CRIMES

Police: Suspect abuses girlfriend, exposes himself to female guard

A Raceland man is in custody after he allegedly got violent during a domestic disturbance.

Just before midnight on Friday night, authorities said they were dispatched to the 4000 block on La. Highway 1 in Raceland in reference to a domestic disturbance.

Through investigation, authorities learned that Richard Bozarth, 32, of Raceland, was at the residence with his girlfriend when a verbal altercation started between the two.

Authorities said the altercation then got physical and Bozarth allegedly grabbed the woman by the face.

As things escalated, another male subject allegedly entered the room and told Bozarth he was calling the cops. The suspect then approached the man and a struggle ensued, during which Bozarth allegedly bit the man on the right forearm.

The struggle stopped, which allowed the male victim to run to another room to call authorities.

When Bozarth learned this was taking place, he allegedly brandished a knife and threatened to attack.

The male victim fled the scene, and successfully alerted police.

Bozarth was still at the residence when authorities arrived and they took him into custody and transported him to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux.

Upon arrival at the jail, Bozarth allegedly head-butted a correctional officer and then exposed himself to two female correctional officers at the jail, which led to additional charges.

Bozarth is charged with second-degree battery, domestic abuse battery, aggravated assault, battery of a police officer and obscenity.

He was also booked on an outstanding warrant for contempt of court.

Bozart has a $16,500 bond, but is held by the Louisiana Probation and Parole Board.

Shoplifting suspect charged in Terrebonne

Terrebonne Parish authorities have arrested a 48-year-old Thibodaux man after he allegedly shoplifted from Sam’s Club in Houma.

Last Friday, authorities were called to the shopping center in reference to a habitual shoplifter who had allegedly taken goods from the store.

Upon arrival, authorities said the store manager alerted them that the suspect had left the store and fled the scene.

The manager told authorities that the suspect had gone into the store and stolen beer, bottles of liquor, cigarettes, bath towels, paper towels, among other items.

Authorities said the store manager was familiar with the suspect, because they claimed he stole the same items on Feb. 1.

Detectives obtained a photo of the suspect from store surveillance, and placed it on Facebook and other forms of social media.

Through doing that, authorities identified the man as Jerome Louis LeBlanc, 48, of 301 Julia St., Thibodaux.

Later Friday night, TPSO detectives, with the help of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, located LeBlanc at his home and took him into custody without incident.

LeBlanc is charged with felony theft by shoplifting from Sam’s Club and additionally two counts of felony theft from Walmart Neighborhood Market in Thibodaux.

LeBlanc remains in the Terrebonne Jail on a $55,000, and authorities said they’re still investigating and more charges may come.

LeBlanc allegedly told authorities that he stole the goods to support his drug habit.

Suspects arrested after reports of shots fired in Houma neighborhood

Arrests have been made after calls of shots fired in Houma last night.

On Feb. 7 Houma Police officers responded to Maple Street, McKinley Street, Pear Street and Brooklyn Avenue in reference to several calls from citizens who said shots had been fired.

When in the area, officers were told that the suspect’s vehicle was a white SUV, and that the occupants of the vehicle were speeding through the streets the officers now occupied.

As authorities patrolled the area, they located a white Mitsubishi SUV traveling near McKinley Street and Pear.

Officers conducted a stop of the vehicle and detained three subjects.

The driver was identified as Perrell J. Smith, 26, of Morgan Street. His passengers were a 24-year-old female and also Derek D. Verrett, 21, of Stovall Street.

During investigation HPD located casings associated with an assault rifle in the area of Brooklyn Avenue.

With the vehicle’s occupants detained, authorities located an assault rifle tucked in the pants of Smith. They also located two, 30-round magazines in Smith’s front pants pockets.

Authorities said a small amount of marijuana was also found inside the SUV.

Further investigation yielded that Smith was responsible for firing the weapon near Brooklyn Avenue.

It was also learned that Verrett encouraged him to do so, because of recent stories in the press about shots being fired in the region.

Smith was arrested for illegal discharge of a weapon, terrorizing and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).

During booking, HPD learned that Smith was a convicted felon, so he was also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Verrett is charged with principal to illegal discharge of a weapon, terrorizing and possession of a controlled dangerous substance (marijuana).

The female passenger was not arrested.

HPD said it would like to thank the community for its collaboration with law enforcement in efforts to make area streets safer.

Anyone who hears shots fired is asked to call Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433.

2 arrested for attempted burglaries

Two are in custody for a series of attempted vehicle burglaries in Lockport.

Authorities said they started investigating attempted burglaries on the morning of January 28, 2017.

During that time, authorities learned that a male and female subject attempted to break into several vehicles in the neighborhood by lifting door handles and trying to pry them open.

Authorities said the female subject found one vehicle was unlocked and entered it, before leaving the scene.

Through investigation, deputies identified Russell LeBouef, 37, and Jamie Wicher, 30, as suspects in the case.

This past week, both suspects were arrested and taken into custody without incident for their alleged roles in the situation.

LeBouef is charged with five counts of attempted simple burglary of a motor vehicle and one count of criminal trespassing. His bond is set at $25,500. He is also being held by the Louisiana Probation and Parole Board.

Wicher is charged with four counts of attempted simple burglary of a motor vehicle, as well as a single count of simple burglary of a motor vehicle and criminal trespassing.

Wicher was also booked on an outstanding warrant for contempt of court.

She posted a $5,200 bond.

Lafourche man arrested on 5th DWI charge

A Schriever man is charged for his fifth DWI after a traffic stop in Thibodaux on Friday night.

On Friday at around 10:15 p.m., authorities initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle for a speeding violation on Brule Guillot Road in Thibodaux.

Deputies identified the driver as Randolph Himel Jr., 39, of Schriever, and authorities said they immediately detected an odor of alcohol on his breath.

Himel allegedly admitted that he was drinking, and deputies located an open container of alcohol in his vehicle.

Himel subjected himself to a field sobriety test, which he performed poorly.

He also did a breath test and blew a 0.123g%, which is above the legal limit.

Authorities said they reviewed Himel’s criminal history and learned that he was currently on parole for his fourth DWI charge, making this incident his fifth.

Himel was arrested and charged with DWI (5th offense), possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and speeding.

His bond is set at $100,200, and he is also being held by the Louisiana Probation and Parole Board.

Bozarth

LeBlanc

Smith