Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the launch of a project aimed at battling opioid addiction in Lafourche Parish. It will be called Project COPE in which “COPE” is an acronym for “Comprehensive Overdose Prevention Effort.” This effort, funded largely by a grant of over $1 million from the U.S. Department of Justice, will promote civil rights and racial equality in the identification, response, treatment, and support of those impacted by illicit opioids, stimulants and other drugs in Lafourche Parish.

“As a law enforcement agency, our interaction with drug addicts is typically when we are called to an overdose or when we are making an arrest,” said Sheriff Webre. “Sometimes that involvement doesn’t come early enough leading to devastating consequences for those involved. Through Project COPE, we are creating an opportunity for us to address the problem of addiction before it results in those serious consequences.”

The goal of Project COPE is to educate those whose lives are impacted by addiction in an effort to reduce overdose deaths and promote public safety, as well as support access to prevention, harm-reduction, treatment, and recovery services both in the community and the justice system. Project COPE will function under the direction of a steering committee comprised of representatives from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, the local court system, Lafourche Parish Government, the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office, Lafourche Parish public and private schools, Nicholls State University, and agencies specializing in prevention, intervention and treatment.

As a practical matter, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will reach out within the community to identify families who are struggling with loved ones using and abusing drugs. Project COPE Team members will work with families to establish services to address the needs of those battling active drug addiction. Services are designed to assist with placement in a treatment facility, aftercare services, local behavioral health services, and other referrals to resources to support recovery efforts.

According to the statistics from the Lafourche Parish Coroner’s Office (which includes statistics from area hospitals), the number of opioid overdose deaths had been steadily on the rise with 15 reported in 2017 and 23 in 2020. This number ballooned to 40 in 2021. While deputies continue to respond to overdoses, use Narcan on overdose victims, investigate and make arrests, these actions do not address the root of the issue itself which is opioid addiction. Project COPE seeks to assist in that area.

In addition to community intervention, a primary focus will involve providing more extensive substance abuse treatment to the incarcerated population, including medically assisted treatment. For years, Louisiana’s imprisonment rate was the highest in the nation, and approximately 80% of inmates who enter correctional facilities have substance use issues that contribute to criminality. The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex already provides a comprehensive education and reentry program. Project COPE brings in the specialized components of addiction identification, expanded rehabilitation, and aftercare planning. Through this effort, all aspects of addiction can be addressed allowing intervention with each inmate booked into the Correctional Complex.

“Through Project COPE we are setting out to make a serious impact in the effort to fight opioid addiction in our community,” said Sheriff Webre. “It will take more than just one agency or one effort to overcome this issue, but we want to be a proactive partner with the community. Project COPE represents yet another way we are living out our motto of doing whatever it takes to properly serve the public.”

If you would like more information on the services provided by Project COPE, please contact the Project Director, Captain Karla Beck, LPC at 985-449-4461 or karla-beck@lpso.net, the program coordinator, Alicia P. Toups, at 985-387-4273 or alicia-toups@lpso.net. You can also contact the Project COPE response specialist, Wendy Plaisance, at 985-387-4274 or wendy-plaisance@lpso.net.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two people were arrested following a traffic stop early Friday morning. Anthony Monroe, 46, of Mansura and Tabitha Stromain, 30, of Marksville were both arrested.

Just before 12:30 a.m. on Friday, May 26, 2023, LPSO deputies and a Trooper with Louisiana State Police had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle at the corner of LA 1 and St. Patrick Street in Raceland. After conducting a field sobriety test, deputies informed the driver, Monroe, that he was under arrest. Monroe then ran away from the scene to attempt to avoid arrest. Deputies and the Trooper deployed a Taser but neither had any effect on Monroe. He scaled two fences before the deputy and Trooper caught up to him and took him into custody.

Back at the vehicle, deputies discovered Stroman had methamphetamine and marijuana in her possession. Inside the vehicle, the deputy discovered a firearm with an obliterated number determined to belong to Monroe. Deputies also found Monroe to be in possession of Suboxone and cocaine.

Both Monroe and Stromain were booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. Monroe was charged with possession with intent to distribute Suboxone, possession of cocaine a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm with an obliterated number, resisting an officer, no headlights, and driving under suspension. Stromain was charged with possession of marijuana and methamphetamine. Bail has not yet been set.

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

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced seven people were shot and injured in a shooting that occurred Sunday night during a party in the Marydale community in Thibodaux. Two others were injured as the crowd ran from the scene. No arrests have been made.

At around 9:30 p.m. on May 21, 2023, deputies responded to a call of a shooting in the 300 block of Hyland Drive in Thibodaux with multiple victims. Deputies provided medical assistance to victims still on the scene. They also learned that other victims were already taken to a local hospital.

Investigators identified a total of seven people shot and injured. Those victims ranged in age from 17 to 25 years of age. Another two females, ages 21 and 22, suffered injuries as the crowd was running from the scene. All nine injured were transported to hospitals for treatment.

Through investigation, detectives learned there was a large gathering at a party when several shots were fired into the crowd. Detectives located a handgun at the scene as well as several shell casings.

The investigation is ongoing, and detectives are asking anyone with information on this incident to submit 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. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Galliano man for two incidents of rape, one in Galliano and one in Baton Rouge. Izak Barnett, 19, of Galliano was arrested on Tuesday by the LSU Police Department.

On March 29, 2023, LPSO detectives were notified of an alleged rape that had occurred in December 2022 during a party in Galliano. The party had taken place at a residence where many of the attendees were drinking alcoholic beverages. During the party, detectives learned Izak Barnett allegedly raped a 19-year-old female while she was asleep. The victim became conscious during the incident and found Barnett to be covering her mouth. During the investigation, detectives learned of another sexual assault that had occurred on the campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Detectives contacted the LSU Police Department which launched a separate investigation.

On May 16, 2023, LSU Police brought Barnett in for questioning in their investigation, and LPSO detectives also questioned him about the incident in Galliano. During questioning, Barnett admitted to engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim without verbal consent, and admitted to placing his hand over her mouth. He was subsequently arrested by LSU Police who also charged him in their investigation.

Barnett was charged with third degree rape by LSU Police. He was also charged with second degree rape by LPSO. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Total bail on both charges was set at $293,000.

Izak Barnett