Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

5 businesses caught in violation of underage drinking laws

The Houma Police Department is stepping up its efforts to curb underage drinking.

HPD sent out a reminder to businesses this week that it is unlawful for anyone to knowingly sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18 and alcohol to anyone under the age of 21.

The police also said in their reminder that not knowing a person’s age is not an adequate defense.

To go along with the reminder, the HPD sent underage persons into 25 local establishments this week and instructed them to attempt to purchase tobacco or alcohol products.

HPD said 20 of the 25 were in compliance and were issued certificates of compliance.

The following five establishments were in violation.

• Jack’s on Barrow Street – Alfred Clement improperly sold alcohol

• Danos Exxon – Jason Young improperly sold tobacco

• Shop Rite on St. Charles Street – Tabitha Miller improperly sold tobacco

• Larussa’s Lounge – Karen Gautreaux improperly sold alcohol

• Cajun Magic Truck Stop – Nancy Naquin improperly sold tobacco

HPD said it will continue to conduct operations like this throughout the year in its continued efforts to keep Houma’s young people safe.

 

Suspect arrested on armed robbery charge

The Houma Police Department has nabbed a 27-year-old Houma man it believes is responsible for an armed robbery at the intersection of Barrow and High streets.

Officers responded to that location shortly after 9 a.m. on Jan. 15 in reference to the alleged robbery.

Once on the scene, HPD said it learned that a young blackmail wearing a hooded jacket and jeans robbed an elderly male at gunpoint.

Police said that no one was hurt in the incident and the suspect took an undetermined amount of money in the robbery.

Officers patrolled the area following the call, but were unable to find the suspect.

After investigation, HPD was able to identify the alleged suspect as Christopher Little, 26, of Houma.

Authorities located the suspect at his home on the 100 block of Smith Lane.

He is charged with two counts of armed robbery and one count of unauthorized use of an access card.

Police said the suspect’s gun was located by detectives and it was discovered to be a stolen gun.

HPD said additional charges are forthcoming as the investigation continues.

 

LPSO: Pharmacy worker, husband had 300 pills, drugs

A Raceland pharmacy worker and her husband are both behind bars after authorities said the couple was participating in illegal practices with prescription medicines.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said Tiffany Pitre Dufrene and her husband Darren Dufrene, both of 314 Aspen Drive, Raceland, are in custody after authorities located more than 300 pills, marijuana and methamphetamine in the couple’s possession.

The arrest stemmed from an investigation by the Lafourche Parish Drug Task Force, which had been investigating Tiffany Dufrene in reference to suspected illegal practices with prescription medications while she worked at Pitre’s Pharmacy in Larose.

During the course of the investigation, LPSO spokesman deputy Brennan Matherne said agents obtained a warrant for Dufrene’s arrest for distribution of liquid codeine. In the process, they also obtained a search warrant for her residence.

On Friday, Matherne said agents were conducting surveillance on Dufrene as she was driving northbound on La. Highway 308 – initiating a traffic stop.

At that time, she was placed under arrest, taking her to her residence to execute the search warrant.

During the time of the search, Darren Dufrene was at the residence Matherne said.

During a search of the two suspect’s vehicles, Matherne said agents located 1.3 gross grams of high grade marijuana; 1.2 gross grams of methamphetamine; 84 Soma pills; 56 hydrocodone pills; 49 Xanax pills; 6.5 diazepam pills; 6 Adipex pills; 2 Suboxone pills; a bottle of liquid hydrocodone and a large number of other pills requiring prescriptions.

Matherne said agents also located four firearms and other drug paraphernalia.

Both husband and wife were taken to jail for the drug-related charges.

They are both charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, hydrocodone, alprazolam, carisorodol, legend drug and drug paraphernalia. Each was also booked with illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Tiffany Dufrene was additionally charged with six counts of unlawfully prescribing, distributing, dispensing or assisting in the illegal obtaining of a controlled dangerous substance, as well as possession of Adipex, Suboxone and Vyvanse.

Matherne said each is out of jail after posting bond.

Tiffany Dufrene’s bond was $82,750. Tiffany Pitre Dufrene’s was $14,750.

Reward being offered for Thibodaux home burglary case

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced this week that a reward is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of the suspect responsible for a burglary in Thibodaux.

Webre said the crime occurred at a residence on Rue St. Jean Baptiste, just off Donald Drive.

LPSO spokesman deputy Brennan Matherne said the incident was reported on Jan. 8. The resident reportedly returned home at 4 p.m. and discovered a broken window and several items missing from the home – a list consisting of several firearms, jewelry and gold coins.

Through investigation, Matherne said authorities determined that the burglary likely occurred between 12:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. that day.

Anyone with information about the crime is urged to call Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433. Callers can remain anonymous and information leading to an arrest could yield the caller $1,000 in cash.

 

Suspect arrested for robbery, battery of a Cut Off man

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said his office has arrested a 23-year-old man this week after an investigation yielded he robbed and beat a 59-year-old victim.

He is charged with aggravated second-degree battery, armed robbery, home invasion and resisting an officer. He was also booked with contempt of court per an outstanding warrant.

His bond was set at $127,000. But Collins will be unable to post bond because of a hold placed on him by the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole.

At approximately 4:30 p.m. last Tuesday, LPSO spokesman deputy Brennan Matherne said deputies responded to Lady of the Sea Medical Center in Galliano where a man had suffered a severe beating.

After investigation, authorities learned that Kane Collins, 23, of Cut Off, had struck the man with an unknown object during a robbery.