4-19-22
NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE IDENTIFIED A SUSPECT IN AN INCIDENT WHERE A PERSON WAS SHOT IN THE HEAD EASTER SUNDAY MORNING AT A STORE LOCATED AT SOUTH HOPKINS AND FIELD STREET. THE SUSPECT, TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD RICKEY RASHAWN THIBODEAUX JUNIOR, IS ALSO WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH AN ARMED ROBBERY THAT HAPPENED SATURDAY ON ADMIRAL DOYLE DRIVE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CHARGES PENDING AGAINST THIBODEAUX INCLUDING ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. THIBODEAUX IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS. ANYONE WHO KNOWS HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT NEW IBERIA POLICE.
A HOMELESS MAN HAS SUED THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED FOR PANHANDLING. GEORGE K. HENAGAN SAYS HIS RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH HAS BEEN VIOLATED. HENAGAN, IN HIS LAWSUIT, SAYS IF CHARITIES CAN ASK FOR DONATIONS TO HELP THOSE IN NEED, HE HAS THE RIGHT TO ASK FOR DONATIONS TOO. THE CITY COUNCIL TONIGHT WILL CONSIDER REPEALING THE ENTIRE CODE OF ORDINANCES SECTION ENTITLED “BEGGING AND SOLICITING MONEY.”
STATE POLICE AND SEARCH GROUPS BEGAN YESTERDAY SEARCHING AN AREA SOUTH OF I-TEN NEAR IOWA AND WILL CONTINUE THE SEARCH TODAY FOR EVIDENCE IN THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELLA GOODIE OF SCOTT. STATE TROOPER DEREK SENEGAL SAYS THE AREA IS THE LAST KNOWN COORDINATES FROM A CELL PHONE. GOODIE WAS LAST SEEN ON MARCH NINTH, WHEN SHE WAS WORKING AS A RIDE SHARE DRIVER, TAKING A MAN TO HOUSTON. BRANDON FRANSISCO, WHO WAS ARRESTED IN ANOTHER CASE, IS BELIEVED TO BE THE LAST PERSON TO SEE GOODIE.
A Louisiana legislative committee has advanced major budget legislation for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The proposed main operating budget governs spending of more than $38 billion in federal and state revenue. The budget and related legislation that came out of the House Appropriations Committee on Monday still includes $148 million for raises for school teachers and support staff and $104 million for higher education, including money for higher faculty pay. Those are among priorities favored by Gov. John Bel Edwards, but the legislation no longer includes money to increase supplemental pay for local police and firefighters.
TWO OPELOUSAS TEENS LED POLICE ON A HIGH-SPEED CHASE ON I-TEN WEST ACROSS MULTIPLE PARISHES. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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THE LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE HAS BEEN AWARDED A NEARLY THIRTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR GRANT TO UPGRADE BODY CAMERAS. MARSHAL REGGIE THOMAS SAYS CAMERAS NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED WHICH WILL INCREASE ACCOUNTABILITY AND SAFETY WHILE ENSURING THEY ARE SERVING THE COMMUNITY WITH TRANSPARENCY. THE FEATURES OF THE NEW CAMERAS INCLUDE ALLOWING SUPERVISORS TO SEE BODY CAM FOOTAGE LIVE AND PROVIDING G-P-S LOCATIONS DURING A FOOT CHASE. THE CITY MARSHAL’S OFFICE WILL MATCH THE GRANT AMOUNT AND PURCHASE TWENTY-ONE OF THE ADVANCED CAMERAS.
A JENNINGS MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR FIRING A GUN IN THE AIR AT A GATHERING HE WAS ATTENDING ON EASTER. ACCORDING TO THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, THE CHILD OF THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD NORMAN SAMMONS BEGAN CRYING AFTER BEING HIT IN THE FACE WITH WATER FROM OTHER KIDS WHO WERE SHOOTING WATER GUNS. SAMMONS THEN ALLEGEDLY BEGAN YELLING AT THE KIDS AND FIRED A NINE MILLIMETER HANDGUN INTO THE AIR. SAMMONS WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL CARRYING AND DISCHARGE OF A WEAPON AND DISTURBING THE PEACE BY OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.
The Louisiana Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments about a rule that canceled the conviction of a white man who killed himself shortly after starting his life sentence for killing a Black man. The Advocate reports that Kenneth Gleason’s lawyer says the Legislature is the proper body to decide whether to keep or reject the little-known rule. It requires courts to set aside a conviction if the defendant dies while appeals are pending. Prosecutors say the court can change the rule, as high courts in other states have done.
