Military museum, fire taxes approved by Terrebonne voters
November 25, 2015
Boil water advisory for North Lafourche
November 30, 2015
A spate of shootings in various Houma neighborhoods – some of the worst violence officials and residents say they have seen for years – has sparked intense responses that incorporate traditional police actions as well as battles for minds and spirits.
A series of lightning raids by the Houma Police Department resulted in arrests for both murder and drug distribution in east Houma neighborhoods last week, Chief Dana Coleman said, adding that more arrests are expected.
Community support for new efforts to end street violence was evident Thursday night, meanwhile, at a recreation center on Williams Avenue, neighbors gathered to discuss amongst themselves how the tide might be turned.
Aronda Smith, a community organizer, returned to Houma from Philadelphia, where she has recently been living, to start a group she calls “Houma United Against Homicide.”
District 5 Councilwoman Christa Duplantis-Prather and District Judge Juan Pickett attended her Williams Avenue conference, where the organizer suggested a town hall meeting for children should be the first building block. Hearing the perspective of young people on the spike in shootings, she said, is essential.
“We need to hear their voices,” she said. “They’re the ones that are affected, they’re the ones that are out there. A lot of us are a little older now, so we don’t know what these kids are going through. And we have to be able to listen openly and not suppress the things that you don’t want to hear.”
As Smith organized and other community leaders made plans for addressing the problem, Houma police officers executed their searches for suspects in recent shootings, a task Coleman said was enhanced by help from individuals who provided needed information.
“It’s a great feeling when law enforcement and the residents can come together to solve issues that are a hindrance to our community,” Coleman said in an interview Friday. “The involvement of the community giving tips on these suspects was outstanding.”
Although not believed related to the cases that prompted those arrests, the Oct. 28 death of 18-year-old Cory Butler on Morgan Street – during an incident that resulted in the shooting and wounding of three other young men – galvanized community support for anti-crime and anti-violence measures.
The trend toward violence in other local communities was already recognized by the afternoon those shots rang out on Morgan Street. The shooting of 24-year-old Robert Swan, whose body was found in a car in Gibson on Oct. 7, is believed related to blood-letting in east Houma weeks later.
On Oct. 21, 36-year-old Willie Hart Sr. was shot to death at his Roselawn Avenue residence. A female companion was also shot, and is said to be recovering from her wounds in an area hospital. Authorities did not provide further information on her condition or location.
Joshua Swan of Houma – the late Robert Swan’s 23-year-old brother – was arrested and charged in connection with Hart’s killing. Law enforcement sources have suggested that Hart’s murder is related to a blood feud arising from Robert Swan’s killing.
Investigation of the Hart shooting did not end with Joshua Swan’s arrest, however.
Detectives working that case, and other crimes they say are related to it, set up what amounted to a command center at their bureau office in the Houma Police Department’s headquarters, utilizing maps, photos of suspects and similar aids to connect a variety of dots.
By last week two more arrests were made in connection with Hart’s death.
Troy A. Nixon, 26, was arrested in the 200 block of Pitre Street on warrants for first degree murder and attempted first degree murder, in connection with Hart’s slaying.
Detectives recovered a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver and a 9mm Taurus pistol that was reported stolen out of Thibodaux, as well as hydrocodone pills and assorted drug paraphernalia as a result of searches connected with Nixon’s arrest.
Warrants were also executed on Ahmad L. Lawson, 25, of Capri Court, for first degree and attempted first degree murder in connection with the Hart killing.
A massive police presence in and around Roselawn, Coleman said, encouraged the public’s help.
“Over time, as officers developed the investigation, leads were coming in and they developed suspects, developed intelligence, related to these cases,” Coleman said. “A coordinated effort that took place starting Tuesday morning was carried out on Wednesday.”
As officers developed their cases additional information led to further action not directly related to the shootings.
While seeking Lawson, officers questioned Porcha D. Fleming, 22, of West Street at East Street and Memory Lane. During questioning they discovered that Fleming had active warrants.
On Oct. 26, also while working the Hart case, officers stopped a car at St. Joseph and Roselawn that allegedly blew past a stop sign.
The passenger fled.
The driver, Keenan Patterson, was wanted for an Oct. 17 armed robbery that occurred at the Daniel Turner Trailer Park.
A .22 pistol and a 9mm semi-automatic, along with 12 grams of heroin, were discovered in the auto.
Last week, during sweeps for warrant execution, police observed the passenger from the Patterson arrest, identified as 18-year-old Ty’G Stoves of Tulane Street . He was arrested and charged with carrying a weapon, use of a firearm with a controlled substance, possession of illegal drugs and resisting arrest.
Detectives and uniformed officers, Coleman said, are taking an equally aggressive approach to solving other crimes of violence that occurred this year, and he is hoping the trend of community cooperation continues.
Residents who say their streets have become meaner places wish them luck, and hope the pressure continues as well. Whether the expanded police actions will have an effect on the area where the Hart killing occurred, and where some of the recent arrests were made remains to be seen.
Larry Dion, a Roselawn resident, was shook up by the Hart killing, but not surprised.
“It’s always been this way, they fight, they shoot,” Dion said. “It’s a nice street but the way the people (are) going right now, all this at 11 o’clock or 12 o’clock at night, I wish they would have a cop ride around here at night more.” •
Houma United Against Homicide organizers Telisa Clark and Aronda Smith, Judge Juan Pickett and District 5 Councilwoman Christa Duplantis-Prather speak to community members about the recent spike in murders in the parish.
