6-5-18
The U.S. Justice Department says it’s reached agreements with two local governments in Acadiana to end a practice of unconstitutionally arresting and holding people wanted for questioning in criminal cases. Monday’s announcement comes weeks after the settlement of two class-action lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of the practice in the city of Ville Platte and in surrounding Evangeline Parish. Settlement terms weren’t disclosed. The Justice Department said in a 2016 report that hundreds were illegally arrested without probable cause over the years.
A THIRD SUSPECT IN THE THEFT OF LIVESTOCK VALUED AT MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS HAS TURNED HIMSELF IN. YESTERDAY AFTERNOON 39-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN THOMPSON WAS BOOKED INTO THE ALLEN PARISH JAIL, ACCORDING TO VERONICA MOSGROVE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY. ON FRIDAY, JUSTIN’S PARENTS, RICKY AND WANDA THOMPSON OF PITKIN, WERE BOOKED INTO THE ALLEN PARISH JAIL FOR THE THEFTS, WHICH OCCURRED BETWEEN AUGUST AND OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR. FOUR PUBLIC LIVESTOCK MARKETS WERE TARGETED IN ALLEN, ST. LANDRY, AVOYELLES AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHES.
TONIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER A RESOLUTION INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF THEIR INTENT TO FORM A NEW FIRE DISTRICT FOR THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE PARISH. IF IT PASSES, THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON AN ORDINANCE LATER THIS MONTH TO FORM THE NEW DISTRICT AND THEN LATER IN THE SUMMER, THEY WOULD VOTE TO CALL AN ELECTION FOR A NEW PROPERTY TAX TO FUND THE DISTRICT. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN KEVIN NAQUIN SAYS THE LAFAYETTE PARISH FIRE RATING IS IN DANGER OF DROPPING TO A CLASS 7 RATING BY THE PROPERTY INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF LOUISIANA, WHICH WOULD TRANSLATE TO A 250 DOLLAR ANNUAL INCREASE IN FIRE INSURANCE PREMIUMS. HE SAYS A NEW PROPERTY TAX TO FUND THE NEW FIRE DISTRICT WOULD INCREASE PROPERTY TAXES BY UP TO ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR RURAL RESIDENTS, WHO WOULD BE THE ONES TO PAY THE TAX.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says he’ll call Louisiana lawmakers back for a third special session this year. He’s trying to get taxes passed to fill gaps in the budget year that starts July 1, after a special session cratered Monday without a tax deal. The Democratic governor says he’s disappointed. And he placed blame squarely on House Republican leaders and what he described as a “Caucus of No in the House.”
JEFF HORCHAK HAS NEW INFORMATION ON A SHOOTING AT A LAFAYETTE APARTMENT COMPLEX.
VOICER G :12
A GRAND JURY IN ALLEN PARISH RECENTLY INDICTED AN OBERLIN MAN FOR THE RAPE OF A CHILD. THE VICTIM WAS FOUR-YEARS-OLD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. 37-YEAR-OLD WILTON JOSHUA TRAHAN REMAINS IN THE ALLEN PARISH JAIL ON A 200 THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND. THE MOTHER OF THE VICTIM REPORTED THE INCIDENT ON APRIL SECOND, AND CLAIMED TRAHAN ALSO THREATENED TO SHOOT HER CHILD WITH A B-B GUN.
Authorities say four inmates who escaped from the St. Mary Parish jail have been captured, and three deputies have been fired. St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum tells news outlets the inmates escaped Sunday and were found Monday. Anslum says an internal investigation of the escapes determined the deputies “failed to follow proper security protocol,” and they are no longer employed by his office.
Anslum says he will continue to meet with staff to ensure the security failures are corrected.
A founding member of the Grammy-winning gospel group the Blind Boys of Alabama has died. Manager Charles Driebe says in an email that Clarence Fountain died Sunday in a hospital in Baton Rouge. Fountain was 88. A news release from Driebe’s Blind Ambition Management says Fountain stopped touring with the group in 2007 because of complications from diabetes, but sang on their 2017 album, “Almost Home.”
