LAFAYETTE — A former Jennings police chief who remained on the force after he stepped down as chief in 2010 has been arrested on suspicion he removed items from the department’s evidence room.
Louisiana State Police said 52-year-old Johnny Lassiter was arrested Friday and is being held in the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on $100,000 bond.
State police say Lassiter faces one count each of theft over $1,500, malfeasance in office, obstruction of justice and injuring public records.
According to a state police news release, Lassiter resigned Jan. 8.
Jennings Police Capt. Winston Guillory said Monday that Lassiter served as chief from 2006 until 2010. He declined further comment. Chief Todd D’Albor and Mayor Kerry Duhon did not immediately return messages left for comment Monday.
N.O. woman found dead in her home
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans police are investigating the death of a 26-year-old woman.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Lauren Tanski.
John Gagliano, the coroner’s chief investigator, says Tanski was found beaten and strangled inside of her early Monday morning.
Detectives have yet to determine a motive or suspects in the case.
School rape report
prompts changes
LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish School System and Police Department have made adjustments to procedures at N.P. Moss Preparatory campus following the suspected rape of a female student last week.
Sandra Billeaudeau, district assistant superintendent of schools, said Monday the changes that were made was where the officers are located on campus.
The officers will assist staff in monitoring areas of the campus and adjacent property such as the Domingue Recreation Center.
Last week, two Moss Prep students were arrested in the rape of a female student inside the recreation center.
Cpl. Paul Mouton, police spokesman, said a 16-year-old student was arrested on one count of aggravated rape and a 13-year-old student was booked on one count of principal to rape.
Loaded gun found in student’s backpack
BATON ROUGE — A 13-year-old student is in custody after a police officer found a loaded gun inside the student’s backpack.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office says a School Drug Task Force officer assigned to the child’s school found the .380-caliber handgun in the sixth-grader’s back sack about 12:40 p.m. Monday. Capitol Middle School officials were investigating a verbal fight between two students when they found the gun, which was reported stolen.
The student faces charges of carrying a firearm by a student on school property and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.
DA’s ex-secretary pleads guilty
in bribery case
LAFAYETTE — The former secretary and office administrator for the district attorney for Louisiana’s 15th Judicial District has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge for accepting bribes from defendants with pending criminal cases.
U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley’s office says the cases for which 58-year-old Barna D. Haynes received payments involved a variety of crimes, the majority of which were DWI cases.
Haynes, of Lafayette, entered the plea Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Hanna.
Prosecutors say Haynes admitted receiving $55,000 in bribes while working for District Attorney Mike Harson from a person identified in court documents only as a co-conspirator, but authorities contend the payments exceeded $70,000.
Sentencing has not been scheduled. Haynes faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Covington man shoots son
COVINGTON — A Covington man is in custody for shooting his 19-year-old son during a house party.
Sheriff Jack Strain said Monday that 43-year-old Jody Camardelle was booked early Sunday with one count of second-degree battery. Bond has not been set.
Strain says his office responded to a call about the shooting just after 10 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses told deputies Camardelle and his son argued during the party. The son and his girlfriend then went to the front yard, but a short time later Camardelle emerged from the garage with a handgun and began shouting at his son. He then fired one round, striking the teenager in the stomach.
An ambulance transported the teenager to a New Orleans hospital, where he’s being treated. His condition was not immediately available.
Bishop to lead Rapides Police Jury
ALEXANDRIA — Getting a $23 million project at the Rapides Coliseum off the ground is among the top priorities in 2013 for new Rapides Parish Police Jury President Joe Bishop.
Bishop, who represents District B, was elected without opposition to the post at the jury’s monthly meeting Monday.
Bishop said he was “surprised and pleased” parish voters approved a $23 million bond issue in November to renovate and upgrade the coliseum. In addition to a property tax backing the bonds, voters approved a tax for maintenance and operations at the coliseum over 20 years.
Zachary man booked on obscenity counts
CLINTON — East Feliciana Parish sheriff’s deputies have arrested a 47-year-old Zachary man after investigating complaints that he exposed himself to women.
Deputies booked Calvin Chapman Jr. Monday with two counts of obscenity.
Sgt. Kevin Garig says a woman filed a complaint in November saying that a man exposed himself to her as she was riding her bicycle in the Slaughter area. Deputies were unable to locate the man at the time.
Another woman reported Monday that she was driving on Midway Road when a man parked on the side of the road got out and allegedly pulled down his pants as she approached.
NOPD: Man fires shots, flees, commits suicide
NEW ORLEANS — A man fired a gun at New Orleans police and later fatally shot himself in the face.
New Orleans police say it happened about 11:45 a.m. Monday when officers tried to stop a man with a gun. According to police, the 20-year-old man began running and officers pursued him. During the chase, police say the suspect fired several shots and continued to run.
Officers did not return fire. No one was injured.
As a search continued for the suspect, officers heard a gunshot and later found the man in the back of an abandoned apartment complex. Police say he had shot himself in the face. He was pronounced dead on the scene.
Police say they recovered the gun allegedly used in the incident.
From The Associated Press.
Post a Comment
