Category: NOPD

Several people arrested in suspected French Quarter pickpocket operation

New Orleans Police on Sunday arrested several individuals suspected of stealing phones and other items from individuals in a French Quarter pickpocket operation.

Police said they began investigating the thefts after receiving an increase in pickpocketing incidents starting on Friday.

As a result of the investigation, NOPD detectives arrested five individuals and recovered numerous numerous allegedly stolen items, including identification cards, credit cards and 71 cell phones. Some of the property were returned to their owners, while police are still trying to verify ownership of other items, according to the NOPD.

Individuals arrested by the NOPD include 31-year-old Christian Noela, 24-year-old Fernanda Almagro, 29-year-old Joselyn Soque, 18-year-old Andres Ambo Chacaguasay and Rose Freire.

NOPD urged residents and visitors to remain vigilant during Mardi Gras, and to contact the Eighth District Station at 504-658-6080 or visit the Eighth District station in person at 334 Royal Street if they suspect they were pickpocketed.

National Guard soldiers arrest man who approached them with a knife

National Guard soldiers arrested a man on New Year’s Day after he approached them with a knife near a Bourbon Street intersection.

The incident occurred at 4:49 a.m. on Thursday near the intersection of Bourbon and Iberville streets, when 61-year-old Dwayne Walker approached the National Guard soldiers holding a knife, according to the NOPD.

The NOPD said the soldiers were able to successfully disarm Walker before arresting him.

Walker is described as “unhoused,” or homeless, and was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on suspicion of aggravated assault on a police officer, the NOPD said.

Woman drives away with parking boots attached to car following alleged Canal Street assault

A 30-year-old woman is wanted on suspicion of theft and assault charges after driving away from a Canal Street parking lot with two boots attached to her rental vehicle following an altercation with an officer in November, according to New Orleans Police on Tuesday.

Police officials said the incident occurred at about 5 p.m. on Nov. 20 in the parking lot located at 201 Canal St., Brandie Yvonne Moody parked her rental vehicle without paying for parking.

Moody fought with the booting officer when they refused to remove the car boots placed on her vehicle for non-payment, causing minor injuries, NOPD said.

After the altercation, Moody allegedly stole the booting company’s thermal printer and fled the scene with the two boots still attached, damaging her rental vehicle in the process

New Orleans Police said Moody is now being sought on suspicion of charges that include felony theft, simple assault and simple battery. Officials said Moody also goes by the name of “Brandie Yvonne Bell.”

Officials urge the public to contact NOPD Detective Mark Boyle at 504-658-6703 or by email at mboyle@nola.gov, or contact NODP Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080 with any information on the whereabouts of Moody.

Pictured: Brandie Moody/Courtesy of NOPD.

6 people injured in French Quarter shootings on Canal, Bourbon streets

Six people sustained gunshot injuries during a violent weekend in the French Quarter following incidents on Canal and Bourbon streets, according to New Orleans Police.

The victims were injured in three separate shooting incidents that were reported on Saturday and Sunday following Southern University’s win against Grambling State University in the annual Bayou Classic held at the Caesars Superdome.

The first shooting was reported at about 7:29 p.m. on Saturday, when a victim was shot after gunfire erupted in the 200 block of Bourbon Street, according to the NOPD, which described the suspect as an “unknown Black male.” The victim was not identified.

A male victim sustained a gunshot injury in a shooting that was reported at about 8:41 p.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of Canal Street, according to the NOPD. The male victim, who was not identified, allegedly told police that he was walking and when he turned around, he was shot. The suspect was not identified.

A third shooting incident was reported at about 2:29 a.m. Sunday, when four people sustained gunshot injuries following an altercation in the 700 block of Canal Street, according to the NOPD, which did not identify the victims but added that all four were transported to a local hospital via New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. A suspect was not identified.

Bomb scare reported on Bourbon Street

New Orleans Police responded to a reported bomb threat on Bourbon Street Thursday, although a bomb wasn’t located, officials said.

Police logs show the bomb threat was reported at about 8:40 p.m. in the 700 block of Bourbon Street.

Upon responding to the scene, police units investigated the area but did not discover anything to support a bomb threat, NOPD said.