Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a shooting which occurred on Tuesday night, April 16 on Cypress Court in Gray. The male victim has been transported to a hospital for treatment, and he is in critical condition. Detectives also have one male suspect in custody who admitted to the shooting. More information will be provided as the investigation continues.
Sheriff Webre Reminds Residents to Keep Unattended Vehicles Locked
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is reminding vehicle owners to always lock unattended vehicles, especially overnight. Valuable items, including handguns, should also be removed and stored safely inside your home.
“Nearly every vehicle burglary over the past few years has occurred due to vehicles being left unlocked,” said Sheriff Webre. “Criminals are looking for easy targets and often attempt to burglarize many vehicles in one outing. It is extremely rare for a burglar to break a window or pry a door open to enter a vehicle unless they can clearly see something of value inside. By removing valuables and locking your vehicle, you dramatically decrease the chances your vehicle will be burglarized or stolen.”
To ensure your vehicle is fully secure, double check doors to ensure automatic locks are working correctly. Ensure all windows are fully rolled up. Never leave a car unattended while the engine is running. Additionally, consider installing exterior lighting and surveillance cameras on your property, including where you park your vehicle. Lights will act as a deterrent, but cameras can help identify suspects if anything is stolen.
“Be smart about crime prevention,” said Sheriff Webre. “While there is no way to guarantee you will not be a victim of a crime, following these simple routines will greatly reduce your risk of being victimized.”
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will continue to promote the “9 p.m. Routine” through its official social media outlets. This national awareness campaign began at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office in Florida in 2016. The “9 p.m. routine” encourages citizens to remove valuables from their vehicles, lock their vehicles, and lock their home each night at or before 9 p.m. each night before going to bed.
Man Charged with Attempted Insurance Fraud after Driving Truck into Canal
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Galliano man has been charged with attempted insurance fraud. Joey Delaune was arrested after admitting to his involvement in the crime.
On April 13, 2019, deputies responded to a complaint of a pickup truck being partially submerged in a canal behind West 151st Street in Galliano. At the time, the area was only accessible by off-road vehicle, and deputies conducted an initial investigation. Due to the location of the vehicle, it could not immediately be removed from the canal.
On Monday, April 15, deputies responded back to the location due to a man reportedly removing items from the truck. Deputies arrived and discovered Joey Delaune at the scene. He identified himself as the owner of the truck, and he told deputies the truck was in the process of getting repossessed due to him being unable to make payments. He admitted to driving the truck into the canal in an attempt to defraud the insurance company. He told deputies he had returned to the truck to retrieve some personal property he had left inside.
Delaune was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with Attempted Insurance Fraud. He was released on Monday evening after posting $20,000 bail.
Rape Aggression Defense Course Slated for Thibodaux in May
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on May 13, 14, and 15, 2019, at the LPSO Law Enforcement Complex, located at 1300 Lynn Street in Thibodaux.
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, May 10, 2019, at 11 a.m.
For more information, please contact Captain Lafate Day at (985) 449-4485 or by email at lafate-day@lpso.net.
Deputies Use Naloxone to Save Life of a Thibodaux Man on Thursday
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported deputies used naloxone to save the life of a Thibodaux man who is believed to have suffered an opioid overdose on Thursday morning.
At around 11:20 a.m. on April 11, 2019, a father arrived home and found his 30-year-old son unconscious outside his home. The man had shallow breathing and a syringe was found lying on the ground next to him. Upon arrival and recognizing a possible opioid overdose, deputies administered naloxone to the man who began to show minimal signs of improvement. After a short time, deputies administered a second dose of naloxone, and the man began to recover. He was transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
Naloxone HCl, which is sold under brand names such as Narcan and Evzio, is used as a temporary antidote to treat an opioid overdose. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office initially obtained naloxone injectors at no cost to the agency in November 2017 from the Louisiana Department of Health’s Bureau of Emergency Medical Services and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. The LPSO has since acquired naloxone nasal spray applicators through a grant South Central Louisiana Human Services Authority. Many deputies carry the agency-issued naloxone applicators after undergoing proper training for use.
Suspected Drug Trafficker Found in Possession of Drugs and Firearms
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a suspected drug trafficker on Wednesday, April 10. Narcotics agents found Justin Monley, 25, of McComb, Mississippi with drugs and several firearms during a traffic stop.
Narcotics agents were conducting an investigation into Justin Monley allegedly trafficking narcotics from Mississippi to the South Lafourche area. On April 10, 2019, agents found Monley to be driving a car south on LA Highway 308 in Lockport. Agents observed Monley’s car to have what appeared to be illegal tint, and his vehicle was crossing the center line. Agents conducted a traffic stop and found Monley to be the only person in the vehicle. They also detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the vehicle. Agents asked Monley to step out of the vehicle, and as he did, they noticed a bag of suspected marijuana near the driver’s seat.
Agents asked Monley if he had anything illegal inside the vehicle, and he told them he had a marijuana cigar inside the center console. During a search of the vehicle, agents discovered approximately 1.3 pounds of suspected marijuana, 13.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine, and 3.4 grams of suspected cocaine. The total street value of the seized narcotics is approximately $7,760. During the search, agents additionally located $1,000 in cash, a semi-automatic rifle, a revolver, and two semi-automatic handguns. One of the semi-automatic handguns was found to be stolen out of Lafayette, Louisiana. Agents also discovered Monley had prior felony criminal convictions.
Monley was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine, Cocaine, and Marijuana, as well as Illegal Carrying of a Weapon in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, illegal tint, and improper lane usage. His bail is set at $31,500.
MISSING TEEN: Devon Johnson
UPDATE: Devon Johnson, 14, of Thibodaux has been located and is safe.
ORIGINAL POST:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating Devon Johnson, 14, of Thibodaux. He was last seen on April 9, 2019, leaving the campus of West Thibodaux Middle School near 8:30 AM wearing a white polo school shirt, a black pullover with white lettering, khaki pants and black and red tennis shoes. Devon is approximately 5’9” and weighs approximately 130 pounds.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808 or simply dial 911.
Seat Belt Checkpoints Slated for April 11 and 17
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of April 11, 2019, and April 17, 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.
REMINDER: Checkpoints Slated for Friday, April 5
Sheriff Craig Webre is reminding residents that the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct checkpoints on April 5, 2019 in Lafourche Parish. A seat belt checkpoint will be conducted during the evening hours of Friday, April 5, followed by a DWI checkpoint which will continue into the early morning hours Saturday, April 6.
During the seat belt checkpoint, deputies will be checking motorists for seat belt and safety seat violations, as well as for proper inspection tags and other potential violations. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.
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 on the 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.
Former Board President Charged with Stealing Thousands from Youth Baseball League
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Cut Off Man who allegedly stole thousands of dollars from a youth baseball league. Blaine Curole, 40, turned himself in Monday following an investigation into the matter.
Curole had served as president of the Larose-Cut Off Baseball League from 2015 until 2017. During that time, Curole had opened a bank account for the league at a local bank branch, and he was reportedly the only person with access to the account. In December 2017, Curole turned over financial records to the board of directors. The board found several discrepancies including over $16,000 in debit card charges at various stores, restaurants, and gas stations, which was not the intended use of the account funds. There were also checks cashed for $3,600 with no explanation.
The board met with Curole in January 2018 and disclosed their findings. Curole admitted to using the account funds for personal use and requested the board give him the total amount he owed and time to pay it back. The board granted Curole’s request, asking him to repay the funds, but Curole did not comply. At that point, the board contacted the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office to pursue charges. As part of the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for the league bank account. Investigators found nearly $40,000 in discrepancies with the account during the time Curole had access to it.
In March 2019, detectives made contact with Curole in an effort to speak to him about the charges and requested he bring in any receipts to validate the charges. After several days wherein Curole made no attempt to contact or meet with detectives, a warrant was obtained for his arrest.
On Monday, April 1, Curole turned himself in at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was booked on the warrant for one count of Felony Theft. He was subsequently released after posting $10,000 bail.
