Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Former Jewelry Store Owner Arrested for Felony Theft

Sheriff Craig Webre announced a former jewelry store owner has been charged with felony theft of a former customer. Thomas Birdsall, 64, of Metairie, has been arrested in the investigation, and detectives believe there may be additional victims.

Around the summer of 2021, a local resident brought a watch to Birdsall Jewelry and Gifts for repair. The watch was valued at over $50,000. Birdsall told the resident he would try to repair it himself or send it off for repairs if necessary. Following Hurricane Ida in August 2021, Birdsall removed everything from the store. When the resident asked about the watch, Birdsall claimed he couldn’t remember whether he sent it off for repair. He then ceased all contact with the resident. Following an investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Birdsall’s arrest.

On May 31, 2024, Birdsall was arrested in Jefferson Parish on the outstanding warrant. He was later transferred to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex where he was booked with one count of felony theft. On June 8, 2024, Birdsall was released on personal recognizance with the condition of electronic monitoring.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims. Anyone who had brought high-priced jewelry to Birdsall Jewelry and Gifts prior to Hurricane Ida and has not received it back is asked to contact investigators at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Please gather any documents related to the jewelry and the transaction before contacting detectives at (985) 532-4320. You can also send an email to info@lpso.net.

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

CLARIFICATION: The address of the business in this case was 118 West 111th Street in Cut Off. The Birdsall Jewelry and Gifts in this case is not affiliated with Betty’s Birdsall Jewelry and Fine Gifts in Thibodaux. The two are completely separate businesses.

RUNAWAY TEEN: Ana Mercedes

UPDATE: Ana has been found and is safe.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 13-year-old Ana Mercedes East 11th Street in Lockport. She was last seen at her residence on Sunday night at around midnight.

Ana is described as approximately 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 153 pounds with black hair. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

RUNAWAY TEEN: Hewitt Harris

UPDATE: Hewitt Harris has been found and is safe.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Hewitt Harris of Cut Off. He was last seen on Sunday, May 26, 2024. He is described as 5’7” tall, weighing approximately 130 pounds with blonde hair. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.

LPSO Now Offering Free Concealed Carry Classes; First Scheduled for June 1, 2024

Sheriff Craig Webre is proud to announce the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will now offer free concealed carry classes. The first free course will be held on June 1, 2024. This is in an effort to encourage residents to take the training if they intend to carry a concealed firearm without a permit as will be allowed for eligible persons beginning on July 4, 2024.

Act No. 6 of the 2024 Regular Session of the Louisiana State Legislature amends existing law to allow for those 18 years of age or older to carry a firearm concealed within the state without obtaining a permit or training. The law only applies to those not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm by any state or federal law. The law also only applies within the state of Louisiana and is not reciprocal to other states. To carry concealed in those states with existing reciprocity laws, you must still obtain a concealed carry permit from the State of Louisiana.

In response to this, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has amended its concealed carry training course to encourage all who plan to carry a concealed firearm with or without a permit to receive information on safe carrying, usage, and storage. The free informational course will cover gun safety, storage, liability, and prohibited carrying locations.

The first free course will be held on June 1, 2024, at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Shooting Range, located at 3451 Highway 182 in Raceland. The course will begin at 8 a.m. and those wanting to complete the course to obtain the state concealed carry permit must stay for the entire course which will last until approximately 5 p.m. with a break for lunch. Those wishing to attend simply for informational purposes are free to leave at any time.

Participants must bring a handgun in good working condition, 50 rounds of ammunition, eye protection (sunglasses or eyeglasses are sufficient), and ear protection (muffs or plugs).

The course is free, but online registration is required in advance due to the limited class size. Go to LPSO.net/classes to register for this course online. For more information, contact Captain Kevin Johnson at (985) 449-4481 or by email at kevin-johnson@lpso.net.

Fugitive Carrying Drugs is Arrested After Jumping into Bayou Trying to Elude Deputies

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig announced the arrest of a fugitive who jumped into Bayou Lafourche in an effort to try to elude deputies. Tyron Rainey, 34, of Gray was found to have a variety of drugs and cash following his arrest on Tuesday.

Just after 4:30 p.m. on May 21, 2024, deputies received intelligence about Rainey traveling in the Thibodaux area. Rainey was wanted for numerous charges in Terrebonne Parish. Deputies located the suspect’s vehicle traveling northbound on LA Highway 308 and conducted a traffic stop. The driver initially failed to stop but eventually pulled into a parking lot. Upon stopping the vehicle, Rainey exited the car on the passenger side carrying a bag. He began to run from the scene and deputies followed. He tossed the bag on top of the roof of an apartment building before jumping into Bayou Lafourche. He was eventually taken into custody.

Deputies climbed up to retrieve the bag Rainey had been carrying and found several suspected narcotics including approximately 98 grams of heroin, 15 individually wrapped backs of marijuana, over 600 grams of methamphetamine, a digital scale, and approximately $4,000 in cash. During questioning, Rainey admitted to telling the driver not to stop the vehicle.

Rainey was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, marijuana, and heroin, as well as possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, and flight from an officer. Bail is set at $93,000. He is also being held as a fugitive of Terrebonne Parish where he faces numerous charges including domestic abuse battery, criminal damage to property and a variety of drug and weapons charges.

Checkpoints Planned for “Click It or Ticket” Campaign

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a seat belt checkpoint and a DWI checkpoint as part of its ongoing Click It or Ticket campaign which runs through June 2, 2024. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

The seat belt checkpoint will be conducted on Sunday, May 26, 2024, and deputies will focus on checking motorists for seat belts and child safety seat violations. The DWI checkpoint will begin Sunday evening following the seat belt checkpoint and will continue into the early morning hours of Monday, May 27, 2024. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues.

Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if they are going to drink. Motorists suspected of DWI who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test will lose their driver’s license for one year (first offense). For a second offense, the penalty increases to two years. Anyone convicted of a DWI offense while their driver’s license is suspended because of another DWI offense will face automatic prison time. Lafourche Parish is also a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.

Sheriff Webre Announces Plan for “Click It or Ticket” Campaign

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is joining other local law enforcement agencies in participating in the Click It or Ticket campaign which began May 20 and continues through June 2, 2024. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Additional deputies will be assigned to saturated patrol efforts in conjunction with the campaign. Deputies will be checking motorists for proper seat belt and safety seat use, as well as other violations.

Click It or Ticket is a seat belt enforcement campaign aimed at increasing the national seat belt usage rate. Louisiana’s seat belt usage rate for 2022 was 85.6%, which is below the national rate of 91.9%.

Deputies Charge Two for Illegal Dumping in Raceland

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies charged two individuals with illegal dumping in Raceland. Glen Daigle, 63 of Lockport and Donald McWhorter, 57, of Lockport were charged after an investigation.

Deputies had received complaints of illegal dumping of trash along North Service Road in Raceland. Through investigation, deputies identified Daigle and McWhorter as having recently dumped items along the road. On May 3, 2024, deputies located Daigle and McWhorter and charged them with illegal dumping of trash/garbage along public roads.

Sheriff Craig Webre encourages the public to help keep Lafourche Parish clean by reporting illegal dumping. You can contact the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office directly at (985) 532-2808 or submit a tip anonymously via Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-743-7433, online atwww.crimestoppersbr.org, or via the Bayou Tips app

DWI Checkpoint Planned for April 29, 2024

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will conduct a DWI checkpoint in Lafourche Parish. The checkpoint will begin on the evening of Monday, April 29, 2024, and will continue into the early morning hours of Tuesday, April 30. During the checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues. These checkpoints are designed to help raise awareness for these types of violations and make the highways of the parish safer for all motorists.

Detectives Investigating Friday Afternoon Shooting in Raceland

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced detectives are investigating a shooting that occurred shortly after noon on Friday, April 26, 2024, in the area of Ayo Street in Raceland. The shooting involved two vehicles. No injuries were reported.

Anyone with any information on this incident is asked to submit a tip anonymously to Bayou Region Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-743-7433, online at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips app on mobile devices. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.00 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Shortly after the incident, several schools in the Raceland area were placed on lockdown for a short time out of an abundance of caution.