5-11-22
LAFAYETTE CITY PROSECUTOR GARY HAYNES WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE PENDING THE OUTCOME OF AN INVESTIGATION. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS THE DETAILS.
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AN EARLY MORNING SHOOTING IN NEW IBERIA LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND ANOTHER IN POLICE CUSTODY. NEW IBERIA POLICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER DAESHA HUGHES A TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO WAS SHOT, CRASHED INTO A FENCE NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF PROVIDENCE STREET AND AMBASSADOR LEMELLE DRIVE. THE PERSON, WHOSE IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, DIED AT THE SCENE. THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD TRAMANE LEWIS TURNED HIMSELF INTO POLICE ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST DEGREE MURDER.
CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARRESTED A WESTLAKE MAN FOR A HIT-AND-RUN LAST FRIDAY NIGHT IN MOSS BLUFF THAT LEFT A LAKE CHARLES MAN DEAD IN A DITCH. SIXTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD BRIAN MATTE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHILE RIDING A BICYCLE ON JOE MILLER ROAD. FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD BENTLEY A. STEWART WAS BOOKED INTO THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING VEHICULAR HOMOCIDE AND THIRD-OFFENSE D-W-I. STEWART HAD BEEN ARRESTED ON THE D-W-I CHARGE FRIDAY NIGHT BUT THERE WASN’T ENOUGH EVIDENCE AT THE TIME TO CONNECT HIM TO THE HIT-AND-RUN ACCIDENT.
Attorneys for the state of Louisiana have told the state Supreme Court a ban on non-unanimous jury verdicts should not be enforced retroactively to hundreds of old cases. The state argues the 10-2 verdicts allowed under the state constitution drawn up in 1973 weren’t racially motivated. Civil right attorneys argued that the practice is rooted in late 19th century Jim Crow era policies to make convicting Black people easier. Arguments in the case involving the 1997 murder conviction of Reginald Reddick were heard Tuesday.
THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH NARCOTICS UNIT CONDUCTED AN UNDERCOVER OPERATION DURING JANUARY THROUGH APRIL, WHICH RESULTED IN THIRTY-FOUR ARRESTS. THEY ALSO SEIZED THIRTY-SIX GUNS, FOUR VEHICLES AND SEVENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF ILLEGAL DRUGS. IN A STATEMENT, SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ SAYS THE UNDERCOVER OPERATION CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF CONTACTS FROM POLICE CHIEFS, MAYORS AND CITIZENS FROM SMALL COMMUNITIES DEALING WITH DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS, THE DISTRIBUTION OF ILLEGAL DRUGS AND MORE. HE SAYS THEY ASKED FOR ENFORCEMENT HELP LATE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE MANPOWER OR RESOURCES TO CONDUCT SUCH OPERATIONS.
A federal attorney says President Joe Biden legally called for suspending new gas lease sales while considering their effect on climate change, and onshore and offshore sales were legally postponed. Andrew Bernie told a federal appeals court panel Tuesday that the current offshore leasing plan says the Interior Department secretary may cancel lease offerings because of climate change. Arguing for 13 states, a Louisiana state attorney said laws passed in response to the 1970s oil crisis require lease sales. The judges did not indicate when they will rule.
A RAYNE WOMAN IS WANTED FOR HITTING HER ESTRANGED BOYFRIEND WITH HER CAR WHILE HE WAS WALKING ON THE SHOULDER OF A ROAD. FORTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD SHANTELL RENEE DUGAS FACES A CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY. SHE IS BLACK, FIVE-FIVE, AND ONE HUNDRED NINETY-EIGHT POUNDS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HER WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS. ALL CALLERS REMAIN ANONYMOUS AND CAN RECEIVE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST.
