving the public. He put himself through a grueling eight-week process of classes, studies, and lectures in addition to his normal duties. He has shown a clear dedication to becoming a better, more informed leader for our organization and this community. I congratulate him on this outstanding accomplishment.”
Major Roy Gros, Criminal Department Head, and Captain Cortrell Davis, warden of the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, were part of the first-ever session of the National Command and Staff College in 2018.
The National Command & Staff College was founded in 2010 in a deliberate effort to develop MAGNUS Leaders through modern learning experiences that promote community safety, build mutual trust, maximize officer safety and wellness, foster star performance, and reduce liability and risks. As the leading center of excellence in professional development, the college engages in the design and delivery of meaningful curriculum and learning experiences intended to benefit law enforcement officers and correctional deputies to effectively lead their agencies.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a woman for stealing a large sum of money from her employer. Stephanie LaJaunie, 29, of Galliano, is charged with Felony Theft in the case.
On June 6, 2019, the owners of a local company based in Lafourche Parish filed a complaint with the Sheriff’s Office after discovering unauthorized charges to the company’s accounts. It was suspected that LaJaunie, an employee of the company, had set up automatic payments through the company’s accounts for her residence, utilities, and credit cards, as well as multiple car payments. Through investigation, detectives determined LaJaunie had allegedly stolen a large sum of money from the company over a span of several months.
On Monday, June 17, detectives made contact with LaJaunie. She was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on the charge of Felony Theft. She was released Monday night after posting $2,500 bail.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a fugitive found with narcotics during the traffic stop. Jared Brown, 32, of Houma faces drug charges in Lafourche Parish and is also being held for authorities in Terrebonne Parish.
At around 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 16, K-9 deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling south on LA Highway 316 in Bayou Blue. Deputies made contact with the driver and passenger. The passenger initially gave deputies a false name but was later identified as Brown and found to have active warrants in Terrebonne Parish. He was then taken into custody.
During the stop, deputies detected the odor of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle. One of the K-9 units alerted to the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. Deputies then located a bag inside the vehicle containing suspected narcotics. In all, deputies seized over 35 grams of methamphetamine, nearly 30 grams of marijuana, and 0.7 grams of heroin. They also located several small plastic bags, a digital scale, syringes, and other drug paraphernalia. All of the narcotics and paraphernalia were determined to belong to Brown.
Brown was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Marijuana, and Methamphetamine, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (3rd Offense). Bail is set at $87,000.
Brown is also booked as a fugitive of Terrebonne Parish with active warrants for Felony Theft, Felony Criminal Damage to Property, traffic violations, and contempt of court for failing to appear in court for several other charges.
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of June 20, 2019, and June 26, 2019. During these checkpoints, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. Checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.
