On Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at approximately 11:42a, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to the 600 Block of East Olive Street in West Monroe, LA in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a male victim had been shot in the arm by a female suspect during an altercation. The victim was transported to a local hospital and was released after treatment for the gunshot wound. The suspect, later identified as 20yo Amanda S. Taylor, fled the scene.

OPSO Investigators secured an arrest warrant for Taylor for one count of Attempted 2nd Degree Murder.

During the early morning hours of 8/8/13, deputies located Taylor. She was arrested and transported to the Ouachita Correctional Center where she was held pending a $1,000,000.00 bond.

On 9/1/13 at approximately 3:18p, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at 835 New Mineral Springs Rd in Calhoun, LA. Deputies found that 47yo Tony Ford had been shot with a shotgun in the left hand. Witnesses identified the suspect as 61yo Bobby S. Thomas.

Further investigation revealed that a group had been at this location consuming alcoholic beverages when a verbal conflict escalated to Thomas shooting Ford. Thomas was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center for one count of Attempted Second Degree Murder with bond totalling $25,000. Ford was transported to a local hospital where he is being treated for non life threatening injuries to his hand and abdominal area.

UDPATE: At this point in the investigation no arrests have been made. The case is being forwarded to the 4th District Attorney’s Office for further review.

On 9/3/13 at approximately 2:47a, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 131 Swartz School Rd in reference to a shooting.

Upon arrival, deputies learned that the victim Kevin Brown, 48yo, had been shot in the upper torso by his wife, Joan Brown, 44yo, with a handgun.

Kevin was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Joan was transported to the OPSO Annex for further questioning.

The investigation is still on-going and more information will be released as it becomes available.

UPDATE: An investigation into the shooting at 1353 Rogers Rd. has resulted in the arrest of 54yo Suzanne Black. Evidence indicated that the victim, Charles C. Black, 53yo, was shot once in the back with a large caliber handgun. Suzanne will be transported to the Ouachita Correctional Center to be booked for Second Degree Murder.

Any additional information regarding this case will be released at a later time.

At approximately 4:39pm, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a residence in the 1300 Block of Rogers Rd. in West Monroe, LA in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies learned that a female had shot a male with a handgun.

The female is currently in custody and being interviewed by OPSO Investigators. The male was transported to a local hospital where he died. OPSO crime scene is currently processing the scene.

Both names of the individuals involved in this incident will be released at the appropriate time. This investigation is ongoing with additional information provided as it becomes available.

On October 13, 2013, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated a theft complaint of an ATV and trailer in the 1500 block of Frenchman’s Bend in Monroe, LA. During the investigation, deputies were able to secure surveillance footage of the suspect vehicle, a red and gray Dodge Pickup Truck, entering and leaving the subdivision.

A Louisiana State Police Trooper recognized the suspect vehicle and provided the identity of the driver. A subsequent investigation revealed that Frank Herbert, 48yo, of Bastrop, LA, was the driver of the Dodge pickup truck involved in the theft. Herbert along with the stolen ATV and trailer were located in Monroe.

In a statement to OPSO investigators, Herbert admitted that he was responsible for this theft along with other thefts including the theft of a zero turn lawn mower in Morehouse Parish. Herbert was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Cenber for Theft of a Motor Vehicle held pending bond.

This investigation is continuing with additional arrests for other crimes expected.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Louisiana State Police for their assistance in this investigation.

On October 7, 2013 the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated an armed robbery that occurred at the Hwy 15 U-Pak-It on Winnsboro Rd. in Monroe, LA. Witnesses confirmed that a suspect armed with a handgun entered the business and demanded money from the attendants. The suspect fired the weapon at an attendant and fled the scene with an undetermined amount of money.

On October 24, 2013 OPSO Investigators secured an arrest warrant for Charles Ladarren Owens, 30yo of Monroe, for one count of Armed Robbery and one count of Aggravated Assault with a Firearm with total bond set at $150,000.00.

In the early morning hours of October 25th, the OPSO SWAT Team assisted with the investigation by executing two search warrants that produced intelligence of Owens whereabouts. The OPSO Warrants Division with the assistance of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, located Owens and placed him under arrest. Owens was booked into the Lincoln Detention Center and transferred to the Ouachita Correctional Center.

Sheriff Jay Russell would like to thank all of the deputies that contributed to this case for their hard work.

In August of 2013, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested 35yo Timothy Calhoun for several sex crimes involving a child. Subsequently, investigators have continued this investigation with other victims coming forward. Investigators presented several cases to a Grand Jury and secured indictments for Calhoun involving multiple victims.

These indictments are the results of a two month investigation conducted by OPSO sex crimes investigators. Due to these cases involving children, no additional information will be released.

On 11/3/13, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a burglary in progress at 100 Ouachita Drive in West Monroe, LA. The victim stated that a black male removed a window air conditioner on the backside of his residence and entered through the window. The victim armed himself and confronted the suspect inside the residence firing a shot at the suspect. The shot missed the suspect who then fled the scene on foot.

Patrol Deputies then located the suspect walking away from the residence and took him into custody. The suspect was identified as Jamarcus D. Manning, a 19 year old black male.

OPSO was also investigating 6 recent residential burglaries that occurred in this same area. Positive fingerprint identification by the OPSO I.D. Division Deputies linked Manning to these burglaries. Manning was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center on 7 counts of Burglary.

On the morning of 11/9/13 at approximately 6:59am, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a disturbance call at 100 McKeithen Street Lot 2 in West Monroe, LA. While enroute to the call, deputies were advised that the suspect was leaving in a teal colored Pontiac car with two victims involved in the disturbance. Deputies observed the car and made a traffic stop on the vehicle. The suspect, 23yo De’orris Smith was taken into custody without incident.

An investigation revealed that Smith was arguing with the male victim and then pointed a gun at him and pulled the trigger and the gun failed to fire. Smith then got in the backseat of the Pontiac car while the male victim and his girlfriend were attempting to leave and advised them not to stop for anyone.

Smith was searched along with the vehicle and the gun was not found. A subsequent search of the offense location revealed a .32 caliber revolver.

Through witness testimony, it was also determined that Smith was involved in a domestic disturbance the previous night where he hit his girlfriend in the face and was also threatening to shoot everyone.

Smith was transported to the Ouachita Correctional Center where he was booked on one count of Attempted Murder, two counts of Kidnapping, Simple Assault, Simple Assault Domestic and Domestic Abuse Battery.

An investigation into several residential burglaries in and around the Town & Country subdivision has resulted in the arrest of two suspects. Arron D. Hannibal (23yo) and Zaterias Minor (17yo) both of Monroe, have been charged with burglary. Hannibal is charged with seven counts and Minor is charged with six counts.

On November 8th, OPSO deputies secured surveillance video from a residential burglary. This video was disseminated to patrol deputies. Sgt. Connie Miller was able to identify Hannibal as the suspect in the burglary. After detaining Hannibal, Investigators determined that Hannibal and Minor were responsible for these residential burglaries.

Investigators recovered several laptop computers along with a gaming system. Both Hannibal and Minor were booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center and held pending bond. This investigation is still ongoing with more arrests expected.

ARRON HANNIBAL

ZATERIAS MINOR

On October 11 2013, OPSO arrested 19yo Justin Phillips of Monroe for a burglary of a residence on Dorothy Drive. West Monroe Police also arrested Phillips by warrant for similar burglaries inside their jurisdiction.

OPSO Investigators continued this investigation and were able to identify Phillips as a suspect in numerous Monroe City residential burglaries in and around Church Hill Circle. With the forensic evidence obtained in this investigation, MPD detectives secured arrest warrants for Phillips for 6 counts of Burglary and one count of arson.

On November 19, 2013, OPSO investigators charged Phillips with 2 additional burglaries from September of this year in and around West Ridge Drive in West Monroe. Phillips was booked into OCC where he is currently being held pending charges.

Sheriff Jay Russell is proud of the hard work of the deputies in clearing not only burglaries in the parish but assisting MPD with their investigation of the north side residential burglaries.

UPDATE: The identity of the deceased driver has been confirmed to be 37yo Gary Wells of Monroe, LA. The other driver has been identified as 38yo Robert Porter of Monroe, LA. Charges are pending on Porter following his release from the hospital.

On 12/2/13 at approximately 5:38p, the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a two car crash on Richwood Rd No. 2 at the intersection of HWY 165 in Monroe, LA. The preliminary investigation revealed both vehicles were traveling eastbound on Richwood Rd No. 2 when one vehicle struck the other from behind at a high rate of speed causing both vehicles to become engulfed in flames. The Ouachita Parish Fire Department extinguished the flames.

It is believed each vehicle was occupied by a single driver. One of the drivers was transported to Glenwood Hospital with moderate injuries. The second driver perished at the scene as a result of the crash.

The investigation is still ongoing with charges pending against the remaining driver with alcohol suspected as a factor. Names of the persons involved will be released at a later time pending confirmation and notification of family members.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office is currently conducting a homicide investigation at a residence in the 3000 Block of Garrett Road in Monroe, LA. Investigators confirm that a single male victim has been shot and is deceased.

Additional information will be released as it becomes available.

On December 6, 2013, the OPSO – Special Victims Unit arrested 36 year old Patrick Marshall of Monroe, LA on one count of Failure to Register and Notify As a Sex Offender or Child Predator.

Deputies discovered that Marshall was willfully failing to register his social media accounts, E-mail addresses, and other on-line accounts as required by Louisiana law. Marshall was previously convicted of Pornography Involving Juveniles in July of 2011.

Marshall’s bond for the Failure to Register was set at $15,000.00.

The OPSO SCAT team has conducted an investigation that resulted in the clearance of several Ouachita Parish burglaries along with the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana, hydrocodone and cash. On January 1^st, deputies responded to a reckless driving complaint in the Bawcomville area of West Monroe. Subsequently, the vehicle was located at 234 Lilac St. Deputies determined that the vehicle was stolen and had been occupied by Clayton Parker,24,of West Monroe along with William Cain,18, of Monroe.

Deputies are continuing this investigation but to date the following arrests have been made.

Parker has been charged with 2 counts of Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Arson, Simple Burglary, Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Cain has been charged with Burglary and Resisting an Officer.

A related investigation at 994 Winnfield Rd in West Monroe  yielded the arrest of Renee Lovett,46, and John Bigelow,49. Stolen property, 4 ounces of methamphetamine, marijuana, suspected Hydrocodone, 3 firearms and 14,000.00 in cash were seized.

Both Lovett and Bigelow have been charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Conspiracy to Distribute Methamphetamine,Possession of Hydrocodone, Possession of Marijuana and Illegal Carrying of Firearm.

At a residence at 230 Pink St, Deputies were able to locate more stolen property and suspected methamphetamine. This led to the arrest of Jeremy Wells, 36, and Kayla Lara, 36. Both have been arrested with one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine.

Sheriff Russell is pleased with these arrests and said this is a good example of great cooperation between the Uniformed Patrol Division. Special Crimes Apprehension Team (S.C.A.T.), Investigations Division and Narcotics Division of the Sheriffs Office.  ”It is through this type cooperation that investigations are furthered and criminal enterprises are foiled”, said Sheriff Russell.

This is an ongoing investigation with more arrests expected. Investigators are currently working to identify stolen property to complete additional cases.

An investigation into 3 residential burglaries in the Town & Country area has resulted in the arrest of Seddrica Meadow, 20, and Shakelia Woods, 19, both of Monroe. Based on a tip from the public, deputies were able to execute a search warrant on a vehicle located at 315 Woodale Drive and retrieve stolen property from the burglaries that had occurred on January 8th.
The investigation also led to the recovery of several guns, ammo, jewelry and a television from apartment 4. This was the apartment of Meadow and Woods.
Deputies have been able to link Terrance Williams, 19, and Dearius Rollins, 20, of Monroe to these burglaries as well as other burglaries. Investigators are currently working to prepare arrest warrants for 3 counts of burglary for Williams and Rollins.
Also, arrests warrants were issued for Diquan Wilson, 19, of Monroe and Williams and Rollins for one count of First Degree Robbery stemming from an incident reported to OPSO on December 12th.
The investigation is ongoing with additional arrests expected. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Williams, Rollins and Wilson is encouraged to call OPSO or Crimestoppers.

“The closure of these cases resulting from a public tip, highlights the importance of the public’s role in helping us reduce crime.  I am proud of the men and women of OPSO that brought these cases to a close and recovered the stolen property”, said Sheriff Russell.

At approximately 1230 am, the OPSO responded to the armed robbery of two separate individuals at Town and Country Apartments on Old Sterlington Rd. in Monroe.  Deputies obtained the suspect information from the two victims and arrested Jaquarius Conway,19, of Monroe. This arrest was after Conway fled from deputies in a vehicle.

This investigation revealed that Conway approached two victims on two separate occasions and took valuables from them at gunpoint.

Conway was arrested for 2 counts of Armed Robbery and one count of Resisting Arrest. This investigation is continuing with the possibility of another arrest.

Press Release – Wanted Persons

The Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office is requesting the assistance of the public in locating two suspects that are wanted for Forgery and Theft of Assets of an Aged or Disabled Person.

Roamond Burks,25, and Erick Anderson, 22, both of Monroe have outstanding warrants for Forgery, Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Forgery, Theft of Assets of an Aged or Disabled Person, and Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Theft of Assests of an Aged or Disabled Person.

An investigation by the OPSO Special Victims Unit revealed that Burks and Anderson were involved in a long term scheme that defrauded a 93 year old victim of assets of over $45,000.00

Anyone with information as to the whereabouts of Burks and Anderson are encouraged to call OPSO at 318-329-1200 or Crimestoppers at 318-388-2274.

Erick Anderson                                                                                            Roamond Burks

Press Release

UPDATE 1-30-14 2:05 p.m.   Demarcus Chisley has been arrested.      

An 18 month criminal investigation by the Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office has yielded the arrest of two additional suspects in an elaborate Ouachita Parish burglary ring. Terrance Williams,19, and Joshua Chisley,20, both of Monroe were arrested within the last 24 hours on the campus of Grambling State University in Lincoln Parish. With the assistance of Louisiana State Police, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Grambling Police, Louisiana Tech Police and Grambling University Police, both suspects were taken into custody without incident.

Williams has been booked for Attempted Second Degree Murder, First Degree Robbery along with several counts of Burglary. Bond is set at 825,000.  Chisley has been booked for Armed Robbery and Home Invasion. Bond is set at 150,000. Additional charges are expected. Damarcus Chisley is still wanted for three counts of burglary.

In total, 10 suspects have been identified as part of this organization.  This group was responsible for crimes including Attempted Second Degree Murder, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery, Burglary, Felony Theft and Illegal Possession of Stolen Property.  Firearms and high end electronics were the primary focus of this organization.

During the course of this investigation, Dearius Rollins, 20, has been charged with Attempted Second Degree Murder, three counts of Burglary and First Degree Robbery. Adrian Harvey, 20, has been charged with three counts of Burglary and Illegal Possession of Stolen Property. Diquan Wilson, 19, has been charged with First Degree Robbery. Justin Moy, 20, has been charged with Illegal Possession of Stolen Property. Dacedric Randolph, 23, has been charged with Illegal Possession of Stolen Property. Shacqwuill Houston, 20, has been charged with Illegal Possession of Stolen Property and Theft by Fraud. Christopher Williams, 20, has been charged with Burglary, Theft by Fraud and Illegal Possession of Stolen Property.

This investigation is continuing with additional charges and arrests expected.  

Sheriff Jay Russell extends his thanks to the agencies that assisted OPSO in this far reaching apprehension.