Attorney disputes DA's insistence that former Street Crimes unit officer indictments are unrelated to BRAVE Cave - Louisiana news - NewsLocker (2024)

BATON ROUGE - Tuesday, two big developments involving the now-defunct Baton Rouge Police Department's Street Crimes Unit happened in federal and district court. The cases are different, but involve officers from the same unit.At the 19th JDC, four former "Street Crimes" unit officers were indicted on charges related to an incident where they are accused of beating, tasing, and strip-searching a man in a BRPD building, which is nearby the infamous "BRAVE Cave" It was a non-BRPD building where, i

St. Amant woman killed in wreck Saturday night

GONALZES - A woman from St. Amant was killed in a wreck along Airline Highway near North Burnside Avenue on Saturday night. The Gonzales Police Department said 38-year-old Jennifer Davenport ran a red light around 8 p.m. and hit another car. Davenport was not wearing her seatbelt and died at the scene. The other driver was restrained and uninjured. Police said a toxicology sample was taken from Davenport and the crash is still under investigation. Permalink| Comments

Sports2-A-Days Preview: Zachary Broncos

BATON ROUGE - The Zachary Broncos are starting over to some degree after reaching the state championship game a year ago. Only four starters return for the Broncos, two on each side of the ball.Zachary will also work to figure out who their starting quarterback will be once the season starts this fall.  Caleb Gonzales and Henry Green are competing for that starting role, with Gonzales having played a number of starter snaps last year backing up Hudson Spangler.Coach David Brew

Louisianians are days away from permitless concealed carry

BATON ROUGE - On July 4, Louisiana will become the 29th state to allow residents to carry a concealed weapon without a permit. The new regulations, which were proposed by Sen. Blake Miguez, R-New Iberia, during the second special session, let anyone over the age of 18 carry a gun without a permit unless they are not allowed to have any weapons due to previous felonies. Iberville Parish Sheriff Brett Stassi warns residents to learn as much as they can when deciding to

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Mayor's office launches new litter abatement program

BATON ROUGE - In an effort to clean up the community, Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome announced a new litter cleanup initiative Monday afternoon.The Corridor Cleaning Program is part of the Brighten Up Baton Rouge Initiative launched in 2023, which aims to enhance cleanliness and beauty around the streets of EBR Parish. This particular program will focus on 54 intersections across the parish, which were selected based on high traffic volumes and visibility. "Oftentimes when people

Walter Camp honors 2 LSU players with pre-season honors

BATON ROUGE — LSU tackle Will Campbell and linebacker Harold Perkins have been named to the pre-season Walter Camp All-America team.LSU announced Monday that Campbell is on the first team while Perkins is on the second team. Both players are juniors.Last year, LSU quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels was the Walter Camp Player of the Year, while wide receiver Malik Nabors was on the first team.Campbell has started in all 26 games in which he's played and also played ev

Gonzales man sentenced to 20 years on drug charges; pleaded guilty after police found fentanyl in shoes

GONZALES — A Gonzales man was sentenced to 20 years in prison following a guilty plea to multiple drug distribution charges stemming from a 2023 arrest where police found marijuana and fentanyl in the soles of his shoes, the 23rd District Attorney said Monday.Michael Duplessis, 41, pleaded guilty Thursday to possession with the intent to distribute Schedule I and II drugs. He also pleaded guilty to possession or introduction of contraband into a correctional facility.Duplessis was arr

Houma man pleads guilty to vehicular homicide for deadly 2022 car crash in Assumption parish

DONALDSONVILLE— A Houma man will spend 15 years in prison for his role in a deadly car crash in Assumption Parish in December 2022.District Attorney Rick Babin says 51-year-old Miguel Ramos pled guilty to vehicular homicide on June 24. Louisiana State Police say he was driving drunk on December 22, 2022 when he crashed into a pickup truck after losing control of his car on Highway 90 near Amelia. 19-year-old Lebai Aguillar, a passenger in Ramos' car, died on the scene. All oc

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Late night event at Gus Young Park promoted mental well-being through basketball

BATON ROUGE — The Mayor-President's Summer of Hope initiative to help solve youth crime continued over the weekend with Friday's "Late Night Hype" celebration at Gus Young Park.The celebration featured an after-hours basketball tournament, free food and a variety of other activities meant to promote mental well-being.Organizers for the event, including BREC, Health Place Church and Empower225, said they want to inspire positive behavior for young people in the neighborhood around Gus

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Deputies looking for suspect in Covington armed robbery

COVINGTON— The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office is searching for a suspect who robbed a man at gunpoint while using an ATM in Covington Friday night. Deputies say the suspect, described as a black male in dark clothes wearing a mask, approached the victim just before 10 p.m. outside a bank along Highway 21. He demanded money from the victim before leaving in a dark colored sedan. Investigators believe the crime is connected to similar armed robberies at ATMs aroun

Port Hudson-Pride Road Bridge closed until further notice

ZACHARY– The Department of Transportation and Drainage announced Monday that Port Hudson-Pride Road over White Bayou will be closed starting tomorrow until further notice.Officials say drivers can use Scotlandville-Zachary Highway and Church Street/High Street to Old Scenic Highway as alternative routes. Permalink| Comments

Stingray that got pregnant despite no male companion has died from reproductive disease, aquarium says

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP) — A stingray that got pregnant at a North Carolina aquarium this winter despite not having shared a tank with a male of her species for many years has died.The Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville said on Facebook late Sunday that the stingray, Charlotte, died after getting a rare reproductive disease. It didn’t go into further detail.The aquarium, which is in the Blue Ridge Mountains, announced in February that Charlotte had gotten pregnant des

Ponchatoula Police searching for second man connected to June homicide after one arrest was made

PONCHATOULA — The Ponchatoula Police Department is searching for a man accused of crimes related to a June homicide, the department said Monday.Ricky Lee Alexander, 42, is wanted for obstruction of justice and second-degree battery in connection to the investigation of a June 6 homicide on North 3rd Street, police said. According to the police, he also goes by Pete.Police have already arrested Kirk Arrington, 59, on second-degree murder and illegal use of weapons charges for the June

Ponchatoula Police searching for man connected to June homicide

PONCHATOULA — The Ponchatoula Police Department is searching for a man accused of crimes related to a June homicide, the department said Monday.Ricky Lee Alexander, 42, is wanted for obstruction of justice and second-degree battery in connection to the investigation of a June 6 homicide, police said. According to the police, he also goes by Pete.Anyone with information on Alexander or his whereabouts is asked to contact 985-386-6548.Permalink| Comments

New Orleans Police believe 14-year-old girl missing since May could be human trafficking victim

NEW ORLEANS — A 14-year-old girl who went missing may be a victim of human trafficking, New Orleans Police said Monday.According to the NOPD, Kristhal Chinchilla-Canizales went missing after visiting a downtown New Orleans museum on May 22. Chinchilla-Canizales was last seen wearing a black Harley-Davidson pullover and a blue yoga-style jumpsuit, police said.Investigators said they believe she may be a trafficking victim.Permalink| Comments

National World War 2 Museum in New Orleans offering half-priced entry for Louisiana residents in July

NEW ORLEANS — The National World War II Museum in New Orleans is offering half-priced admission for Louisiana residents throughout July.For visitors to receive the Louisiana Residents Month discount, they must present a valid Louisiana state ID at the Museum's ticketing counter from July 1 to July 31, the museum said.Tickets can be purchased online and the 50 percent discount is limited to four admissions per ID.July 21 is also the last day for visitors to see the “Our War T

Families of deadly car crashes in Livingston, West Baton Rouge Parishes launch online fundraisers

Following three crashes across Livingston and West Baton Rouge parishes over the weekend that left four people dead, the families of some of the victims have launched GoFundMe pages  The family of Joe Dodds, 22, is asking for $5,000 to help support his girlfriend and infant son. State Police say Dodds was killed after he ran off the road and hit a tree while driving down South Frost Road early Saturday morning. The families of Kenneth Broussard, 28, and Abigail Wheat,

Families of deadly car crash victims in Livingston, West Baton Rouge Parishes launch online fundraisers

Following three crashes across Livingston and West Baton Rouge parishes over the weekend that left four people dead, the families of some of the victims have launched GoFundMe pages  The family of Joe Dodds, 22, is asking for $5,000 to help support his girlfriend and infant son. State Police say Dodds was killed after he ran off the road and hit a tree while driving down South Frost Road early Saturday morning. The families of Kenneth Broussard, 28, and Abigail Wheat,

One killed in early morning shooting off North Donmoor Avenue

BATON ROUGE— Baton Rouge Police are investigating after a man was shot to death along North Donmoor Avenue early this morning.Officers say Byron Irving, 36, was killed just before three a.m. Monday morning. Police arrived at the scene after receiving Ivring's body was found with multiple gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made.This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments

Iberville Parish to host community meeting to address concerns regarding Grosse Tete Bridge closure

GROSSE TETE- Iberville Parish Government officials will host a community meeting to discuss the ongoing Grosse Tete Bridge closure on Tuesday at 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Bayou Blue Fire Department on Intracoastal Road in Plaquemine. Officials say residents will have an opportunity to address their concerns as the Grosse Tete Bridge remains closed after a boat crashed into it last month. Representatives from LaDOTD are also set to attend. They estimate the bridge will be closed fo

Six people, including five undocumented immigrants, cited in Plaquemines Parish for violating fishing laws

PLAQUEMINES PARISH— The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the arrest of six people suspected of violating state fishing laws. All but one of the suspects are undocumented immigrants.LDWF says agents spotted the boat while out on patrol in the Mississippi River on Tuesday. They found 120 red snappers during inspection, well above the daily bag limit of four fish per person. 97 of the red snappers were undersized, failing to meet the 16 inch minimum length require

East Baton Rouge Parish Libraries closed on July 4 and 5

BATON ROUGE — All East Baton Rouge Parish Library locations will be closed Thursday and Friday to observe Independence Day, the library announced Monday.Online resources including e-books, videos and online newspapers will still be available on the library's website. Permalink| Comments

SCOTUS: Trump, other former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for official acts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday extended the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss, all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election.In a historic 6-3 ruling, the justices said for the first time that former presidents have absolute immunity from prosecution for their official acts and no immunity for unofficial acts. But rather than do it t

Three people dead in apparent murder-suicide in Albany early Monday

ALBANY - Three people - a man, a woman, and a juvenile - were found dead Monday morning in what deputies said appeared to be a murder-suicide.The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was called to West Bates Road in Hammond shortly before 8 a.m.. Deputies found the three bodies on the scene. Detectives are on scene Monday morning during the investigation. The identities of the victims were not immediately known. This is a developing story. Permalink| Comments

Couple, child dead in Livingston Parish murder-suicide

ALBANY - Three people - a man, a woman, and a child - were found dead Monday morning in what deputies said appeared to be a murder-suicide.The Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office was called to West Bates Road shortly before 8 a.m. after a family member went to the house and found the bodies. "This is not one of those types of scenes you want to see. Unfortunately, it happened," Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said. During a press conference Monday afternoon, Sheriff Ard sai

Speedy Eats, an unmanned drive-thru, is being manufactured in Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - America's first unmanned drive-thru is being manufactured in Baton Rouge and is now on the market.The new technology, created by Baton Rouge native Speed Bancroft, has been in the works since 2021.It's called Speedy Eats and it's essentially a huge, drive-thru vending machine with patented features that make it stand out. Speedy Eats can take a customer's order and give it to them all by itself with not employees operating it. The food will be locally prepared, m

Sunday Journal: Rotary Club

BATON ROUGE - This week on Sunday Journal, JP went on the air live from the Rotary Club!He spoke with some of the Rotary Club officials about what makes the club unique. You can watch the full special above!Permalink| Comments

Police investigating fatal hit-and-run early Monday morning

BATON ROUGE - Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run that happened sometime Monday morning and left one person dead. The Baton Rouge Police Department was called to North Ardenwood Drive near Greenwell Springs Road around 5:30 a.m. after a body was found. Officers said the person's death was being investigated as a traffic homicide. No further information was available. Permalink| Comments

Hurricane Beryl takes aim at southeastern Caribbean as a powerful Category 4 storm

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Hurricane Beryl began pounding the southeast Caribbean on Monday as a powerful Category 4 storm after becoming the earliest storm of that strength to form in the Atlantic, fueled by record warm waters.Hurricane warnings were in effect for Barbados, Grenada, Tobago and St. Vincent and the Grenadines as thousands of people hunkered down in homes and shelters. The last strong hurricane to hit the southeast Caribbean was Hurricane Ivan nearly 20 years ago, whi

Dog rescued from late-night fire off Plank Road; investigators determining cause

BATON ROUGE - A dog was rescued from an otherwise-empty home after it caught fire late Sunday night. The fire started shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday on Peerless Street off Plank Road. While the Baton Rouge Fire Department reported there was one person living in the home, they were not present during the fire. However, a dog was rescued from the building and made it out unharmed. The back of the home and the attic were both damaged by flame, and the rest of the home sustained sm