12-22-21
THE DEFENSE TEAM OF IAN HOWARD, THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER AND INJURING THREE OTHERS IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN, ARGUED THAT THEIR CLIENT WAS NOT MENTALLY COMPETENT TO STAND ON TRIAL MONDAY. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
VOICER A :23
CHURCH POINT POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR TWO MEN IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED DECEMBER FOURTEENTH IN THE CENTENNIAL VILLAGE HOUSING AREA. POLICE CHIEF DALE THIBODEAUX SAYS A MALE JUVENILE WAS WOUNDED AND SEVERAL VEHICLES AND RESIDENCES WERE HIT BY BULLETS. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT TWO GROUPS WERE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER AND POLICE FOUND FORTY-THREE SPENT SHELL CASINGS AT THE SCENE. ARREST WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD DAVONTAE MOTT AND EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD DARRION BRADLEY, BOTH OF OPELOUSAS, AND THEY ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
A state parks official says a southwest Louisiana park closed since August 2020 by Hurricane Laura could open next spring but will have far fewer trees. Louisiana State Parks Director Brandon Burris tells The American Press that 80% of the trees at Sam Houston Jones State Park either toppled or were damaged beyond recovery. Other continuing work at the 1,087-acre park in Moss Bluff includes building new cabins, water and sewer treatment systems, bathrooms, the park’s entrance station, the pavilion and other facilities. Burris says that the park could reopen by late March or early April, depending on weather.
GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS HAS EXTENDED THE STATE’S COVID NINETEEN PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY ORDER. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.
VOICER Y :09
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF CORONAVIRUS CASES IN LOUISIANA INCREASED BY MORE THAN SEVENTEEN HUNDRED, ACCORDING TO YESTERDAY’S REPORT FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. THERE WERE THREE NEW DEATHS, NONE IN ACADIANA. HOSPITALIZATIONS STATEWIDE WERE UP TWENTY-FOUR FROM MONDAY TO TWO HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE TOTAL AND THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS INCREASED BY TWO TO THIRTY-FIVE TOTAL. THE DEPARTMENT SAYS EIGHTY PERCENT OF CASES INVOLVE THOSE NOT FULLY VACCINATED BETWEEN DECEMBER SECOND AND EIGHTH.
A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER, WHO WAS FIRED AFTER A DRUG TEST FOUND MARIJUANA METABOLITE IN HIS SYSTEM, GOT HIS JOB BACK. BERNARD ANDERSON TOLD THE MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD THAT HE TESTED POSITIVE BECAUSE HE TOOK C-B-D TO HELP HIM SLEEP, WHICH HE GOT FROM HIS WIFE, WHO IS A NURSE. THE BOARD DETERMINED HIS FIRING WAS UNJUST AND ORDERED HIM REINSTATED WITH BACK PAY. ONE LAFAYETTE BOARD MEMBER SUGGESTED THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT RECONSIDER ITS TESTING METHODS.
THE NEW IBERIA POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTED A NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION WITH THE INAUGURAL SHOP WITH A COP. WITH THE HELP OF THE IBERIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND FOUR LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, THEY GAVE AWAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AND CLOSE TO ONE THOUSAND TOYS. OVER TWO DAYS, THREE HUNDRED CHILDREN BENFITED FROM THE DEPARTMENT’S TOY DRIVE AND TOY GIVEAWAY PARADE.
A FAMILY IN OPELOUSAS IS HOMELESS AFTER LOSING THEIR HOUSE IN A FIRE MONDAY MORNING. THE EIGHT MEMBERS OF THE BREAUX FAMILY MANAGED TO GET OUT SAFELY BUT A PET CAT DIED. THE FATHER, MITCHELL BREAUX, SAYS A SPACE HEATER NEAR THE CHRISTMAS TREE MAY HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. A GOFUNDME PAGE HAS BEEN SET UP FOR THE BREAUX FAMILY.
