Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Destiny Pontiff of East Camellia Drive in Thibodaux. She was last seen late Sunday night, May 24, 2020, at a relative’s residence on Antill Drive in Thibodaux when she left without permission.
Destiny Pontiff is described as 5’2” tall, weighing 110 pounds with short brunet 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.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Golden Meadow man has been charged with murder following the death of his girlfriend on Thursday. Travis Orso Jr., 44, was arrested following an investigation into the death of 41-year-old Dione Cheramie.
Shortly after 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2020, deputies responded to a 911 call of a woman, later identified as Cheramie, who had reportedly fallen into the bayou and was unresponsive. EMTs and firefighters also responded to the scene. Life-saving measures were attempted, but Cheramie was pronounced dead at the scene from an apparent drowning.
Orso, Cheramie’s boyfriend, was at the scene, and detectives questioned him about the incident. Through investigation, detectives learned Orso and Cheramie were traveling in a pickup truck on LA Highway 308 when they began to argue. Orso stopped the truck, and Cheramie exited. The two continued arguing and the altercation eventually became physical. At one point, both ended up in Bayou Lafourche. After reviewing evidence at the scene and speaking to Orso and witnesses, investigators established probable cause that Orso’s actions led to Cheramie’s death. An arrest warrant was obtained for Orso for the charge of Second Degree Murder.
Orso was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on the charge of Second Degree Murder. Bail is set at $500,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the dismissal and arrest of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy on Wednesday morning for possession of child pornography. Phillip Guidry, 35, of Houma was arrested Wednesday morning amid an investigation by the Louisiana Office of the Attorney General assisted by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, investigators arrived at Guidry’s residence in Houma with a search warrant. Upon searching Guidry’s devices, they located several images of child pornography. He was arrested and booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. He is charged with 20 counts of Pornography Involving Juveniles Under the Age of 13. Bail is set at $20,000.
Guidry’s employment with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office lasted for more than eight years and officially ended upon his arrest. He spent most of his time as a patrol deputy. Prior to his employment with LPSO, Guidry served as a U.S. Marine.
Sheriff Craig Webre said he was utterly disappointed upon hearing the news: “These actions are reprehensible and are in direct opposition to our mission and values at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. As peace officers, we are expected to hold ourselves to the highest standards, but inevitably, some falter. I am extremely disappointed with this deputy’s actions. As we go forward, we will continue holding the men and women of our agency accountable and ensure they maintain the highest standards of integrity and service to the community.”
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Raceland man who is facing several charges after biting a deputy during an arrest for home invasion and battery. Scotty Poindexter, 30, was arrested on Sunday evening following the incident.
On Sunday, May 17, deputies responded to a Greenville Street residence after Poindexter reportedly forced his way into a relative’s home. Inside the home, he was arguing with a female relative and allegedly punched her in the face. Poindexter was standing outside the residence when deputies arrived. As deputies began to take him into custody, Poindexter began resisting violently. At one point, he bit a deputy on the arm before being detained. The deputy was later treated at a local hospital and released.
Poindexter was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with Battery of a Police Officer, Resisting an Officer with Force or Violence, Home Invasion, and Simple Battery. Bail has not yet been set.
UPDATE: Chad Galjour, 29, is now in custody. He was arrested Saturday evening, May 16, 2020, in Cut Off, La.
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LAST NEWS RELEASE:
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an anonymous tip identified a man wanted in connection to a burglary at Galliano Elementary School. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Chad Galjour, 29, whose last known address is in Waynesboro, Mississippi.
On May 12, 2020, an administrator at the school discovered a burglary had occurred and notified the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Through investigation, detectives determined the burglary occurred on the evening of Friday, May 8, 2020. Several computers were stolen along with various other school supplies. A male subject was captured on surveillance cameras inside the school.
After releasing the images of the suspect to the public, numerous tips were submitted to Crime Stoppers Bayou Region with possible identities, including Chad Galjour. Detectives successfully identified Galjour as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Detectives are now asking the public for help in location Chad Galjour. Anyone with information on his whereabouts 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 an anonymous tip identified a man wanted in connection to a burglary at Galliano Elementary School. Detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Chad Galjour, 29, whose last known address is in Waynesboro, Mississippi.
On May 12, 2020, an administrator at the school discovered a burglary had occurred and notified the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Through investigation, detectives determined the burglary occurred on the evening of Friday, May 8, 2020. Several computers were stolen along with various other school supplies. A male subject was captured on surveillance cameras inside the school.
After releasing the images of the suspect to the public, numerous tips were submitted to Crime Stoppers Bayou Region with possible identities, including Chad Galjour. Detectives successfully identified Galjour as the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest.
Detectives are now asking the public for help in location Chad Galjour. Anyone with information on his whereabouts 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 new changes in operations as Louisiana enters Phase One of the White House COVID-19 guidance.
“I’m so very proud of the people of Lafourche – our families, our businesses, our churches, our community,” said Sheriff Webre. “We’ve abided by the guidelines that have been set forth by our officials, and we have flattened the curve. But the coronavirus is not gone, and we all now have to assume personal responsibility. You have to make decisions about where you go, what protective measures you’re going to take, and which activities you’d like to engage in.”
Beginning Monday, May 18, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office lobbies will reopen to the public, but residents are still encouraged to conduct business by phone, email, the LPSO Mobile app or at www.LPSO.net whenever possible. Anyone entering an LPSO office must submit to a temperature check and use hand sanitizer which will be provided. Anyone needing to enter the office area beyond the lobby will be required to wear a mask. Masks will be provided if the individual is not already wearing one. For those needing fingerprinting, please call (985) 449-4428 to schedule this service.
The Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex will remain closed to the general public, and the exterior intercom must be used to state business prior to entering. Only one person will be allowed to enter when bonds or fines and costs are being paid. All in-person visits for inmates remain suspended, and video visitation is available through IC Solutions at www.icsolutions.com. Online commissary purchases and deposits for inmates are available via the LPSO Mobile app and www.LPSO.net.
The COVID-19 self-testing site remains in operation at the LPSO Shooting Range in Raceland. Therefore the range facility will remain closed until further notice.
Court proceedings for the 17th Judicial District Court in Lafourche Parish will resume on Monday, May 18, 2020. Anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 or ordered to self-quarantine, or anyone experiencing symptoms including fever, coughing, sneezing, sore throat, shortness of breath, head/body aches, or new loss of taste or smell, should NOT report to court. Anyone who is 65 years of age or older or has significant pre-existing respiratory or immune deficiencies should also NOT report to court. Instead, those individuals must call the District Attorney’s office at (985) 447-2003 for alternate instructions. All other individuals scheduled to appear in court must do so. Anyone whose court appearance was continued during the Stay at Home order should wait to receive a new court date. If unsure of your court date, you should first contact the District Attorney’s Office or your attorney.
There will be additional screening processes in place before entering the courthouses. Only individuals that must appear in court will be allowed inside. All are encouraged to bring a cloth face covering as it will be required to enter the courthouses, and masks will be provided for those without one. All bags, purses, briefcases or other large items must be left at home or secured in a vehicle as they will not be permitted past the security checkpoint.
“I’m excited to move into this next phase, and I’m looking forward to what the future holds,” said Sheriff Webre. “I’m very proud of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office who have worked diligently through this unprecedented worldwide event and have served with dignity, professionalism and honor.”
To stay informed, citizens are urged to download the LPSO Mobile App for the latest local information and push alerts, as well as important links to local, state, and federal government information sites. The information is also available on our website at www.LPSO.net/coronavirus.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Crag Webre announced detectives are investigating a recent burglary at Galliano Elementary School located at 148 West 158th Street in Galliano.
On May 12, 2020, an administrator at the school discovered a burglary had occurred and notified the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Through investigation and reviewing surveillance video, detectives determined the burglary occurred on the evening of Friday, May 8, 2020. Several computers were stolen along with various other school supplies. A male subject was captured on surveillance cameras inside the school.
Detectives are asking for the public’s help in this investigation. Anyone who can identify the male subject or anyone with any knowledge of this incident 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 Houma man following a shooting incident in Lockport on Thursday. Logan James, 30, who is a convicted felon, faces weapons charges in the incident.
Just after 12 p.m. on May 7, 2020, deputies responded to a report of shots being fired in the area of East Lafourche Street in Lockport. While responding to the area, deputies received another call of a suspicious vehicle on the street. Deputies located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop with assistance from the Lockport Police Department. The driver was immediately detained and identified as Logan James, a convicted felon. He was wearing an empty gun holster, and officers observed a handgun under his seat. Through investigation, detectives established probable cause that James had fired the weapon, but they found no evidence of any property damage. The shooting incident remains under investigation.
Meanwhile, James was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex. He was charged with Illegal Use of Weapons or Dangerous Instrumentalities and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Bail is set at $15,000.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre has announced that the application deadline for the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association annual scholarship is now set for Friday, May 15, 2020. The original deadline was April 1, 2020, but had been postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications are still available for download online at www.LPSO.net/scholarship. Completed applications can be turned in at any LPSO location or mailed to Lieutenant Brennan Matherne, P.O. Box 5608, Thibodaux, LA 70302. All applications must be received by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office no later than Friday, May 15.
The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a graduating high school student who attends Nicholls State University or L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College. An applicant must be a permanent resident of Lafourche Parish and must be eligible for admission to the school indicated on the application. The award will only be paid for attendance at one of the aforementioned qualifying institutions as a full-time, undergraduate student. The scholarship is awarded as a gift, not a loan, and is awarded to defray the rising costs of tuition and related expenses in higher education. There are no restrictions on the purposes for which the scholarship is spent. There are no restrictions on applicants by reason of race, creed, color, age or national origin. An independent selection committee will review the applications and select a winner to be announced at a later date.
