MISSING PERSON: Troymicheal Johnlouis

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 34-year-old Troymicheal Johnlouis of Thibodaux. He was reportedly last seen entering a dark-colored, four-door car being driven by a woman on the evening of September 16, 2023. 

Johnlouis is described as 5’4″ tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, and he has a tattoo on his forehead. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, black jeans, and black slippers. Detectives suspect foul play is involved. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

Troymicheal Johnlouis
Troymicheal Johnlouis

2023 Night Out Against Crime Slated for Tuesday, October 3

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the 2023 Night Out Against Crime will take place on Tuesday, October 3. This year marks the 40th year of the nationwide event.

Citizens will host block parties throughout the parish, and Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies will be attending to meet community members to discuss crime prevention and any other concerns. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will supply each party with some food items and coloring books courtesy of Bayou Region Crime Stoppers. Each party host, though, is encouraged to organize additional food, refreshments and fun with attendees from their community.

Anyone interested in hosting a block party is asked to contact Deputy Melissa Simmons at (985) 449-4478 or via email at melissa-simmons@lpso.net. The deadline to contact Deputy Simmons to get on the official block party list is Wednesday, September 20, 2023.

ABOUT NATIONAL NIGHT OUT:
National Night Out is a yearlong community-building campaign designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. Approximately 38 million people from more than 17,000 communities across the nation participate in the annual event which is held in August or October, depending on location. The first National Night Out took place on August 7, 1984, and it was introduced by the National Association of Town Watch which continues to spearhead the event today.

2023 National Night Out Logo

Lafayette Man Charged with Burglary of Golden Meadow Business

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Lafayette man has been charged with burglary at a Golden Meadow business. Joshua Deruise, 31, faces multiple burglary charges as the investigation is ongoing.

On September 8, 2023, investigators with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office began working together regarding suspect vehicles in connection to burglaries at a business in Golden Meadow that occurred earlier in the week. Through investigation, Joshua Deruise was developed as a suspect, and he had an active warrant for burglary in Lafayette Parish.

Deputies in Lafayette Parish conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with no license plate matching the description of Deruise’s vehicle. They identified him as the driver and located the license plate inside the vehicle. After obtaining a search warrant for the vehicle, detectives from both agencies conducted the search and collected multiple articles of evidence related to the burglary at the Lafourche Parish business, including items stolen in the burglary.

Deruise was arrested by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on an active warrant for simple burglary. He is also being held on charges for Lafourche Parish after detectives obtained a warrant for two counts of simple burglary. His total bail on all charges is $502,500.

The case remains under investigation. Additional charges and arrests are possible.

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NOTE: Per Article 234 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, a booking photo cannot be released for this arrest.

Investigators Bust Auto Theft Ring in Lafourche and Terrebonne

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced investigators from multiple agencies worked together to take down an auto theft ring in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes. Allen Punch, 48, of Bayou Blue, Bobby Foreman Jr., 53, of Thibodaux, Sarah Holliday, 41, of Bayou Blue, and a juvenile were all charged during the investigation. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office worked with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Houma Police Department, and Louisiana State Police to solve the case.

Three vehicles were reported stolen from August 19 through August 22, 2023. In each case, these vehicles had been disabled and left abandoned at along a road or highway. Through investigation, two of those vehicles were located at a recycling business in Houma, and Allen Punch was developed as a suspect in the auto thefts. While detectives were at the recycling business, Punch drove up to the business with the third stolen vehicle. He was detained and eventually arrested after questioning. He was also found to have methamphetamine in his possession.

Further investigation revealed Sarah Holliday had allegedly stolen a vehicle that had been left abandoned on the Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge in St. Charles Parish. Investigators located the stolen vehicle at Holliday’s Bayou Blue residence. They also learned a teenage boy was involved in stealing two of the vehicles.

Investigators learned Punch had been using a truck and trailer registered to Bobby Foreman Jr. to transport the stolen vehicles for scrapping. Investigators obtained a search warrant for Foreman’s shop. When investigators reviewed surveillance, they found evidence of a fifth stolen vehicle that had not yet been reported stolen out of Houma. The owner was identified and informed that the vehicle had been scrapped. Foreman, meanwhile, was charged by Houma Police on an outstanding warrant on an unrelated investigation. He was charged with illegal possession of stolen things and forgery as part of this investigation.

In all, investigators recovered four stolen vehicles, with the fifth one having been scrapped before the beginning of the investigation. Punch and Holliday were arrested and booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex.

Punch was charged with theft of a motor vehicle, two counts of illegal possession of stolen things, two counts of forgery, and possession of methamphetamine in Terrebonne Parish. He also faces charges of three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and one count of forgery in Lafourche Parish.

Holliday was charged with illegal possession of stolen things and theft of a motor vehicle in Terrebonne Parish, and she was found to have five active contempt of court warrants. She was also charged with three counts of theft of a motor vehicle and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles in Lafourche Parish, in addition to two warrants for contempt of court.

The juvenile involved also faces two counts of motor vehicle theft in Lafourche Parish.

Sheriff Craig Webre encourages motorists to have a disabled vehicle towed to avoid leaving it along a highway whenever possible. If the owner cannot have the vehicle towed at that time, those traveling in the vehicle should remove all valuables and fully secure the vehicle. The owner should then contact the Sheriff’s Office and Louisiana State Police to inform them about the vehicle so that deputies and troopers are aware of its location and so they can possibly offer additional assistance.

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NOTE: Per Article 234 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, booking photos cannot be released for these arrests.

UPDATE: Missing Thibodaux Man Found Deceased on Wednesday

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced that a search for a missing Thibodaux man ended on Wednesday when investigators found his body. Scott Chiasson, 60, was found deceased in a wooded area near the Choupic water tower on September 6, 2023.

Chiasson’s death remains under investigation. To this point, detectives have found no evidence of foul play. Anyone with information about his death can send a tip anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or through the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices.

Scott Chiasson
Scott Chiasson

Burglary Suspects Apprehended Minutes After Crimes

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced three burglary suspects were found and apprehended minutes after allegedly committing several vehicle burglaries in Thibodaux. Shannon Thomas, 27, of Thibodaux and two juveniles face charges in the investigation.

On the morning of September 3, 2023, deputies responded to reports of vehicle burglaries on Thoroughbred Park Drive in Thibodaux. While investigating, deputies also made contact with persons fitting the description of the suspects on nearby California Street which included Thomas and two teenage boys Investigators discovered surveillance video of the suspects rummaging through vehicles and found further evidence of vehicle burglaries. It was later discovered that deputies had apprehended the suspects less than 30 minutes after the crimes had occurred.

Thomas was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with five counts of burglary, two counts of attempted burglary, and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. Bail is set at $330,000.

The two teenagers were placed at the Juvenile Justice Facility in Thibodaux. They face the same burglary and attempted burglary charges as Thomas.

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NOTE: Per Article 234 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, a booking photo cannot be released for this arrest.

Thibodaux Man Charged with Child Molestation

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Thibodaux man has been arrested for child molestation. Jake Clement, 46, faces several charges in the incident.

Juvenile detectives had opened an investigation into Clement after allegations surfaced that he had inappropriately touched two children, both under the age of 13. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Clement’s arrest.

On September 2, 2023, detectives made contact with Clement, and he was taken into custody. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with two counts of molestation of a juvenile under 13 years of age, and two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. Bail is set at $150,000.

Jake Clement
Jake Clement

MISSING PERSON: Scott Chiasson

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 60-year-old Scott Chiasson of LA Highway 304 in Thibodaux. He was last seen on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, when he was cutting grass at his residence.

Scott Chiasson is described as 5’7″ tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. He has gray and black hair with a beard and mustache. He was last seen wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or dial 911.

Scott Chiasson
Scott Chiasson

Fire at Pointe-Aux-Chenes Home Leads to Drug Arrest

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Pointe-aux-Chenes man after firefighters found drugs and cash while extinguishing a fire at his residence. Jeremy Leblanc, 37, was arrested at the scene.

On the morning of August 29, 2023, firefighters responded to a fire at Leblanc’s residence on Hope Farm Road in Pointe-aux-Chenes. While extinguishing the fire, they found suspected narcotics in a bedroom. Firefighters notified the Sheriff’s Office, and narcotics agents responded to the scene. Agents obtained a search warrant for the residence and recovered methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun which was found to have been reported stolen.

Leblanc was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with possession of a stolen firearm and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance. He was released on Thursday, August 31 after posting bail in the amount of $57,000.

Citizens are reminded that they can report any drug-related or suspicious activity. Information can be reported directly to the Narcotics Section commander, Lieutenant Adam Dufrene, at (985) 532-4365 or adam-dufrene@lpso.net. Information can also be reported anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433, at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices.

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NOTE: Per Article 234 of the Louisiana Code of Criminal Procedure, a booking photo cannot be released for this arrest.

Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex Receives Innovation Award

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the National Institute for Jail Operations has recognized the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex with the Detention Facility Innovation Award for programming and reentry services. Major Cortrell Davis, warden, and Captain Karla Beck, assistant warden, accepted the award at JailCon23 in Gulf Shores, Alabama, on August 30, 2023.

“I am extremely proud of our staff who created and implemented these incredible programs and processes in an effort to return better citizens to our community,” said Sheriff Webre. “This award demonstrates that the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office continues to be a national leader in law enforcement and corrections innovation.”

The Detention Facility Innovation Award is one of several annual Correctional Professional Awards given by the National Institute for Jail Operations. It is awarded to a detention facility that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in developing or enhancing a particular aspect or feature in the facility or in the operations of the facility in line with the mission of the Sheriff’s Office during the past year.

Major Davis said, “I am pleased to be a part of the revolution of corrections. Our entire Corrections Department is committed and dedicated to changing the lives of the offender population. The satisfaction of releasing an offender with the intangibles to succeed is awarding in itself!”

The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex was recognized for its innovation in programming and reentry. Captain Beck, who serves as the Director of Programming and Reentry for the Southeast Central Regional Reentry Program, said, “This award is a testament to the dedication and exemplary service of the men and women devoted to the success of our reentry programs which lead to the overall safety, security, and quality of life for our entire community.”

Established in 2011, the National Institute for Jail Operations provides a compilation of legal-based resources and training specific to various state statute legal requirements or Circuit Courts of Appeal. The organization provides agencies access to a database of industry standards, the ability to conduct self-audits, customizable training, and legal consultation.

Award
From left to right: Tate McCotter (executive director of the National Institute for Jail Operations), Captain Karla Beck, and Major Cortrell Davis.