CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Hostage situation ends non-violently

An apparent hostage situation was diffused on Monday by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office after a nearly three-hour negotiation in Bayou Blue.

Paul Sampay, 20 of 208 Marleen St., Apt. 13, Houma, was arrested once the situation ended. The extent of his charges were unknown at press-time, though Sampay was immediately booked on a Louisiana Probation and Parole warrant, Deputy Brennan Matherne said. At this time, no bond has been set.

“Detectives will investigate the incident that occurred and decide whether further charges will be brought. At this time, it’s only contempt of court,” Matherne said Monday night.

Detectives are investigating whether Sampay prevented a female victim from leaving the Linda Street residence, Matherne said. Sampay kept an open line of communication with the Crisis Management Unit throughout the process and allegedly told negotiators he was armed.

“(Negotiators) eventually convinced him it was in his best interest to stand down,” Matherne said.

A shotgun with no ammunition was found in his possession, Matherne said.

Sampay and the victim were acquaintances, but Matherne declined to disclose more information in order to better protect her identity.

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office received the call at 1 p.m. and remained on scene until 3:45 p.m. During the situation, Bayou Blue Elementary School was placed on lockdown due to its proximity to the residence. The safety of children was not believed to be in jeopardy.

Two killed in Larose

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate a double homicide at a Larose residence discovered over the weekend, Deputy Brennan Matherne said.

Nikki Landry, 41, and Harry Lefort, 54, of Cut Off, were found dead in Landry’s apartment by one of Landry’s family members on Sunday morning. The sheriff’s office was called just before noon.

Landry and Lefort were acquaintances, Matherne said.

Both victims suffered multiple gunshot wounds and were left at the Westside Apartments unit at 102 W. Fourth St. Nine millimeter shell casings were found at the scene, Matherne said.

The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office is conducting the autopsies.

Detectives spent hours processing the scene, and early evidence has led investigators to believe the motive was not robbery, Matherne said.

911 fairy helps police catch burglar

An accidental phone call led Thibodaux Police to a suspected burglar that has been wanted since April.

Authorities said that they received a 911 call last Wednesday at 10:50 a.m. from a child playing on the phone.

Authorities followed up the call to check the home for welfare concerns.

Once they arrived on the scene, police found Deonte Truehill, 20, of 215 Pierre St., Plattenville, taking a shower.

Authorities identified Truehill and placed him under arrest without incident.

He was wanted since late-April for his alleged role in a home burglary that had already netted two others under arrest.

Authorities said that the home was targeted by the men because they allegedly knew that the house’s owner was offshore.

Truehill is charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and a warrant for failure to appear on DWI charges.

He is being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on a $52,500 bond.

Galliano man given 10 years for vehicle theft

A 43-year-old Galliano man is serving 10 years in prison at hard labor after a judge decided that the suspect’s criminal history warranted a maximum sentence for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant said that Kelly Dardar was given the maximum sentence after being convicted on July 31 for the above-mentioned crime.

Evidence showed the suspect stole a vehicle from Lafourche Parish in July 2011. The defendant was apprehended days after the theft while sitting in the vehicle in Grant Parish.

Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison – either with or without hard labor.

But the Hon. Walter I. Lanier III sentenced Dardar to the maximum penalty this week.

Because of his prior criminal record, he may also be prosecuted as a repeat offender.

“We are satisfied that the judge decided to give this offender the maximum sentence today, considering his prior criminal history,” Morvant said. “Property crime can be very hard on victims, and the fact that this perpetrator also caused a great deal of damage to the vehicle only makes the crime worse.”

Jury convicts Thibodaux man of attempted manslaughter

A Lafourche jury convicted a Thibodaux man of attempted manslaughter.

After a three-day trial, a 12-person jury convicted Donovan Queen, 20, of the crime that took place on Feb. 2013.

Evidence showed that Queen attempted to shoot his estranged girlfriend during the incident. He had been incarcerated since the offense while awaiting trial.

Lafourche Parish Assistant District Attorney Diana Sanders said she was pleased with the outcome of the trial.

Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant agreed and said his office is happy to bring the suspect to justice.

“My staff has worked very closely with the officers involved in this case,” Morvant said. “Their combined effort has helped to bring this case to a successful and just conclusion.”

Queen’s case will now proceed to sentencing, which will take place Oct. 28 in Judicial District Court.

Fleeing suspect tosses drugs; one arrested

A 23-year-old Thibodaux man is in custody of the police after authorities responded to a St. Charles Street disturbance last week.

TPD authorities said that they were called to the 900 block of the street last Tuesday in reference to a disturbance, during which someone mentioned getting a gun.

Officers responded and spotted Chase Cleveland, 23, of 200 West 10th St., who was caught after a brief foot pursuit.

While being chased by authorities, police said the suspect tossed a bag of crack cocaine valued at more than $500. Upon being caught, Cleveland told TPD he didn’t have drugs, authorities said.

The suspect is charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and resisting an officer.

Argument uncovers meth lab

A domestic argument in Chauvin this week led authorities to a suspected meth lab.

On Sept. 15, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to Bayouside Drive in regards to a woman screaming for help.

Once on the scene, authorities said they contacted Keithie Cunningham Rodriguez, 40, who advised authorities that she and her boyfriend Brian Guillotte, 36, were involved in a physical confrontation.

While investigating the call, authorities noted items in the residence related to a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

Terrebonne Parish Narcotics Task Force agents arrived at the home and conducted a search of the residence, which authorities said turned up materials consistent with the existence of a meth lab.

Guillotte was charged with domestic abuse battery, possession of a Schedule I CDS (meth) and creation or operation of a clandestine lab for the unlawful manufacturing of a CDS.

Rodriguez was charged on outstanding arrest warrants and also on new charges of creation or operation of a chandestine lab for the unlawful manufacturing of a CDS.

Nude man arrested for intoxication, obscenity

A 47-year-old Houma man was arrested this week after authorities said he was found lying nude in the street.

On Sept. 20 just after midnight, HPD responded to 8424 Main St. (Bunk House Inn) in reference to a male who was lying in the street.

Authorities arrived and observed a Ronald J. Williams lying in the street with his pants below his waist, fully exposing his genitalia.

Officers tried to wake Williams upon arrival, but police said he became aggressive and belligerent when approached.

Upon investigation, authorities learned that Williams was staying at the Bunk House, but was kicked out of the facility for repeated drunkenness.

Williams is charged with obscenity and public intoxication.

Suspect sought after bike rider struck in Galliano

A reward is being offered for anyone with information that leads to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for an alleged hit and run that occurred earlier this month in south Lafourche Parish.

Just after 10:30 p.m. on Sept. 6, deputies were called to La. Highway 308 near the intersection with East 172nd Street in Galliano after receiving a call that a bike rider was hit by a vehicle.

Lafourche Ambulance District No. 1 responded as well and took the male victim to the hospital for treatment.

Deputies investigated and learned that a man was riding his bike on the shoulder of the highway when a southbound vehicle allegedly struck him and the bike.

The vehicle is described as dark in color and is either a medium-sized SUV or car.

Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre said this week that a reward is available for anyone with information that leads to an arrest.

Anyone with knowledge of the suspected crime is asked to call the Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433.

Theft foiled; forgery suspect caught fleeing

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii announced this week that a 30-year-old woman is in custody after authorities said she forged checks.

TPD said Andrea Williams, 30, of 125 Nora T. Lane, was charged with forgery, theft of goods, resisting an officer and failure to appear on a DWI charge.

Authorities said that over the course of two months – February and March – Williams forged the victim’s name on nine checks she stole from her.

During the forgery, authorities said that the victim used the checks at various businesses, running up a bill of $915.56.

Around 11:10 a.m., at Sept. 18, Williams fled a business in the 400 Block of North Canal Boulevard after her attempt to steal $135.53 in merchandise was foiled.

‘Dog eats seatbelt’ story doesn’t hold up

A Thibodaux man told authorities this week that his dog ate his seatbelt.

Lafourche Parish authorities didn’t buy the story, and the suspect was placed under arrest after the incident.

At around 5:45 p.m. on Sept. 17, deputies initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle after noticing the driver was not wearing his seat belt.

Authorities identified the man as Zachary Ordoyne, of 104 Maple Lane.

When asked why he wasn’t wearing his seatbelt, authorities said that Ordoyne told deputies that his “dog ate it.”

While speaking with Ordoyne, deputies detected a strong odor or alcohol and deputies said his speech was slurred.

Deputies said the suspect admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage and showed deputies a half-full bottle of an alcoholic beverage in the vehicle.

Deputies performed a field sobriety test on Ordoyne, which he failed.

He then submitted to a breath test and blew above the legal limit, which prompted authorities to place him under arrest.

Ordoyne is charged with DWI third offense, possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and not wearing his seat belt.