Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Raceland man who is charged with rape in a weekend incident. Norman Lafontaine, 47, is also charged with gun theft.

During the early morning hours of July 4, 2022, deputies made contact with a Raceland woman who was reportedly raped by Lafontaine. Earlier that morning, Lafontaine allegedly entered the woman’s residence stating one of his relatives dropped him off. The woman attempted to text the relative to ask about the situation, and Lafontaine prevented her from doing so. He then forced her to engage in sexual intercourse. Before leaving the residence, he stole a shotgun. The woman was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Investigators located Lafontaine and questioned him about the incident. He admitted to forcing the woman to have sexual intercourse. Lafontaine was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with second degree rape and theft of a firearm. Bail is set at $200,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a pair of shootings that occurred over the Independence Day holiday weekend. Two men were injured in the shootings. There is currently no evidence that the shootings are related.

Late Sunday night, deputies responded to a call of a person shot at a residence in the 500 block of Ayo Street in Raceland. An 18-year-old male had what appeared to be a bullet wound on his leg and other graze wounds to his body. Investigators learned he was outside at the corner or Ayo Street and Fern Lane when he was shot. The victim was transported to a hospital in New Orleans for treatment.

Then during the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 5, 2022, investigators responded to Ochsner St. Anne Hospital after a man came in with a gunshot wound. The 30-year-old male victim was reportedly shot while sitting in the driver seat of his vehicle which was parked in front of his residence in the 700 block of St. Louis Street in Raceland. The victim suffered gunshot wounds to his chest and leg. He was also transported to a New Orleans hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information on these incidents can submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region 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 a Bayou Blue woman has been charged with murder in a shooting incident that resulted in the death of 43-year-old Brandon Bradley in May 2022. Crystal Ricker, 41, who was in a relationship with Bradley, was arrested Wednesday and charged with second degree murder.

Just after 3:45 p.m. on May 29, 2022, deputies from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, as well as troopers from Louisiana State Police, responded to a report of a man being shot in Bayou Blue. The victim was later identified as Brandon Bradley. The incident occurred inside a small camper in the 200 block of Lake Long Drive. Some citizens who were nearby, as well as volunteer firefighters, were already on the scene attempting life-saving measures until EMTs arrived. Bradley had suffered what appeared to be a single gunshot wound to the chest, and he died at the scene as a result of his injuries. The weapon used in the shooting was recovered at the scene along with a spent casing.

The initial investigation revealed that a domestic argument had occurred between Ricker and Bradley which led to the shooting. Detectives learned Bradley told people at the scene that Ricker had shot him. That combined with other evidence obtained over the course of the investigation led detectives to obtain a warrant for Ricker’s arrest.

On June 29, 2022, detectives contacted Ricker, and she was placed under arrest. She was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex and charged with second degree murder. Bail is set at $500,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre and Thibodaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue announced detectives have arrested a man who was stealing mail in the Thibodaux area. Allen Oubre, 36, of Thibodaux was arrested on Friday.

On June 21, 2022, LPSO detectives began investigating a series of thefts and attempted thefts from mailboxes in the Thibodaux area. Detectives obtained security camera footage of a person of interest riding a bicycle carrying a backpack. A still image of the man was released to the public via social media to help identify him. Through investigation, detectives identified the man as Allen Oubre.

Detectives located Oubre at his residence where they discovered a bank statement for another individual along with other items. During questioning, Oubre admitted to going into several mailboxes looking for items to steal. Working with the Thibodaux Police Department, detectives found Oubre to be involved in several similar incidents within the city limits.

After questioning, Oubre was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. In all (parish and city), he was charged with 24 counts of attempted misdemeanor theft and six counts of misdemeanor theft. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. Bail is set at $9,000. Detectives say their investigation is continuing and additional charges are possible.

NOTE: Per Act 494 (effective June 2022), Oubre’s booking photo cannot be released.

UPDATE: Chase Cheramie turned himself in. He is in custody.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced investigators are seeking the public’s help in locating a Galliano man wanted for video voyeurism. Chase Cheramie, 37, is wanted for installing a camera in a bathroom vent in a home where he was working as a contractor.

Last week, deputies responded to a Larose residence where a camera had been discovered in a bathroom. A resident found the camera in a vent in the bathroom. Deputies secured the camera which had a red light signifying that it was still possibly recording. Deputies learned Chase Cheramie had been working as a contractor at the residence for several months repairing damage from Hurricane Ida. Cheramie had mostly been working alone. During initial questioning, though, Cheramie denied any knowledge of the camera.

Detectives downloaded the contents of an SD card on the camera and found images of Cheramie installing the camera. They also found the camera had captured images of three people, two of which appear to be juveniles.

Chase Cheramie is wanted for three counts of Video Voyeurism with a bail amount set at $75,000. Anyone with any knowledge of his whereabouts can submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region 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.

Additionally, detectives are encouraging anyone who had Cheramie perform work in their residence to search for similar devices or anything suspicious. Please contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at (985) 532-4320 to report any findings and to assist with searching the residence.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an investigation into an overdose death has led to the arrest of a heroin dealer in Bayou Blue. Christopher Seely, 39, was arrested and could face additional charges as the investigation continues.

On June 8, 2022, detectives and narcotics agents responded to Mary Beth Avenue in Bayou Blue to investigate an overdose death. At the scene, investigators were able to collect a syringe and plastic bag containing suspected heroin. Through investigation, they learned the heroin had likely been purchased from Christopher Seely.

Agents obtained a search warrant for Seely’s residence. When they arrived, they made contact with Seely. During the search, they found approximately 2.5 grams of suspected heroin and various items commonly associated with the sale of illegal narcotics. During questioning, Seely admitted to selling heroin to several individuals, including the individual that died due to overdose.

Seely was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges including Distribution of Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $176,000. He is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.

The investigation into the overdose death is continuing, and Seely could face additional charges.

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

Christopher Seely

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced narcotics agents arrested a man they found with drugs after he led them on a pursuit from the Lockport area to Larose. Jarrid Hester, 42, was arrested on Wednesday. Agents had been investigating Hester and his involvement with the sale of narcotics out of a residential camper located on East 23rd Street in Larose.

On June 8, 2022, agents located Hester traveling south in his truck on LA 308 just south of Lockport and attempted to conduct a stop for a traffic violation. Hester refused to stop. As he continued driving, he threw objects out of the passenger side window. As Hester reached the Larose area, he turned onto the T-Bois Lift Bridge in Larose and then turned south onto LA 1 where additional deputies followed him and attempted to conduct the traffic stop. Hester continued south on LA 1, turning right on LA 657 where he eventually stopped his truck. He was taken into custody without further incident. A K-9 unit at the scene alerted to the possible presence of narcotics inside Hester’s vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, agents located a small amount of crack cocaine.

Agents then obtained a search warrant for Hester’s residence. Inside the residence, they found suspected cocaine and items commonly associated with the production and distribution of crack cocaine, including a white substance in a blender. Agents conducted a presumptive field test on the substance which showed a positive result for the presence of cocaine.

Hester was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Crack Cocaine, Production/Manufacture of Cocaine or Cocaine Base, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Flight from an Officer, Obstruction of Justice, Reckless Operation, and improper lane usage. Bail is set at $165,000.

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