Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of May 9, 2019, and May 15, 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.
Des Allemands Man Charged with Vehicle Burglaries in the Central Lafourche Area
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Des Allemands man in connection with vehicle burglaries in the Central Lafourche area. Whitney Curole IV, 21, faces three counts of simple burglary among other charges.
On Wednesday, May 1, deputies responded to three reported vehicle burglaries in the Central Lafourche area. Two burglaries were reported in the 300 block of Twin Oaks Drive in Raceland, and another was reported at a nearby business on LA Highway 1. A purse, cash, and other valuable items were stolen from unlocked vehicles. While investigating one of the burglaries, deputies found surveillance video of a suspect committing a burglary. That suspect was later identified as Whitney Curole IV, and deputies developed him as the suspect in the other two burglaries as well.
Deputies made contact with Curole on Wednesday, and he was found to have marijuana in his possession. Curole admitted to one of the vehicle burglaries, and deputies recovered items stolen in the burglary/ Curole was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He is charged with three counts of Simple Burglary of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Marijuana (2nd Offense). Bail is set at $15,500.
Residents of the Sugarland Country Club subdivision and surrounding areas, or anyone who was parked at businesses in that area between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, are encouraged to check vehicles for signs of burglary. Report any findings to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808.
Once again, Sheriff Craig Webre is urging residents to lock unattended vehicles. “This string of burglaries reinforces our message about locking your vehicles while unattended,” said Sheriff Webre. “Simply locking your vehicle remains the best way to keep yourself from becoming a victim of burglary. Thankfully, in this case, deputies were able to quickly apprehend this suspect and recover property.”
Seat Belt Checkpoint Slated for May 1, 2019
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a seat belt checkpoint in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of May 1, 2019. During this checkpoint, 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.
Concealed Handgun Course Slated for Saturday, May 25
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has announced a Concealed Handgun Training Course will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2019, at the LPSO Shooting Range Facility located at 3451 Highway 182 in Raceland. The class will begin at 8:00 a.m. and last until approximately 5:00 p.m. with a break for lunch. The actual ending time will vary due to class size.
The course will include the following:
- One hour of instruction on handgun nomenclature and safe handling procedures of a revolver and semi-automatic pistol.
- One hour of instruction on ammunition knowledge and fundamentals of pistol shooting.
- Three hours of instruction on the use of deadly force and conflict resolution. (Includes a review of R.S. 14:18 through 14:22 and which may include a review of any other laws relating to the use of deadly force)
- One hour of instruction on handgun shooting positions.
- One hour of instruction on child access prevention.
- Two hours of actual live range fire and proper handgun cleaning procedures. Live range fire shall include 12 rounds each at 5 feet, 10 feet, and 15 feet for a total of 36 rounds.
- Must perform at least one safe reload of the handgun at each distance.
- Must score 100% hits within the silhouette portion of an NRA B-27 type silhouette target with 36 rounds.
The cost for the course is $110, and advance registration is suggested due to limited class size. This course is a pre-requisite for those applying for a Concealed Handgun Permit from the State of Louisiana. CLICK HERE to register online for the course, or for more information, please contact Captain Lafate Day at (985) 449-4485 or by email at lafate-day@lpso.net.
Participants will need to bring a handgun in good working condition, 50 rounds of ammunition for that handgun, eye protection (sunglasses or eyeglasses are sufficient), and ear protection (muffs or plugs).
REMINDER: Prescription Drug Drop-Off Boxes Available at LPSO Office Locations
Sheriff Craig Webre is reminding residents that unwanted prescription drugs can be dropped off at three Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office locations. The National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators donated drop-off boxes in 2016 through a sponsorship by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. The boxes are provided to help citizens properly dispose of prescription medications.
The drop-off boxes are located in the lobbies of these LPSO locations: Administrative Office (200 Canal Boulevard) in Thibodaux; the Criminal Operations Center (805 Crescent Avenue) in Lockport; and the South Lafourche Sub-station (102 West 91st Street) in Cut Off. The drop-off boxes are available to be utilized during regular office hours, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We have always allowed the public drop off unused and unwanted prescription medications to us year-round with no questions asked,” said Sheriff Webre. “These boxes have allowed people to drop off the medications more easily and quickly.”
All solid dosage pharmaceutical products and liquids in consumer containers may be accepted. Liquid products, such as cough syrup, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage. Items that will not be accepted include intravenous solutions, injectable drugs, and syringes (due to potential hazards posed by blood-borne pathogens).
Since implementing the drug drop boxes in April 2016, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has collected over 357 pounds of assorted in addition to other various prescription medications. Those pills and other medications have been turned over to the U.S. Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration for proper disposal.
Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse. Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows year after year that the majority of misused and abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including someone else’s medication being stolen from the home medicine cabinet. In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.
Investigation Continues into Larose Man Arrested for Sex Crimes
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an investigation is continuing into a man arrested for sex crimes earlier this month. Benjamin Holbert, 30, of Larose was arrested on April 8 after a juvenile victim came forward. Detectives are now asking the public to assist with the ongoing investigation.
In March 2019, juvenile detectives began investigating a report that Holbert had inappropriately touched a juvenile under the age of 12. Through the course of the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On April 8, 2019, detectives made contact with Holbert, and he was arrested. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges of Sexual Battery (Forcible Fondling) and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. He was released the following day after posting $10,000 bail.
Due to the nature of the crime and investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims. Any other victims are encouraged to contact Lieutenant Sean Scott of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4334.
Anyone in the public with any general information on Holbert or any possible victims 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.
Man Arrested After Threatening a Woman at Gunpoint at a Raceland Residence
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man was arrested for threatening a woman at gunpoint on Friday, April 19. Keith Arcement, 36, faces additional charges due to being prohibited from possessing firearms.
At around 1:15 p.m. on April 19, 2019, deputies received a call that Arcement was pointing a gun at a woman at a residence on Danos Street in Raceland. Deputies learned Arcement was asking the woman for the location of a gun and other items, and he reportedly threatened to kill her. When deputies arrived, they found Arcement hiding in a closet, and he was taken into custody. Deputies found six firearms in Arcement’s possession at the residence, one of which was found to have been reported stolen. Deputies found Arcement was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony conviction, as well as an existing protective order due to a previous domestic violence incident.
Arcement was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, and six counts of Violation of a Protective Order. His bail is set at $80,000.
Buckle Up in Your Truck: Checkpoint Planned for April 23
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a seat belt checkpoint in Lafourche Parish during the daylight hours of April 23, 2019. This checkpoint is being conducted as part of the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission’s “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign which began April 21 and continues through April 28.
During this checkpoint, 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.
According to the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission, state observation surveys and fatality data show that pickup truck drivers and passengers fall well behind occupants of other kinds of passenger vehicles when it comes to wearing seat belts. The “Buckle Up In Your Truck” campaign involves high-visibility enforcement and awareness to encourage seat belt usage and reduce unrestrained fatalities among our pick-up truck drivers and passengers. Taking the time to buckle up before every trip is the single most effective thing you can do to protect yourself in a crash.
LPSO Administrative Offices to Close at Noon on Thursday
Due to pending severe weather, Sheriff Craig Webre has announced Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office administrative offices will close at noon on Thursday, April 18. The offices will remain closed in observance of Good Friday on April 19, 2019. Offices will re-open for normal operating hours on Monday, April 22.
“Our deputies are ready to respond to any situation that arises during this severe weather event,” said Sheriff Webre. “Stay vigilant and heed all emergency warnings.”
Follow Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office (@LafourcheSO) on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on the latest information.
UPDATE: Elderly Man Charged with Attempted Murder of Neighbor in Tuesday Shooting
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an elderly man has been charged with attempted murder after shooting his neighbor on Tuesday night. Thomas Kennedy, 70, of Gray, admitted to the shooting. The victim, a 34-year-old man, is expected to recover.
Just before 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, deputies received a call of a shooting in the 200 block of Cypress Court in Gray. Deputies learned Thomas Kennedy had walked to a neighboring residence and confronted a man sitting in his vehicle. After a brief argument with the man over the volume of his music, Kennedy brandished a revolver and shot the man in the face. The victim was airlifted to University Medical Center in New Orleans where he remains in critical but stable condition. The victim is expected to recover.
Kennedy had called 911 following the shooting to turn himself over to authorities. Within minutes of the shooting, deputies had arrived in the area and took Kennedy into custody. Kennedy admitted the victim made no attempt to harm him.
Kennedy was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder. His bail is set at $1 million.
