CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

TPSO investigating purse theft at local school

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office is looking for the suspect responsible for purse snatching at a local school.

On Friday afternoon, TPSO patrolmen were called to a complaint at Upper Little Caillou School in reference to two teachers having had their purses stolen. According to police, the teachers were preparing for the school year when they left their rooms unattended.

During that time, a black female allegedly entered the room, according to TPSO, and snatched the wallets from each purse.

The suspect was described as a black female, possibly wearing a wig and a large hat that covered most of her face.

Prior to stealing the wallets, she allegedly approached an employee and inquired about enrolling a child at the school.

Video surveillance imaged obtained from local stores where the victims’ credit cards were used show a different black female subject wearing gray scrubs. Authorities do not have a make or model for a vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office said it wants this case to be a warning to all office workers that they should never leave their personal items unattended. If any suspicious subjects are suspected, they should contact authorities immediately.

Suspect arrested for marijuana possession

A suspect riding at dark without headlights ended up in jail for possession of marijuana and outstanding warrants for simple rape.

Thursday just after 10 p.m., the Houma Police Department said it was patrolling the area near Grand Caillou Road when a vehicle was seen riding without its headlights.

During a routine traffic stop, authorities identified the driver as Justin J. Scott, 20, of Jennings Lane, Houma.

During investigation, authorities observed Scott allegedly throwing something back in his vehicle. Inside the vehicle with Scott was a 14-year-old passenger.

With the help of HPD K-9 “Rex,” authorities located a small amount of marijuana on the scene, as well as paraphernalia.

Scott was initially taken for possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Just as HPD was set to take the suspect to jail, authorities learned that Scott had an outstanding warrant through Houma City Court for contempt of court and one through 32nd Judicial District Court for simple rape. He is now held at the Terrebonne Parish Jail on all of the charges listed.

The 14-year-old juvenile in the case was released to his parents at the completion of the investigation without any charges.

Missouri couple charged in 2 recent shooting incidents

A Missouri couple is being held in the Lafourche Parish Detention Center after they allegedly were responsible for a pair of shooting incidents in the parish.

Sheriff Craig Webre said that on July 31, patrol deputies responded to a shooting which occurred on La. Highway 308 in Lockport. During that investigation, deputies learned that a woman was turning from the highway into a business parking lot when she heard something strike her vehicle.

Deputies then noticed a hole near the bottom of the driver’s side door and recovered a bullet and a 9mm casing from the scene.

Detectives determined that the shot had likely been fired from a green sports utility vehicle that was traveling behind the victim’s vehicle.

Two days later at around 9:30 p.m., deputies responded to another shooting, this one in Golden Meadow. During that investigation, authorities learned that a man and a woman in a green SUV were spotted near the storage units at the back of the street. When a nearby resident approached them to see if they needed assistance, the man pulled out a gun and began firing at the resident, who was still inside his vehicle, according to authorities.

The two suspects then drove away in the SUV, but they stopped at one point and fired additional rounds at the victim in his vehicle, according to authorities.

Detectives investigated the incident and were able to obtain a description of the subjects, learning also that the vehicle had a Missouri license plate. Through that, authorities received an alert from patrol deputies on Aug. 5 that the suspects were seen traveling along La. Highway 1 in Golden Meadow. They then conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle.

Through contact, authorities identified the male as Justin Rice, 26, and the female as Christina Higgins, 35, both of Jefferson City, Missouri.

Inside the vehicle, investigators also observed 9mm shell casings.

Authorities found Rice to have an active warrant for probation and parole in the state of Missouri. Through investigation, detectives found evidence that linked the two to both shooting incidents. They also claim that it was Rice who fired the gun in both incidents.

Rice is charged with attempted second-degree murder and two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property. Higgins is charged as a principle to all three of Rice’s charges.

They were booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center, Rice in lieu of a $100,000 bond and Higgins on a $40,000 bond.

Rice will be extradited to Missouri at some point in the future to face his charge for violation of probation and parole.

Man nabbed for simple burglary

Houma Police arrested a 60-year-old suspect who allegedly broke into a house by using a credit card.

Thursday at approximately 4:38 a.m., HPD officers responded to a residence on Myrtle Street in reference to a suspicious person.

The suspect was identified as David Anthony Mobley, 60, of Brien Street, Houma, who was charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.