Crime blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Weekend murder doesn’t yet have a suspect

The Houma Police Department is still searching to identify a suspect responsible for a weekend murder that took the life of a 21-year-old man.

HPD said it was called to 211 Wilson Ave. this weekend after shots were heard inside a residence. When law enforcement arrived, they learned that Jason L. Porche, 21, of 211 Wilson Ave., was taken to the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest. Authorities learned that he died shortly thereafter from the wound.

Initial investigation indicates that a male suspect entered Porche’s residence and got into an altercation with the victim. During that altercation, police said the suspect started shooting.

Authorities are working to identify the suspect. Anyone with information regarding the crime is asked to call the HPD at (985) 873-6371.

Infant drowns in Houma pool

A 2-year-old child drowned this weekend in a Houma swimming pool.

Houma Police said they were called to the 3000 block of Redwood Circle at 5:02 p.m. on Oct. 5 in reference to an unconscious small child.

Once on the scene, authorities said, they came in contact with the mother, who advised that she was inside the residence baking cakes for her son’s birthday party scheduled for that Sunday when the baby turned up missing.

She and other family members searched for the infant and noticed he was in the family’s aboveground pool unconscious. The child was removed from the pool and CPR was administered to no avail.

St. Mary makes 2 arrests

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that it made two noteworthy arrests throughout this past week.

Authorities said that Tremaine J. Francois, 22, of 315 Engle St., Morgan City, was arrested at 10:30 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of Schedule II narcotic (liquid hydrocodone).

Authorities responded to the scene of a single-vehicle crash on La. Highway 182 near James Street when they learned from a witness that the driver, identified as Francois, was seen throwing a bottle into the nearby grass.

The container was retrieved by authorities and authorities identified the liquid inside as liquid hydrocodone.

Francois was taken to the St. Mary Parish Jail for booking.

A day later, St. Mary authorities said they arrested Luis Enrique Hernandez-Leon, 18, of 121 W. Syls N. Apartment No. 5 on a charge of disturbing the peace.

Authorities said they were called to a residence at Odile Street in Amelia during which they learned that Hernandez-Leon was playing loud music. He was released on a summons to appear in court on Jan. 10, 2014.

Domestic abuse battery charge levied onto Houma man

Video footage has helped the Houma Police Department arrest a 30-year-old man on domestic abuse charges.

Authorities said they were called to the corner of Main and Barrow streets at 12:51 a.m. on Oct. 4.

Once on the scene, officers said they spoke to a female victim who told authorities that her boyfriend attacked her at a lounge on the 7800 block of Main Street. Officers viewed video footage of the incident at the lounge and said they observed Robert Short, 30, of Gum Street, committing a battery on the victim. Police said he choked the victim and slammed her onto a vehicle.

Short was located in the area and arrested on charges of domestic abuse battery (strangulation) and aggravated battery (domestic violence).

He was taken into custody at the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Second arrest made in double homicide

A second suspect has been charged in connection to a double homicide that happened last month in Thibodaux.

Brian Jones, 18, of 275 Sanders St., Thibodaux, is charged with two counts of principal to second-degree murder for his alleged role in the crime. Authorities said that Jones was already facing charges of accessory after the fact for his part in helping charged shooting suspect Alfred Starks flee the scene of the crime.

Through investigation, authorities learned that the two victims were meeting with Starks and Jones to sell them illegal narcotics.

Illegal narcotics were recovered from the murder scene. Jones is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

2 in jail after Terrebonne mini-storage burglaries

Two suspects are in custody of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office this week after a mini storage burglary on the 2600 block of Savanne Road.

Deputies said they arrived at the address and contacted a Terrebonne Parish Work Release employee that informed deputies that he saw a vehicle parked on the side of Savanne Road near the mini storages next door to the work release facility.

The employee said that he looked into the cyclone fence of the mini storages and observed someone running toward the back of the property, which prompted a call to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies on the scene noticed that the fence to the mini storages had been recently cut. After entering the property, deputies observed the pad-lock on the mini storages were also cut.

While detectives were on the scene, they received information that a white female with mud and water up to her waist, had gone into the Shell Gas Station at the corner of Savanne Road and Southdown Mandalay.

Then after leaving the store, witnesses said she left walking on Bayou Black Drive.

Authorities located the woman walking on the road. She was

accompanied by a male subject who was also covered in mud and water.

The female was identified as Lacey Hamblen, 26, of 160 Grand Bayou Road, Des Allemands.

The male was identified as Gary Chopik, 19, of No. 33 Evergold Lane, Waggaman.

Both suspects were taken to the sheriff’s office for questioning, which led to their arrests.

They are both charged with four counts of simple burglary and possession of marijuana.