Twin Oaks drainage project to bring area flood relief
October 23, 2012
On the Attack: Local club teaches fencing basics
October 23, 2012Suspect sought in Houma shooting
The Houma Police Department is looking for a suspect responsible for a Monday morning shooting that left a 37-year-old man in stable condition with a wound to the upper torso.
HPD said that at 12:45 a.m. Monday they were called to Park Avenue and Barataria in reference to a subject that had been shot.
Once on the scene, police said they encountered the victim, who had multiple wounds to his torso.
Initial investigation yields that the victim was walking on Main Street toward Lafayette Street when a small, silver vehicle passed by and shot at the victim.
HPD said the investigation is in its infancy stages and they are seeking more information.
Anyone with information is asked to call the HPD or the Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at (800) 743-7433.
Information leading to an arrest may lead to a $1,000 reward.
One killed, two injured in weekend crash
An 18-year-old male is dead and two other juveniles are injured after a vehicle lost control and sank in Bayou Terrebonne in Montegut around midnight Saturday.
Louisiana State Police Troop C said that a 1997 Mercury Grand Marquis driven by Justin Naquin, 18, of Chauvin, was traveling south on La. Highway 55 in Montegut.
Authorities said that evidence at the scene indicated that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed when it entered a right curve on the road and lost control, crossing the center line before leaving the roadway onto the northbound shoulder.
State police said after going to the shoulder, Naquin attempted to re-enter the roadway while braking, which sent Naquin’s vehicle into a slide across the north and southbound lanes of La. Highway 55.
Authorities said that the vehicle then left the roadway across the southbound shoulder where it entered a grassy area and started to rotate counter-clockwise, striking a dock and rolling over onto its roof into Bayou Terrebonne.
State police said Naquin was pronounced dead at the scene by the Terrebonne Parish Coroner’s Office.
A 16-year-old female, who was the front-seat passenger escaped the vehicle through an open window and swam to safety.
She was treated for minor injuries and released from Terrebonne General.
The back-seat passenger, a 15-year-old female, remained trapped in the sunken vehicle, but was pulled to shore and transported to TGMC with life-threatening injuries.
Police said no one was wearing their seat belt at the time of the crash.
Toxicology tests were performed on Naquin, and authorities said they believe alcohol and speed could be factors in the crash.
Man in custody after allegedly failing to leave scene
The Houma Police Department said it has taken into custody a man that it believes has been harassing students at a local dance studio.
Thursday at 7:30 p.m., HPD responded to Innovative Dance Studio on the 7800 block of Main Street in reference to a complaint. Once on the scene, law enforcement contacted a 911 caller who said that a male subject had approached the studio and was yelling at students to lift up their skirts.
HPD said they were also informed that the man had been warned several times about looking through the window while classes were in session, but he continually returned.
Shortly after receiving the complaint, HPD said they located the suspect and identified him as Cornell Wilkerson, 56, of 218 Stovall St.
When officers tried to place Wilkerson into custody, police said he resisted and pulled away from officers and threatened police with a hammer.
After a brief standoff, he surrendered and was taken into custody for charges of one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile, one count of remaining after being forbidden, one count of resisting arrest and one count of aggravated assault.
32-year-old charged with rape
The Houma Police Department announced this week that it has arrested a 32-year-old man who it believes raped a 15-year-old female.
Last Thursday at 8:49 p.m., HPD said it received a rape complaint.
Once on the scene, authorities said they were notified that a 15-year-old female was raped by Jermaine Lamar Willis, 32, of 209 Prince Collins St.
As the investigation continued, HPD detectives said they learned that Willis was visiting a relative of the alleged victim and confronted her in a bedroom.
Authorities said that Willis became aggressive with the victim and forced her to have sex with him.
Willis was located at his residence and taken into custody.
He is charged with one count of forcible rape.
Three arrested for criminal damage to property
The Houma Police Department has arrested three suspects who it said admitted to a litany of criminal acts throughout the eastside of Houma.
Officers said they were called to the area of Glynn Drive and Acadian Drive at 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday in reference to several mailboxes being damaged.
Authorities said that upon investigation, they located three suspects in a maroon 2001 Ford Taurus within the area.
The suspects were Bobby P. Fonseca Jr., 18, of Braddock Drive, Houma; Shaquille Van Buren, 19, of Brier Drive, Houma; and Tyler P. LeBouef, 25, of Braddock Drive, Houma.
Authorities said each suspect gave full statements and admitted to several more incidents that occurred around Houma.
Each is charged with five counts of criminal damage to property.
HPD said it is continuing its investigation in this case and is asking anyone who may have had property damage on Oct. 16 to call (985) 873-6371.
Six arrested in Thibodaux vehicle sweep
Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii announced this week that six people were arrested after a traffic stop.
Silverii said last Tuesday at 1:30 a.m., a TPD patrol officer observed a Pontiac Grande Prix full of people parked on Rue Collette with its lights off.
The police chief said when an officer approached the vehicle, it sped away.
Silverii said the vehicle stopped at Ardoyne Drive and NSU Acadiana Drive after a brief pursuit.
Inside the vehicle, officers located marijuana, drug paraphernalia, open alcohol containers and a loaded handgun.
The following six people were arrested in the stop:
• Kyle Andrews, 21, of 3501 Blair St., New Orleans. He is charged with aggravated flight from an officer, violation of the drug free zone, possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle, carrying a firearm at school, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of marijuana, DWI, no tail lamps and a failure to appear in court.
• Tony Boudreaux Jr., 20, of 7400 Hanover Road, New Orleans. He is charged with possession of alcohol under 21, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle and a failure to appear for court warrant.
• Jarika Carter, 18, of 729 Kirby Lane, Lake Charles. She is charged with possession of alcohol under 21 and possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
• Devante Jones, 20, of 3122 Gen Meyers Avenue, New Orleans. He is charged with possession of alcohol under 21, possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Daniel Parker, 20, of 32067 La. Highway 11, Buras. He is charged with possession of alcohol under 21 and possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
• Larond Severance, 19, of 1453 Maplewood Drive, Harvey. He is charged with possession of alcohol under 21 and possession of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
Houma man charged with hunting violations, drug possession
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents announced this week that a Houma man has been charged with deer hunting and drug violations.
LDWF authorities said that on Oct. 11, agents on patrol in Terrebonne Parish made contact with Ryan Young, 34.
Once in contact with Young, agents said they observed that the man was in possession of an untagged doe that he harvested with a bow and arrow.
Authorities said Young was hunting in Area 6, which had a bucks-only season with bows and arrows – a season that lasted until Oct. 16.
Once investigating the situation, authorities said they also found marijuana in Young’s possession.
Young is charged with taking an illegal deer during the open season, failing to comply with deer tagging regulations and illegal possession of marijuana.
HPD cites 23 during seat-belt checkpoint
The Houma Police Department issued 23 citations as 225 vehicles passed through a seat belt checkpoint at the intersection of Main and Roussell streets last week.
Police reported 20 seatbelt violations, two for lack of child restraint and one expired license plate, HPD Chief Todd Duplantis said.
The police conducted the checkpoint from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 16. It was funded through a two-year grant totaling $187,220 from the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.
LHSC administers the highway safety grant program, which is designed to reduce traffic crashes and the resulting deaths, injuries and property damage.
Duplantis said that motorists who do not properly wear their seatbelts – putting the top strap under the arm or behind the back, for example– are in violation of the law.
