Crime Roundup

TPSO searching for hotel robber

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies are searching for a tall black male who allegedly robbed a local hotel at gunpoint Sunday night.

The man walked into the lobby around 10 p.m., witnesses told deputies. He pulled a handgun and told the hotel clerk to give him all the hotel’s money.

After she complied, deputies said the man left the hotel and fled in an unknown vehicle.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the TPSO’s Detective Bureau at (985) 876-2500.

Ex-boyfriend charged with assaulting woman

Houma Police arrested a 24-year-old local man after he allegedly threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend Sunday.

Police were called to the 100 block of New Orleans Boulevard at 3:56 a.m. by the 21-year-old woman who said her ex-boyfriend had pointed a knife toward her stomach and threatened to kill her, according to a news release.

Police arrested Cesar M. Fuentes, of 155 New Orleans Blvd., Houma, and charged him with aggravated assault.

Shoplifter caught stealing laptop computer

A Houma Police officer spotted a man pull a laptop computer from a shelf, remove it from the box, put it under his jacket and leave a local Wal-Mart Thursday.

The officer, who was working a security detail at the Grand Caillou Road store, spotted the man leave through the garden center without paying for the computer. The laptop was tucked under the man’s blue jean jacket, police said.

The officer chased Michael S. Smith, 31, of 216 Dixie St., Houma, to the intersection of Grand Caillou Road and Elysian Drive before catching him.

According to police, the laptop was found in the area where Smith was running.

Smith was charged with theft of goods over $500 and resisting an officer (flight). He was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Houma man facing attempted second-degree murder in shooting incident

Houma Police arrested a 21-year-old Houma man Thursday morning after he fired shots at three people in a car parked at Whispering Oaks Trailer Court earlier in the week, police said.

Amad R. Vincent, of 164 Whispering Oaks Trailer Court, allegedly fired at two women and a 17-year-old male as they sat in the vehicle outside a residence in the 100 block of Whispering Oaks. No one was injured in the incident, police said.

Houma Police arrested Vincent at the intersection of Payne and South Van avenues without incident, police said.

He was charged with attempted second-degree murder. Vincent also has outstanding warrants for contempt of court and simple battery.

Vincent was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Terrebonne High trio arrested for terrorizing

Three Terrebonne High School students were arrested Thursday afternoon for terrorizing, Houma Police said.

The students were involved in a verbal confrontation that stemmed from an earlier neighborhood disagreement off-campus, police said. The verbal threats continued on the school campus, which resulted in the arrests.

Cody R. Charles, 17, of 386 Monarch Drive; Vaughn Butler, 17, of 1151 Goode St., and a 16-year-old male juvenile were arrested, police said.

A second 16-year-old juvenile was also arrested for disturbing the peace by loud and abuse language and prohibition of interfering education process. The second boy was not directly involved with the argument, but was arrested shortly after, according to police.

Terrorizing is intentionally threatening someone with violence to create fear for their safety or causing a building, public structure or mode of transportation to be evacuated, or causing serious disruption to the general public. The penalty for those found guilty of the crime is not more than a $15,000 fine or 15 years in prison with or without hard labor.

Golden Meadow man leads deputies on high-speed chase

As deputies investigated a residential burglary in the 300 block of Harding Drive Thursday, the suspected vehicle used in the crime was spotted nearby, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies attempted to stop the gray 2005 Ford pickup on Alma Street in Lisa Park Subdivision, but the driver sped away, ignoring stop signs, in an attempt to avoid evade authorities.

The chase continued on West Park Avenue and crossed the Funderburk Bridge, turning onto La. Highway 24 South, deputies said.

Throughout the chase, the driver, Tate Callais, 37, of 411 N. Alex Blvd., Golden Meadow, drove in a reckless manner and throwing stolen checks of the pickup’s window, according to authorities.

At one point, Callais drove on the shoulder of the highway, striking a vehicle, in his attempt to flee. The chase continued on La. Highway 24 North, and then onto U.S. Highway 90 and into Lafourche Parish before the Golden Meadow man finally surrendered.

Prior to Thursday’s arrest, Callais was wanted for multiple counts of forgery, authorities reported.

He was charged with simple burglary (2 counts); obstruction of justice; attempted forgery; aggravated flight from an officer; reckless operation; disobeyed red lights; littering on a state highway; aggravated assault; hit and run; and no insurance.

Callias is being held at the Terrebonne Parish Jail in lieu of a $435,500 bond.

Detectives are continuing to investigate Callias’ past activity and more charges could follow, authorities said.

Help sought in early-morning Academy Sports burglary

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to an early-morning burglary Thursday at Academy Sports on Martin Luther King Boulevard.

Deputies learned than an unidentified black male entered the store through a rear door shortly before 3:10 a.m. while employees were working inside the building. The sheriff’s office reported an undetermined amount of clothing and three 22-caliber semi-automatic rifles were stolen.

Detectives are investigating the burglary. Anyone with information is asked to contact the TPSO’s detective bureau at (985) 876-2500.

Houma man faces DV battery, molestation charges

A Houma man wanted for alleged domestic abuse battery, simple battery and molestation of a juvenile turned himself in to Houma Police Thursday afternoon.

Shaft L. Carter, 31, of 207 Leslie St., turned himself in at 1:05 p.m., at which time he was arrested and transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

According to police, a 27-year-old woman accused Carter of committing a battery on her while she was lying on the safe of her living room at her Leslie Street home. Carter also allegedly hit a 12-year-old boy when he tried to stop the man from striking his mother, police said.

Carter left the residence before police arrived at the scene, and officers were unable to find him when they patrolled the area shortly after the incident was reported.

Carter is also accused of having allegedly molested a 9-year-old juvenile prior to the incident, police said.

The victim filed a restraining order against Carter following the assault, police said. Houma Police filed warrants for the batteries and molestation charges.