News Blog

Rape Aggression Defense Course Set for Raceland in October

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host a Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) course on October 26 and 27, 2021, at the LPSO Shooting Range Facility located at 3451 Highway 182 in Raceland.

This self-defense course is designed exclusively for women and will take place over the course of both days. The class will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 9:30 p.m. each day. Participants must attend both days, and participants must wear a face covering during class. Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak in our area, we encourage immediate family members to sign up for a class as a pair if possible, but this is not required. Course instruction will be provided by certified R.A.D. instructors from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The cost of the course is $10 to cover the cost of course materials and is non-refundable. Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. You can register and pay for the course online at www.LPSO.net/classes. The deadline to register for the class is October 22, 2021, at 11 a.m.

For more information, please call Lucie Morvant at (985) 446-2367 or email Lieutenant Kevin Johnson at kevin-johnson@lpso.net.

Narcotics Agents Arrest Two Drug Dealers in Larose

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced narcotics agents arrested two individuals following an investigation. Ronnie Stevens, 25, and Lavonne Johns, 28, both of Larose, were arrested on Tuesday night.

Narcotics agents had started an investigation into Stevens beginning in July 2021 after identifying him as a low to mid-level drug dealer in the South Lafourche area. Through the investigation, agents were able to obtain arrest warrants for Stevens and his girlfriend, Lavonne Johns, for heroin distribution.

On September 28, 2021, agents located Stevens outside of his residence. As agents began to take him into custody for the active warrant, Stevens began resisting violently and punched an agent in the face. Agents eventually took Stevens into custody, as well as Johns who was also on scene. Agents then obtained a search warrant for the tent outside Stevens’ residence. During a search of the tent, agents located methamphetamine, heroin, various drug paraphernalia, and approximately $500 in cash.

Stevens was booked on a warrant for Distribution of Heroin. He was additionally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Battery of a Police Officer, and Resisting an Officer with Force or Violence. Bail is set at $301,000. He is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.

Johns was also booked on a warrant for Distribution of Heroin. She was additionally charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin and Methamphetamine, as well as Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Her bail is set at $176,000.

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.

Ronnie Stevens
Ronnie Stevens
Lavonne Johns
Lavonne Johns

Thibodaux Man Charged with Murder in Infant Daughter’s Death

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Thibodaux man has been charged with murder in the death of his infant daughter. Jake Guidry, 26 has been booked with Second Degree Murder in the death of 11-month-old Zabria Guidry.

Just after 12:15 a.m. on September 28, 2021, deputies responded to a residence in the 600 block of Brule Guillot Road in Thibodaux to check on an 11-month-old child on behalf of the child’s mother. When deputies arrived, they contacted the child’s father, Jake Guidry, who stated he had struck his child “too hard,” and the child had died. Guidry was immediately taken into custody. Deputies located the body of the deceased child in the rear cargo area of Guidry’s SUV.

Guidry was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Second Degree Murder, and bail is set at $1 million.

Jake Guidry
Jake Guidry

RUNAWAY TEENS: Liam & Charles Murley

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating two brothers from Delatte Lane in Gheens who ran away from home overnight. Liam Murley, 15, and Charles Murley, 13, were last seen at their residence at approximately 10:30 p.m. on September 23, 2021.

Liam Murley is described as 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 140 pounds with blond hair. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and white Adidas pants.

Charles Murley is described as 5’6” tall, weighing approximately 170 pounds with blond hair. He was last seen wearing black Adidas pants.d

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

Liam & Charles Murley
Liam & Charles Murley

Detectives Seek to Identify Truck Owner in Looting Investigation

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in identifying a vehicle owner wanted for questioning in reference to a looting investigation.

On September 20, 2021, deputies responded to the 100 block of Buford Street in Raceland. A property owner reported three metal canopies and a metal chair had been stolen from the side of a building. Surveillance cameras captured an image of a Dodge Ram 1500 truck and trailer into which the items were loaded and hauled away just after 1 p.m. on September 17, 2021.

Detectives are asking the public for help in identifying this truck owner. Tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at www.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.

Dodge Truck And Trailer
Dodge Truck And Trailer

Sheriff Webre Warns about Stealing Electrical Wire and Associated Components

As utility workers continue to repair power lines in the wake of Hurricane Ida, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is reminding everyone that electrical wire and associated components are not considered trash, debris or abandoned property, and taking such items is illegal. There has recently been an uptick in such complaints wherein individuals were stealing electrical wire which will be picked up later by local utility companies.

“Electrical wire and similar hardware belong to Entergy, SLECA and their partners who will be picking up those items,” said Sheriff Webre. “Anyone taking these items will be investigated for theft.”

Most properties in Lafourche Parish have trash and debris at the roadside. While most of these items may be considered “trash” or “abandoned,” electrical wire and associated hardware is not. Sheriff Webre also cautions anyone taking items placed at the roadside to avoid entering onto someone’s property to retrieve such items.

“We’re urging ‘pickers’ to err on the side of caution,” said Sheriff Webre. “Items in debris piles at the roadside are one thing, but you should not be entering onto someone’s property to retrieve any items.”

There is no way of knowing if a downed power line may still be energized. Treat them with respect to avoid being electrocuted. Report downed lines immediately to Entergy at 1-800-9OUTAGE (1-800-968-8243) or SLECA at (985) 876-6880, depending on your utility service provider. You should also contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office or your local fire department.

Nightly Curfew Lifted for Parts of Lafourche Parish

Per Lafourche Parish President Archie Chaisson and Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre, the nightly curfew in Lafourche has been lifted for all areas north of the Intracoastal Canal in Larose.

A 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew REMAINS in effect for all areas south of the Intracoastal Canal in Larose.

Officials will continue to monitor power restoration and lift the curfew for additional areas as power is restored.

Local Church Helps Deputies in Need after Hurricane Ida

From L to R: Pastor Whitney Alexander, Detective Brandon Queen, Rev. Dr. Dean Weaver, and Pastor Bill Crawford - all members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
From L to R: Pastor Whitney Alexander, Detective Brandon Queen, Rev. Dr. Dean Weaver, and Pastor Bill Crawford – all members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Deputies Association acquired several generators and air conditioners for deputies in need following the destruction of Hurricane Ida. The generators were acquired with assistance from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Thibodaux.

When Hurricane Ida struck the area, the Lafourche Deputies Association board of directors set out to start assisting its members with supplies needed to sustain themselves in order for them to continue to carry out Sheriff Craig Webre’s motto of doing “Whatever it takes to properly serve the public.”

Initially, the first immediate need was to purchase personal coolers for deputies on patrol in order to keep water cold. As the recovery efforts continued, Lafourche Deputies Association President Brandon Queen worked with the board to acquire several generators and air conditioning units for deputies that had significant damage to their homes. The association partnered with Evangelical Presbyterian Church in this endeavor and acquired the generators.

Rev. Dr. Dean Weaver, denomination leader of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church said, “I want to help the people that are helping others.” Immediately after Hurricane Ida made landfall, he began working with Pastor Bill Crawford, who pastors two churches in the area, to start relief work. Once they established the needs of the community, Rev. Dr. Weaver began working with Queen, who attends the church, to help tend to the needs of law enforcement.

Queen, who works as a juvenile detective at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, stated, “My co-workers cannot go without the essentials. This is just another way the Lafourche Deputies Association is serving its members. What greater joy is it than to serve our brothers and sisters in blue through the loving-kindness of a local church.”