Crime Reports

Houma man arrested for hit and run

After crashing into the rear of a Houma woman’s Dodge Stratus Christmas Day, Houma Police said Sallen S. Saleh, 17, of 225 Senator Circle, abandoned the 1998 Mitsubishi Montero Sport he was driving and ran.

Houma Police Department spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis said the incident occurred at 12:20 p.m. along Daniel Turner Trailer Court.

The owner of the Dodge told police she was driving south when the green Montero Sport backed into her vehicle, Duplantis said. She told officers that a black male wearing a white sweatshirt with red sleeves and blue jeans got out of the SUV and ran off toward Payne Street, he said.

The Montero Sport had only minor damage, while the front of the woman’s Dodge was heavily damaged, Duplantis said. The driver, however, was not injured.

Duplantis said the owner of the Montero Sport had been reported to police earlier that the car was being used without permission. Because the owner was unable to come get the car Christmas Day, a wrecker company towed the car from the scene, he said.

Police were called to a convenience store on East Street after a man fitting the description of the driver of the SUV was spotted, Duplantis said. When Saleh spotted police, he took off running behind the houses on East Street toward Matthews Lane, the spokesman said. As they chased Saleh through several backyards, police continued to warn the man to stop because he was under arrest, Duplantis said.

Using a Taser, police stopped Saleh on Payne Street near the intersection of East Street, he said.

As they handcuffed the Houma man, police spotted a clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance they suspected to be marijuana, Duplantis said. The bag, which weighed approximately 2.3 grams, was confiscated. Also, once in the back seat of the patrol car, police said Saleh tried to hide a small white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine under the seat. The rock weighed .1 gram, and was also seized, Duplantis said.

In addition to an outstanding warrant through the Houma City Court, Saleh was charged with hit and run driving, resisting an officer, resisting by silence (failure to make ID known), possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.

Houma Police searching for stabbing suspect

Police are searching for a 24- to 26-year-old black male, standing 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighing about 150 pounds in connection with a stabbing last Wednesday night outside the eastside Wal-Mart, according to Houma Police spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis.

The man has curly black hair, brown eyes and was wearing a red jacket and black shorts, according to the victim.

Duplantis said officers were dispatched to Leonard Chabert Medical Center at 11:44 p.m. to interview a 23-year-old man who said he had been stabbed in the parking lot of the store. The victim said a black male pointed a gun at him and demanded money, the spokesman said. The victim, recognizing the gun was plastic, grabbed the toy and began exchanging punches with the robber, he said.

As the two fought, a second male walked up and struck the victim in the head with a brick, Duplantis said. The second man’s description was similar, however he was wearing a red jacket and black jeans.

The victim told police he fought both with both men, Duplantis said. A black female, standing about 5 feet and weighing 120 pounds, exited a gray Nissan Sentra with Texas plates and began rummaging in the trunk, he said. The woman was wearing a pink shirt, jeans and white tennis shoes, according to the victim.

Duplantis said the victim told police that while he was on top of one of the suspects, he felt a burning sensation in his back. When he turned, he saw the female holding a knife.

The victim climbed into his vehicle and drove to the hospital for treatment, Duplantis said. He was stabbed four times in the right side of his back. The spokesman said the wounds were about 1- to 2 inches deep.

Houma Police are asking anyone with information regarding this incident to call (985) 873-6371.

Transmission troubles lead Houma man on high-speed ride

Damien J. Jackson, 25, of 300 Brooklyn Ave., had just picked his Chevy Caprice up from the mechanic shop shortly before leading police on a “very” high-speed chase down Stovall Street in West Houma last Tuesday.

According to Houma Police spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis, officers spotted Jackson’s Caprice traveling in excess of 50 mph in a 15 mph zone around 12:25 p.m. The car disobeyed a stop sign at Coleman and Stovall streets, leading officers to flag the driver to a stop, he said.

The tires of the Caprice locked-up and began to slide near the officers on the loose gravel where roadway construction was being done, Duplantis said.

The spokesman said police were concerned because there were a number of people in nearby yards and on the road during the incident.

Jackson said he had just picked up the car at a mechanic shop due to transmission problems, Duplantis said. He also told officers he was en route to get the car insured.

Jackson was issued a summons for reckless operation, no insurance and unsafe vehicle. He was also issued an insurance compulsory violation citation for no insurance. A local towing service towed the vehicle from the scene, Duplantis said.

Dulac woman arrested for stealing gas

Dawn Trosclair, 24, of 8651 Shrimpers Row, Dulac, was issued a misdemeanor summons for theft of motor vehicle fuel last Tuesday after she drove off without paying for gas at Go Bears, according to police.

Lt. Todd Duplantis, spokesman of the Houma Police Department, said Trosclair pulled into the station at 3:46 p.m. and pumped 5.5854 gallons of regular unleaded gas into her 1994 Mazda MX3. Afterward, she drove away, he said.

A store emloyee recognized Trosclair because the Dulac woman once worked at Go Bears with her.

Around 4:30 p.m., officers spotted the Mazda in the Wal-Mart parking lot on the eastside of Houma, Duplantis said. After noticing the gas needle on “full,” police issued a ticket to Trosclair.

Four arrested at DWI checkpoint

A DWI checkpoint conducted by the Thibodaux Police Department and Louisiana State Police on Canal Boulevard netted four arrests Thursday. Trooper First Class Rodney Hyatt said the checkpoint is part of the area’s ongoing “Zero for December” campaign.

Arrested for DWI were:

• Stephen George, 48, Thibodaux;

• Eric Kliebert, 39, Thibodaux;

• Trent Elstner, 18, Houma; and

• Jake Carmichael, 19, Houma.

Houma Police seek public help solving crime

Lt. Todd Duplantis, spokesman for the Houma Police Department, said the public’s help is being sought to solve a series of incidents in the Brooklyn Street and Wright Avenue area.

He said Dec. 23 and Dec. 24, several criminal damaged to vehicles were reported in the area. The incidents ranged from tires being slashed to windows begin broken with concrete blocks.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Houma Police at (985) 873-6371.

Crime Reports