Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct seat belt checkpoints in Lafourche Parish during the daytime hours of March 20, 2019, and March 28, 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.
UPDATE: New Charges for Man Found in Possession of Cache of Stolen Property
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Cut Off resident initially arrested in December 2018 has been charged with eight new counts of possession of stolen property. Sidney Ricard Sr., 49, now faces a total of 11 counts of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things and burglary charges stemming from stolen property that was recovered in the South Lafourche area.
Ricard was arrested in December 2018 when detectives found a vehicle containing stolen property at a Golden Meadow motel. At that time, Ricard was charged with two counts of Simple Burglary and one count of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. He was released on January 8, 2019, after posting bail. As the investigation continued, detectives discovered tens of thousands of dollars in stolen property which Ricard had accumulated and was attempting to sell on social media. The recovered items included welding equipment, generators, power tools, industrial items, shop vacuums, and various random items that individuals were keeping in self-storage units. New arrest warrants were obtained. Then on February 14, 2019, Ricard was booked again on the December 2018 charges due to a bond surrender. Per the new warrants, he was additionally booked with two more counts of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things and one count of Contempt of Court for the Town of Golden Meadow.
Meanwhile, detectives have been seeking out property owners to return the stolen items which were recovered. Thus far, detectives have identified eight more victims who had property stolen. This led to detectives obtaining warrants for eight more counts of possession of stolen property. Including his December arrest, Ricard now stands as charged with two counts of Simple Burglary, five counts of Felony Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, and six counts of Misdemeanor Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. His bail is set at $182,500 for those charges, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole due to a parole violation.
Investigators are continuing to try to identify the owners of stolen property. Anyone who is currently leasing a self-storage unit should also check their units to see if any items have been stolen. Residents and business owners in the South Lafourche area should also check outside sheds, carports, patios, and any unsecured areas to ensure no items have been stolen. Anyone who finds an item has been stolen should contact Detective Steve Schieffler at (985) 532-4357.
UPDATE: More Victims Identified in Investigation into Cut Off Businessman
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced more victims have been identified in an investigation into the actions of a business owner from Cut Off. Kristian “Kris” Gaudet, 45, now faces 10 counts of Felony Theft and Money Laundering, as well as charges of Racketeering and Exploitation of the Infirmed. This investigation is continuing in coordination with the FBI, Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office, and the Fraud Division of the Louisiana Department of Insurance.
As previously released, the investigation began in late 2018 when a couple became suspicious of investments made with Gaudet, owner of Kris Gaudet Insurance and Financial Services. Detectives found Gaudet provided false information on an investment company which he also owned. Detectives discovered Gaudet deposited the couple’s $350,000 investment into the company account and then transferred most of it to another of his accounts. Gaudet was initially arrested in January 2019. After his arrest, five additional victims came forward, and detectives found evidence of money laundering and racketeering. In February 2019, additional charges were filed.
Since that time, three more victims have come forward. Following those investigations, detectives obtained warrants in those cases as well. Gaudet now faces charges involving ten separate victims.
In all, Gaudet is now charged with ten counts of Felony Theft, ten counts of Money Laundering, and one count of Racketeering. Due to the age of some of the victims, Gaudet is also charged with four counts of Exploitation of the Infirmed. At one point, his bail amount was as high as $4.85 million. His bail was reduced by the 17th Judicial District Court in February with the condition that Gaudet must wear an ankle monitor if he were to be released on bail. With the new charges, his total bail amount is now set at $680,000.
Once again, detectives are asking anyone who has made an investment with Gaudet and his company since 2012 to please come forward if your investment has not been fully returned. Anyone with insurance policies obtained through Gaudet and his company is also asked to contact their primary insurer listed on documents to ensure your account is in good standing. Anyone with any discrepancies is asked to contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4320.
Rape Aggression Defense Course Slated for Raceland in April
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on April 15, 16, and 17, 2019, at the LPSO Range Facility, located at 3451 Highway 182 in Raceland.
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, April 12, 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.
Seat Belt Checkpoint Slated for March 14, 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 March 14, 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.
UPDATE: Victim Identified in Fatal Incident; No Criminal Charges for Driver
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a woman who died following an incident at the Raceland Truck Plaza on Friday morning has been identified as 47-year-old Laurie Arcement of Lockport. Arcement was pronounced dead at the scene after being run over by a semi-truck hauling a flatbed. The driver of the semi-truck has been identified as 58-year-old Keith Landry of Iowa, Louisiana. No criminal charges have been filed in the incident.
The incident occurred at 6:09 a.m. on Friday, March 8 in the parking lot of the Raceland Truck Plaza on LA Highway 1 in Raceland. Upon reviewing surveillance video, investigators learned Arcement was sitting on the semi-truck between the cab and the trailer when Landry moved the truck toward the exit of the parking lot. At one point, Arcement fell to the ground, and the trailer rolled over her as it moved forward. Another truck driver reported the incident. Arcement was pronounced dead at the scene.
The preliminary investigation revealed Landry was unaware that Arcement was sitting on the truck or that he struck her as he pulled out of the parking lot. Impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash, but a standard toxicology report is pending on Landry. No criminal charges have been filed in the case.
Golden Meadow Fugitive Found with Drugs Following a Pursuit in South Lafourche
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Golden Meadow fugitive following a pursuit in the South Lafourche area. Gage Gisclair, 43, was wanted in connection with a domestic incident which occurred in Golden Meadow in February 2019. He faces additional charges following the pursuit.
Just before 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, deputies traveling on LA Highway 308 in Larose observed Gisclair driving a black truck. Knowing Gage to have an active warrant, deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop on LA 308. Gage failed to pull over and continued driving south on LA 308. Gisclair eventually stopped the truck on LA 308 near East 7th Street in Larose. Deputies exited their car, and as they approached the truck, Gisclair sped away from the stop. He proceeded to LA Highway 3235 at a high rate of speed and traveled south. He continued to the 200 block of West 56th Street in Cut Off where he struck a vehicle parked in a driveway. He then traveled another 50 yards into a field where his vehicle became stuck. At that time, deputies took Gisclair into custody.
Deputies asked Gisclair whether there was anything illegal inside his vehicle, and he said he was not sure. A K-9 unit arrived on the scene and alerted to the possible presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located methamphetamine, heroin, marijuana, two types of pills, and various drug paraphernalia.
Gisclair was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on the active warrant for Golden Meadow Police which included charges of Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Burning, Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault, and Violation of a Protective Order. He was also booked on charges from Thursday’s incident including Aggravated Flight from an Officer and Possession with the Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine and Heroin, and Possession of Marijuana, a Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance, a Legend Drug, and Drug Paraphernalia. His bail has not yet been set.
Deputies Investigating Fatal Hit-and-Run Crash in Raceland
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies are investigating a hit-and-run crash in Raceland which resulted in a woman’s death on Friday morning. The incident occurred in the parking lot of the Raceland Truck Plaza located on LA Highway 1. The driver of a white International semi-truck hauling a flatbed trailer struck a woman and left the scene. Deputies have not yet identified the victim or the driver.
Anyone who may have information on this incident 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.
UPDATE: Pointe-Aux-Chenes Teen Remains Missing
3/6/2019 UPDATE: Jorden Danos has been found and is safe.
ORIGINAL POST:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 17-year-old Jorden Danos of Pointe-Aux-Chenes. Danos was last seen at his residence on February 22, 2019. He reportedly left the residence at some point between 10:30 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. that night. Danos had previously run away from home on February 10, 2019, and he was located on February 13, 2019.
Investigators believe Danos has been traveling to the South Lafourche area, as well as to Houma in Terrebonne Parish. He is described as 5’6” tall, weighing 140 pounds with dark hair. He was last seen wearing a red shirt, red pants, and white 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.
Vidalia Man Arrested for Sex Offenses Involving a Juvenile
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Vidalia man for sex offenses involving a juvenile. Willie Kimball, 37, of Vidalia is charged with Sexual Battery and Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile in the incident.
In February 2019, juvenile detectives began investigating Kimball. Investigators learned he reportedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a juvenile under the age of 13 at one point during the last year. Following the investigation, detectives obtained warrants for his arrest.
Kimball was arrested by authorities in Concordia Parish and transported to Lafourche Parish on February 28, 2019. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges including Sexual Battery (Forcible Fondling) and Indecent Behavior with Juveniles. His bail is set at $100,000, but he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.
