Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

2 charged, 1 sought in weekend shooting

Two men have been charged and a third is being sought in connection to Saturday’s shooting in Raceland, authorities said.

Lafourche sheriff’s deputies arrested Jaques D. Thomas, 30, of Raceland, who is wanted for the attempted second-degree murder of John Ashe II, 42, of Newport News, Va., said department spokesman Brennan Matherne in a release. Ashe is also facing charges of assault, battery and criminal damage in the shooting, Matherne said.

Deputies also arrested Shentrelle Gray, 35, of 304 Bradford St., Thibodaux, in connection with the crime, the spokesman said.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Saturday, deputies were called to Ayo Street in Raceland after receiving calls about a possible shooting.

Matherne said deputies arrived to find Gray walking away from Thomas vehicle. He was detained.

Detectives learned Ashe and Thomas had been at an Ayo Street residence when they begin arguing. Matherne said Ashe began physically fighting with Thomas, at one point damaging contents of the residence. Ashe allegedly grabbed a kitchen knife and threatened Thomas, Matherne said.

Thomas ran from the house. Thomas reportedly later sought Gray’s help in driving him until he found Ashe. Matherne said Thomas intended to shoot Ashe in retaliation for the fight.

When Gray drove up on Ashe along St. Louis Street, he allegedly fired two shots in the Virginia man’s direction, which struck a bystander in the back of the right elbow, Matherne said. The victim was transported to a local hospital where he was treated for moderate injuries and later released.

Matherne said Gray refused to cooperate with investigators. He was charged with accessory after the fact to attempted second-degree murder. His bond is set at $75,000.

Ashe was issued a criminal summons for aggravated assault, simple battery and simple criminal damage to property.

Thomas, who is a convicted felon, is also facing a charge of possessing a firearm. His bond is $150,000.

Anyone with information as to Thomas whereabouts is asked to call the Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433 or text “GIVEATIP” plus a message to 274637. Information can also be submitted online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 if the information leads to an arrest.

Houma man charged with inciting a riot

Allan Barrio, 20, of Crescent Boulevard, Houma, was issued a summons for inciting a riot in connection with the Dec. 23, 2012, shooting in front of the City Club on Main Street, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said in a release.

Five people – three men and one woman – were shot in the incident. A police officer was also hit in his boot but was not injured, the chief said.

The shooter, Deandre Woodside, turned himself in to detectives and was charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder.

Duplantis said Barrio was charged because he was involved with the fight that occurred shortly before the shooting.

Anyone with information about the shooting incident is asked to contact Houma Police at (985) 873-6371 or the Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433 or www.crimestoppersbr.org.

Multiple people arrested for string of crimes

Several Tri-parish residents were arrested last week in connection with a string of crimes at residences along St. Charles Bypass Road in Thibodaux, Lafourche sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne said in a release.

Mark Tardo, 18, of 511 St. Charles Bypass Road, was arrested for theft of copper wire from a nearby residence. The theft occurred on August 2012.

His brother, Jordon Tardo, 20, and Charleston Every, 25, of 510 St. Charles Bypass Road, were also charged with theft in the incident. The two were already in jail for other crimes.

Detectives also learned six people – including the Tardo brothers and Every – were involved in a residential burglary in September 2012. Also charged were Lance Folse, 35, of 401 E. Lafourche St., Lockport; Maicee Williams, 19, of 157 La. Highway 311, Schriever; and a juvenile. The five adults were charged with simple burglary and encouraging child delinquency.

An October 2012 burglary involved Mark Tardo and a juvenile subject, Matherne said. Mark Tardo was arrested Nov. 2 and charged with two counts of simple burglary and two counts of encouraging child delinquency. He posted bond three days later and was released, but was arrested again last Tuesday on the copper theft charge. His bond is set at $10,000.

Folse, Williams and Jordon Tardo were all arrested in November 2012.

Matherne said Williams was released last Monday after posting bond. Folse remains jailed in lieu of $55,000 bond. He is also being held for the state Department of Probation and Parole. Jordon Tardo is being held in lieu of $12,000 bond.

Deputies arrested Every Dec. 26, 2012. He was jailed on warrants stemming from the copper theft, and is being held in lieu of a $22,500 bond. He also has a hold for Probation and Parole, Matherne said.

Matherne said all five men had prior criminal histories. Most notably, Folse had been arrested 13 times for charges including accessory to attempted murder, various assault and battery charges and drug charges.

Matherne said detectives are continuing to investigate whether the five were involved in other crimes as well. Anyone with information on crimes in the St. Charles Bypass Road area is asked to contact detectives Aaron Manuel or Kevin Johnson at (985) 532-4320.

Burglar arrested at bank

Thibodaux Police arrested Rodrick Lacey, 43, of 1102 St. Patrick St., Thibodaux, for a simple burglary that occurred on Nov. 11, department spokesman David Melancon said.

An employee at a business in the 1500 block of Canal Boulevard notified police after discovering two generators missing. Evidence at the scene connected Lacey to the crime, Melancon said. Police began searching for the Thibodaux man to no avail.

On Friday, officers received a tip that Lacey was at a bank just south of Thibodaux. City police, with the help of Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputies, arrested Lacey at the bank.

Lacey’s bond is set at $25,000.

Uncle, nephew charged with armed robbery

Thibodaux relatives Jermaine Coler, 40, of 1600 Badt Ave., Apt. 12, and Bryant Coler, 22, of 103 Marie St., were arrested for an armed robbery that occurred on Nov. 4, 2012, Thibodaux Police spokesman David Melancon said in a release.

The uncle-and-nephew combo reportedly covered their faces and entered a business in the 1500 block of Ridgefield Road around 9 p.m. The two demanded money at gunpoint, and fled the scene with several thousand dollars, the spokesman said.

No one was injured in the incident.

Detectives investigating the case learned that the Colers had committed the robbery, Melancon said.

Bryant Coler was already at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on separate charges. He was booked on the new charge last week.

Jermaine Coler turned himself in to authorities and was booked into the detention center.

Both men are being held in lieu of $250,000 bonds.

Counterfeiting duo arrested

Thibodaux Police spokesman David Melancon said two men who were being sought by multiple law enforcement agencies were arrested and charged with counterfeiting.

Kirk Robinson, 27, of 330 America Blvd., Houma, was charged with parole violation, resisting an officer, reckless operation of a vehicle, flight from an officer, 32nd Judicial District Court warrants for five counts of unauthorized use of a credit/debit card, City of Thibodaux warrants for two counts of monetary instrument abuse and a 17th Judicial District Court warrant for monetary instrument abuse.

Deangelo Coleman, 19, of 116 Iris St., Thibodaux, was charged on 17th Judicial District Court warrants for two counts of monetary instrument abuse, simple battery and simple robbery and a 32nd Judicial District Court warrant for failing to appear on traffic offenses.

Robinson’s bond is set at $136,250. Coleman’s bond is $50,300.

The pair was arrested early last Wednesday after Thibodaux Police received several complaints of two men in a green van attempting to pass counterfeit currency for payment, the spokesman said.

Officers spotted the vehicle and attempted to stop it on Canal Boulevard near St. Charles Street. Robinson, who was driving, ran from the van but was arrested two blocks away shortly afterward, Melancon said. Coleman was arrested as he sat in the passenger seat.

Dulac man charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile

Terrebonne Parish sheriff’s deputies arrested Chance Joseph Duplantis, 19, of 121 Rose St., Dulac, with indecent behavior with a juvenile after learning he’d allegedly fondled a 10-year-old girl, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter reported in a release.

Detectives were notified Jan. 3 by the girl’s mother, who said the incident occurred a few weeks earlier when her daughter spent the night at a friend’s house. Duplantis was reportedly watching the girl and another minor child.

Duplantis reported to the sheriff’s office Jan. 9 for questioning. He reportedly admitted to detectives when confronted to touching the girl in an inappropriate sexual manner.

Duplantis’ bond is set at $75,000.

Fugitive had six warrants

Lafourche deputies arrested a Raceland fugitive wanted for crimes ranging from distributing crack cocaine to failing to pay child support.

Albert Coleman III, 32, of 319 St. Louis St., was arrested last Tuesday after police found him hiding under a bed after a foot chase, sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne said.

Deputies on patrol spotted Coleman outside a residence on the 600 block of Market Street. Aware of the warrants for his arrest, deputies approached Coleman. He ran inside the Market Street house, escaping out the back and running toward St. Louis Street. Deputies lost sight of Coleman on the 600 block of Ayo Street.

Matherne said a short time later, a woman rushed out of her home, telling deputies that Coleman was inside. Officers found him hiding under a bed.

Coleman was arrested without further incident.

He is charged with two counts of distributing crack cocaine, domestic abuse battery with child endangerment, domestic abuse battery involving strangulation with child endangerment, home invasion and contempt of court for failing to pay child support. He was also charged with resisting an officer.

District Judge F. Hugh Larose set bond at $51,100. Coleman also owes $12,489 in child support payments, as well as $200 in court costs.

Matherne said Coleman’s prior criminal history dates back to 1998 and includes 15 prison stays stemming from 10 arrested for a variety of charges. The charges include drug possession, obstructing justice, simple battery and other misdemeanor charges.

The cocaine distribution warrants on which Coleman’s recent arrest is based date back to 2008. The domestic abuse warrants are related to an incident that occurred last year, Matherne said.

Semi-automatic found in convict’s possession

Edrick Johnson, 24, of 312 Morgan St., Houma, was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of a stolen firearm and resisting an officer by flight, Houma Police spokesman Lt. Dana Coleman said in a release.

Shortly after midnight Thursday, police were patrolling Morgan Street near Hobson Street when they spotted a Nissan Titan truck parked facing traffic. When officers attempted to contact the driver, he quickly drove away. Police stopped the vehicle a short distance away, Coleman said.

Officers smelled marijuana coming from inside the truck. During a search of the vehicle, officers found a duffle bag on the passenger-side floorboard, the spokesman said. Inside, police found a semi-automatic pistol, later identified as a Crvena Zastava model 70 .32-caliber semi-automatic. The gun had been reported stolen in Luling last year, Coleman said.

The driver of Titan was cited for being parked against traffic. He was released.

Police seek help finding truck thief

Houma Police are seeking help from the public with finding a man spotted on video surveillance stealing a pickup from a local business.

Chief Todd Duplantis said the truck was taken early last Wednesday from the Bomb Shelter, located at 8657 Main St. The gray 1988 Chevrolet single-cab dually was later recovered at Daniel Turner Trailer Park.

Anyone who can provide law enforcement with the identity of this individual is recommended to contact the Houma Police Department. Tips can also be forwarded to the Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at (800) 743-7433 or www.crimestoppersbr.org.