Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

radKIDS® Defense Courses Slated for June and July 2019

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host radKIDS® Defense Courses for children in Raceland, Cut Off, and Thibodaux in June and July. These courses are designed for children 5 to 12 years of age and provide hands-on techniques giving children the tools they need to identify, avoid and if necessary, respond to danger. This is the 21st year the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has offered these courses.

Here is the schedule of courses:

LPSO Range Facility
3451 Highway 182, Raceland
Tuesday, June 4 through Friday, June 7
Deadline to Register: Friday, May 31

The Learning Center at Lady of the Sea Hospital
200 West 134th Place, Cut Off
Tuesday, June 18 through Friday, June 21
Deadline to Register: Friday, June 14

Moses Community Center
1310 Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux
Tuesday, July 16 through Friday, July 19
Deadline to Register: Friday, July 12

Times:

Children ages 5-7 attend daily morning sessions from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and an afternoon session is held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. for children ages 8-12. Parents can elect to drop children off or stay for the two-hour program each day. Children are urged to wear comfortable clothing and tennis shoes.

Cost is $10 per child (for course materials).
Class size is limited, so advance registration is required.

To register, please download and complete the REGISTRATION FORM.

Send completed form and $10 check (made payable to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office) to:
Sergeant Carla Landry
P.O. Box 5608
Thibodaux, LA 70302

For more information, contact Sergeant Carla Landry at
(985) 449-4441 or carla-landry@lpso.net.

“RAD” stands for “Resist Aggression Defensively.” Through radKIDS® training, children become empowered and learn to replace fear, confusion, and panic in dangerous situations with confidence, personal safety skills, and self-esteem. It is an educational opportunity for children to learn personal safety strategies as they will receive special training in school safety, 911 calls, and general awareness. On the final day, they get to “fight off” an aggressor. The courses are taught by deputies of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office certified to instruct the children in self-defense and awareness of possible dangerous situations.

Raceland Pedestrian Robs Man Who Planned to Offer Him a Ride

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Raceland man who robbed another man who planned to offer him a ride. Jonathan McDowell, 26, was taken into custody minutes after the incident took place along LA Highway 1 on Friday.

At around 9:15 a.m. on May 11, 2019, deputies responded to the 4700 block of LA 1 in Mathews in reference to a reported robbery. The first deputy to arrive in the area noticed a man walking along the highway fitting the description of the suspect. Deputies made contact with him and he was detained with assistance from Louisiana State Police within less than five minutes of the call.

Investigators made contact with the victim who was reportedly driving on LA 1 when he noticed McDowell walking along the highway. With weather conditions deteriorating, the man decided to stop and offer a ride. As he approached McDowell, the man struck a puddle causing water to splash onto McDowell. When the man stopped the vehicle, McDowell approached him and immediately began arguing about being splashed with water. As the argument escalated, McDowell tried punching the man and opened the man’s door, trying to pull him out of the vehicle. He managed to pull the driver’s shoes and pants off. McDowell then grabbed the man’s wallet which was in his pants, and he left the area.

During questioning, McDowell admitted to his involvement in the crime. He was arrested and charged with Simple Robbery and Simple Battery. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. His bail is set at $26,500.

2019 LSA Scholarship Awarded to Central Lafourche High School Senior

Lt. Brennan Matherne presents a certificate for the LSA Scholarship to Brooke Bergeron. — *Lt. Brennan Matherne presents a certificate for the 2019 LSA Scholarship to Brooke Bergeron.*

Sheriff Craig Webre announced Central Lafourche High School senior Brooke Bergeron has been awarded the 2019 Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association Scholarship for Lafourche Parish. Bergeron will receive the $500 scholarship to assist her with expenses as she plans to attend Nicholls State University and major in Chemistry (Pre-Med). On her application, Bergeron indicated plans to pursue a career as a flight surgeon after completing medical school. Bergeron was notified of the scholarship award and presented with a certificate on Wednesday, May 8 at Central Lafourche High School’s Senior awards night.

Sheriff Webre congratulated Bergeron on receiving the scholarship. “Ms. Bergeron is involved in many school organizations and has already been recognized for her academic achievements in chemistry. I wish her the best of luck as she pursues her dream of a career as a flight surgeon.”

The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Educational Scholarship Program awards $500 to graduating high school students in parishes where the sheriffs are members of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program. Funding for this scholarship is made possible through the generous support of Lafourche Parish’s Honorary Members. The goal of the program is to provide assistance to worthy Louisiana students in furthering their education and training with resources made available through the program.

To be eligible for the LSA scholarship, each applicant must be a Lafourche Parish resident and a high school senior planning to enroll as a full-time student at Nicholls State University, L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, or South Central Louisiana Technical Community College. The scholarship is awarded as a gift, not a loan, to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. An independent board of review selects the winner of the scholarship.

Deputies Seek to Identify Suspect in Vehicle Burglaries in Raceland

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies are seeking to identify a suspect wanted in connection to vehicle burglaries on Darwen Drive in Raceland.

On the morning of May 6, 2019, deputies responded to Darwen Drive just off LA 1 in Raceland. They learned several vehicles which had been left unlocked were burglarized overnight. One of the victims captured images of the male subject committing a burglary on surveillance camera.

Anyone who can identify this man or anyone with any other information on these crimes 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 using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Two Arrested, One Sought for Leeville Camp Burglaries

UPDATE: The third suspect, Christopher Beatty, has turned himself in.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two people have been arrested and a third is being sought in connection to a string of camp burglaries in the Leeville area. Jean Gisclair, 30, and Damain Randazzo, 29, both of Golden Meadow, have been arrested. The third suspect, Christopher Beatty, 47, of Lockport is still at large.

On May 3, 2019, detectives began investigating a string of burglaries which had occurred at camps in the Leeville area. Five camps were burglarized, and mostly fishing equipment had been stolen. Through investigation, detectives located a storage unit in Golden Meadow where the stolen items were being stored. Some of the stolen property was identified and returned to the owners, and detectives developed Gisclair, Randazzo, and Beatty as suspects.

Prior to the investigation, on May 2, 2019, deputies had arrested Gisclair and Randazzo during a traffic stop where they were assisted by Golden Meadow Police. The driver, Randazzo, was found to have several active warrants, and he had marijuana in his possession. The passenger, Gisclair, was found to have Vyvanse pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. They were both arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex at that time. Randazzo was booked on five Contempt of Court warrants and charged with Possession of Marijuana (2nd Offense). Gisclair was booked with Possession of Vyvanse, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.

Following the burglary investigation, detectives obtained arrest warrants for all three men. Gisclair and Randazzo, who were still in jail, were each booked with five counts of Simple Burglary. Randazzo’s bail is set at $127,000, and Gisclair’s bail is set at $127,100.

Christopher Beatty is also wanted for five counts of burglary and is still at large. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at www.crimestoppersbr.org, or via the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

LPSO Named Ally of the Year by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence

LCADV Ally Of The Year Award — From left to right: Julie Pellegrin (The Haven), Lt. Valerie Martinez-Jordan, Deputy Amy DeVincent, Sheriff Craig Webre, Mariah Stidham Wineski (Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence), Pamela Guedry (LPSO, The P.A.C.T. Place), Captain Karla Beck.

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has been recognized as the “Ally of the Year” by the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Sheriff Webre and several staff members were presented the award at the coalition’s annual event in Baton Rouge on Monday, May 6.

“All of the credit belongs to our employees who are some of the finest public servants in the country,” said Sheriff Webre. “I consider myself blessed to be able to work with some incredible individuals who have a passion for what they do.”

During the event, entitled A Celebration of Excellence: Standing Together Against Domestic Violence, the coalition honored advocates, organizations, and legislators working to end domestic violence in Louisiana. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office was recognized for several programs and initiatives, including Police Social Services, the P.A.C.T. Place Supervised Visitation and Monitored Exchange Center, as well as recent legislative efforts in the fight against domestic violence.

Mariah Stidham Wineski, executive director for the Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, presented the award. “When it comes to prioritizing domestic violence, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is a beacon and an example of what a sheriff’s office could do,” said Wineski. “Sheriff Webre understands the importance of addressing domestic violence: he understands the nuances of doing it right, and he understands the consequences of failure. We look to (LPSO) for what possibilities could be when law enforcement gets it right.”

Julie Pellegrin, Executive Director of The Haven, also praised the work of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office during the award presentation. “LPSO is an unmatched ally in our work to eliminate Domestic Violence,” said Pellegrin. “Sheriff Webre and his team walk the walk and talk the talk on a daily basis. Their dedication to effective intervention in domestic violence is impressive, but it’s the passion they display that is inspiring and unparalleled.”

If you have been a victim of domestic violence in Lafourche Parish, please contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Police Social Services section for help at (985) 449-4477.

ABOUT THE LOUISIANA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:
The Louisiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence is the federally designated statewide coalition of shelters, non-residential programs, and individuals working to end domestic violence in Louisiana. Their programs serve people from everywhere in Louisiana and who come from all backgrounds. The coalition opposes violence as a means of control over others and support equality in relationships.

Houma Man Faces Rape and Kidnapping Charges for 2016 Incident

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Thibodaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue announced the arrest of a Houma man who reportedly raped a woman after forcing her into his car at gunpoint in 2016. Matthew Otis III, 33, faces charges of First Degree Rape and Aggravated Kidnapping.

In January 2016, the Thibodaux Police Department contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to assist in an investigation into an alleged kidnapping and rape that had occurred in Thibodaux. A woman in her 30s had reported that as she was walking on Eagle Drive in the afternoon, a man forced her into his car at gunpoint. The man, later identified as Otis, offered her money for sex and drugs. When the woman refused, Otis drove her outside the city limits to Forty Arpent Road where he reportedly pulled out the gun and coerced her into oral sex. Following the incident, Otis dropped the woman off at a nearby convenience store where she proceeded to contact law enforcement.

Investigators collected DNA evidence from the victim’s clothing which was sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for forensic analysis. The analysis determined the DNA was a match for Matthew Otis III, and detectives obtained a warrant for Otis’ arrest. With the assistance of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives made several attempts to locate Otis, but they were unsuccessful at those times.

Then, on May 3, 2019, deputies with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office located Otis, and he was arrested on the outstanding warrants. He was then transferred to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex where he was booked on the warrants for First Degree Rape and Aggravated Kidnapping. His bail is set at $300,000.

Deputies Catch Burglar in the Act on Saturday

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies arrested a Lafayette man whom they caught burglarizing a Lockport residence early Saturday morning. Purcell Gros, 45, of Lafayette faces charges of burglary, attempted burglary, and property damage.

At around 5:45 a.m. on May 4, 2019, the Sheriff’s Office received notice of a burglary alarm at a residence in the 8300 block of LA Highway 308 in Lockport. Upon arrival, deputies saw a man throwing items around an enclosed storage area outside the residence. Deputies ordered the man to come out of the storage area, and he was detained. In his pockets, deputies found several items which appeared to have been taken from the storage area. The door to the storage area was damaged and showed signs of forced entry. A nearby office had similar damage to the door, but it appeared as though no one had entered it. There was also damage to doors and windows of the residence itself.

Following an investigation at the scene, Gros was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Simple Burglary, Attempted Simple Burglary, and two counts of Simple Criminal Damage to Property. His bail is set at $40,000.

Two Men Charged with Sex Offenses in Separate Investigations

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two men have been arrested for sex offenses in separate investigations. Reuben Billiot, 37, of Bourg has been charged with one count of Aggravated Crime Against Nature. Deontrea Guidroz, 19, of Lockport has been charged with Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.

In April 2019, juvenile detectives opened an investigation into Reuben Billiot after learning of allegations that he had sexual contact with a juvenile relative. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Billiot’s arrest. Then, on May 3, 2019, Billiot was taken into custody when he appeared in 17th Judicial District Court for another matter. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Aggravated Crime Against Nature, and his bail is set at $500,000.

In a separate case, deputies responded to a Lockport residence during the early morning hours of May 3, 2019. A woman called the Sheriff’s Office after she had discovered Deontrea Guidroz in her 13-year-old daughter’s bedroom. During questioning, Guidroz admitted to having inappropriately touched the girl. Guidroz was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with Indecent Behavior With a Juvenile, and his bail is set at $10,000.

Due to the nature of the allegations, no additional information can be released on these investigations.

RUNAWAY TEEN: Maurice Scardino Jr.

UPDATE: Maurice Scardino Jr. has been found and is safe.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Maurice Scardino Jr. of Cut Off. Scardino was last seen around 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2019, and it is believed he left his East 36th Street residence sometime between 2.p.m. and 6:15 p.m. on Sunday.

Scardino is described as 5’11” tall, weighing 130 pounds with brown hair. He was last seen wearing a white shirt, black shorts, and gray Adidas tennis 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.