Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a body recovered from Bayou Lafourche on Tuesday has been identified. The body of 26-year-old Coby Lewis of Houma was found on Tuesday following an incident in which Lewis ran from deputies late Monday night.
On Monday, January 25, 2021, just before midnight, deputies had responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot at a restaurant on LA Highway 1 in Mathews. When deputies arrived, they found a man sitting inside a maroon SUV. Deputies made contact with the man and identified him as Coby Lewis. As deputies were speaking to Lewis outside his vehicle, Lewis ran from the scene, crossing LA Highway 1, and then he jumped into Bayou Lafourche. Shortly after he entered the bayou, deputies lost sight of him. With assistance from LPSO Water Patrol deputies, the Lockport Volunteer Fire Department, and the Houma Police Department, they searched the bayou and surrounding area through the night but were unable to locate him.
The search continued on Tuesday morning, and at around 11 a.m., Lewis’s body was recovered from Bayou Lafourche. The investigation points to Lewis’ suspected manner of death as drowning.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a teen girl who has been missing since November 2020 has been found safe. Katherine Villeda-Hernandez, 14, of Larose was located in Bradenton, Florida, with assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.
Villeda-Hernandez was last seen at her residence on South Main Street in Larose at around 12:00 a.m. on November 8, 2020. She left a hand-written note behind indicating she was running away from home. Investigators followed up on several leads since then but had been unable to locate her. Through investigation, detectives learned of the juvenile’s possible location at an address in Bradenton, Florida, on January 25, 2021. With assistance from the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, Villeda-Hernandez was located at a residence where she was staying with a friend. She confirmed that she had left home due to a disagreement with a family member.
Efforts are now underway to return Villeda-Hernandez to Louisiana. This investigation is continuing.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a man’s body has been recovered from Bayou Lafourche. Deputies believe the deceased subject is a man who ran from deputies on Monday night.
On Monday, January 25, just before midnight, deputies had responded to a call of a suspicious vehicle in a parking lot in Mathews and found a man sitting inside. While speaking to the man, he ran from the scene and jumped into Bayou Lafourche. After he entered the bayou, deputies lost sight of him. With assistance from Water Patrol deputies, they searched through the night but were unable to locate him. The search continued Tuesday morning, and a body was recovered from Bayou Lafourche matching the man’s description.
The investigation into this suspected drowning is continuing. We will provide more information on this incident, including the identity of the deceased, as it can be made available.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking the public for assistance in identifying a person wanted in connection to a theft of an off-road motorcycle (“dirt bike”) in Raceland.
Investigators have determined the motorcycle, a red 2013 Honda, was stolen just before 5:30 a.m. on January 4, 2021. It was parked in an enclosed front patio of a residence. Surveillance video captured an unknown male subject arrive at the residence riding a bicycle. He removed the motorcycle from the patio area and pushed it to another location in the direction of LA Highway 1. He returned around 20 minutes later and retrieved the bicycle.
Anyone who can identify this person, or anyone with any other information about this crime, is asked to submit a tip submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. 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 Bayou Blue man who was found to be driving a stolen car. Jules Daigle III, 42, was arrested following a pursuit in Raceland on Friday evening.
Just after 5:30 p.m. on January 8, 2021, a K-9 deputy observed a white car on LA Highway 182 in Raceland which matched description of a stolen vehicle in a case he had worked in September 2020. After researching the license plate number, the deputy found the plate had been switched from another vehicle. Narcotics agents in the area assisted as the deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the car, later identified as Daigle, sped away from deputies, eventually turning onto the North Service Road in Raceland. The driver turned southbound on LA 1 and into the Sugarland Shopping Center parking lot. Daigle proceeded into Sugarland Subdivision, but his vehicle became disabled near the intersection of Sycamore Street and Cedar Street. Daigle then ran from the car, but the K-9 deputy pursued. Upon seeing the K-9 pursuing him, Daigle ran toward deputies and was taken into custody.
Daigle had been out on bond since December 2019 on charges of Possession of Methamphetamine and improper lane usage, and that bond was surrendered upon his arrest. He also had a Contempt of Court warrant after missing a court date on those charges. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on Friday night on those charges as well as charges of Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, and a switched license plate. Bail is set at $70,600.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an arrest has been made in the investigation into the shooting death of 18-year-old D’John Porter of Raceland which occurred in December 2020. Kelvin Davis, 19, of Raceland has been charged with Second Degree Murder.
At around 7:15 p.m. on December 26, 2020, deputies and detectives responded to a shooting on St. Louis Street in Raceland. When deputies arrived, they found Porter lying in the street in the 700 block. He was unresponsive and later pronounced dead.
Through investigation, detectives identified Kelvin Davis as a suspect in the shooting. Then, on Friday, January 8, they obtained a warrant for the charge of Second Degree Murder.
Davis was already in custody having been arrested on December 28, 2020, on outstanding warrants for a series of 11 vehicle burglaries which occurred in September 2020. On Friday, he was also booked on the warrant for Second Degree Murder. His total bail is now set at $1,315,000.
The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and no further details will be released at this time.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking the public for assistance in identifying a person wanted in connection to a burglary at a local church.
On January 6, 2021, deputies and detectives responded to a church on West Main Street in Larose in reference to a burglary complaint. A back door to the church was found to be broken, and several items were moved around. It is not yet known if any items were stolen. Surveillance cameras captured images of an unknown individual inside the church at around 11:30 p.m. on January 5, 2021.
Anyone who can identify this person, or anyone with any other information about this crime, is asked to submit a tip submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Sheriff Craig Webre has announced several promotions and staffing changes at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
“Every few years, we have a shakeup with leadership, mostly due to retirements,” said Sheriff Webre. “Like everyone else, we are looking at 2021 as a ‘fresh start’ in many areas. This round of promotions establishes new leadership in various roles and helps frame the future of this agency.”
Most notably, Lafate Day has been promoted to the rank of Major as head of the Criminal Department. Day, who has served at LPSO for 28 years, most recently served as Captain and director of the Training Academy. He takes over for Bud Dill, the former Chief Deputy who had served in the department head role on a temporary basis following the promotion of Roy Gros to Chief Deputy in the summer of 2020. Additionally, Kevin Johnson has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant and will replace Day as director of the Training Academy.
Longtime commander of the Narcotics Section, John Champagne, has been promoted to the rank of Captain. Champagne, a 22-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, will supervise the Operational Support Division which includes such sections as Communications and School Services. Captain John Champagne takes over for Captain Josh Champagne who will now supervise the Uniform Patrol Division. Captain Chad Shelby, who has overseen the Patrol Division since 2014, will return to his former role as Captain of the Investigations Division.
Brennan Matherne, who has served as Public Information Officer since 2011, has been promoted to rank of Captain. Matherne will maintain his role as PIO, and he will assume additional duties as supervisor at the South Lafourche Substation in Cut Off.
Jennifer Knight has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in the School Services Section. She will supervise all school resource officers and D.A.R.E. officers. Knight replaces Lt. Nolan Smith who is retiring with more than 30 years of service.
Lesley Hill, who serves as Accreditation Manager, has been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. Charles Todaro has also been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant at the Transitional Work Program. William Hand has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the Animal Control Section.
Major Lafate DayCaptain John ChampagneCaptain Brennan MatherneLieutenant Lesley HillLieutenant Kevin JohnsonLieutenant Jennifer KnightLieutenant Charles TodaroSergeant William Hand
12/27/2020 UPDATE: The victim of this shooting has been identified as 18-year-old D’John Porter of Raceland. The incident remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre reported detectives are on scene of a shooting death of a man in Raceland. The man was found deceased in the roadway in the 700 block of St. Louis Street. More information will be released as the investigation continues.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers through the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office mobile app. 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 Kraemer man for sex crimes involving a juvenile. Christopher Duplantis, 34, is charged with indecent behavior with a juvenile and obscenity.
On December 12, 2020, detectives opened an investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced involving a juvenile girl under the age of 13. Duplantis reportedly exposed himself to the girl and showed her nude photos of himself, as well as pornographic videos. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.
On Tuesday, December 22, detectives made contact with Duplantis, and he was arrested. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on charges of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile and Obscenity. Bail is set at $75,000.
