Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

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.

Seat Belt Checkpoints Slated for May 9 and 15

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.