Tag: New Orleans Police Department

NOPD investigates officers after questionable Bourbon Street body cam arrest surfaces

An internal investigation into five New Orleans Police officers was initiated last week after the release of a body cam video earlier this month allegedly showing some of them coordinating a story to justify the arrest of a Bourbon Street suspect in January 2019.

Last week, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson suspended all tasks forces and launched a criminal investigation into several officers involved in the arrest of Radon Ray, who was allegedly arrested by Eighth District task force plainclothes police for gun and drug possession charges in the 400 block of Bourbon Street on Jan. 1, 2019.

In addition, reassignments of several department captains were announced at a May 22 press conference. Watch the press conference here.

The actions come after the preliminary findings of a multi-phase audit into the NOPD’s task forces by the Federal Consent Monitoring Team started in late 2019, Ferguson said, adding the findings suggested inadequate supervision among the task forces.

A body cam video of the arrest’s aftermath was obtained and published by The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate days before Ferguson’s announcement and allegedly shows Eighth District task force officers at the Royal Street station lining up their facts in Ray’s arrest.

The video was recently submitted on the record in the case of Ray, who is fighting to get his charges thrown out, the newspaper reported.

Ferguson said the “disturbing” video showing misconduct exacerbated the monitoring team’s findings and has since reassigned all four officers involved—Samuel Senter, Jordan Sherr, William Knowles and Jason Collins—have been to desk duty and are under criminal investigation.

In addition, retired Sgt. Mark Mumme, the officers’ task force supervisor, has been suspended from his reserve officer position and is also under investigation.

“I think the public should be just as troubled as I am,” Ferguson said. “I do not believe in no way shape or form there is a systematic problem with our department.”

Ferguson said it’s important that the NOPD be proactive and transparent regarding the video.

“Our department has come too far since the onset of the consent decree to do anything less,” Ferguson said.

The monitoring team’s report and findings will be released to the public in the coming weeks, Ferguson said.

IDs sought for 3 men in suspected valet auto theft on St. Louis Street

(Photo courtesy of the NOPD.)
Three unidentified male suspects are wanted by New Orleans Police in connection to an alleged Sunday theft of a car and several sets of keys from the valet section of a parking garage on St. Louis Street.

New Orleans Police request public assistance in identifying the three males who allegedly entered a parking garage in the 600 block of St Louis Street shortly after 10:30 p.m. on May 17 and took nine car keys from the valet area before stealing a white Hyundai Santa Fe SUV.

One of the suspects is believed to be an individual named Anthony McBride, New Orleans Police said.

The stolen Hyundai has a license plate number of 945DJB. For reference, New Orleans Police provided a picture similar to the one stolen, as well as a picture of the alleged suspects.

The Louisiana Supreme Court complex contains the only parking garage in the 600 block of St. Louis Street and is guarded.

Anyone with information on the identity and location of the wanted suspects or the stolen vehicle is asked to contact New Orleans Eighth District detectives at 504-653-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 877-903-7867.

Identity of suspect sought after alleged theft of Jeep on Iberville Street

Second gutter theft suspect strikes French Quarter in 2 weeks

A man is suspected of stealing a copper gutter from a French Quarter building May 4, the second such incident in a matter of weeks, according to New Orleans Police.

The suspect was allegedly captured on surveillance camera prying a copper gutter from the side of a business in the 900 block of St. Louis Street shortly after 2:30 a.m.

New Orleans Police haven’t identified the suspect, but is described by a white male with a square tattoo on the back of his left calf. Surveillance camera footage allegedly depicting the thief (shown above) was released by police on Friday.

It’s the second theft of copper gutters in the 900 block of St. Louis Street since April 24, according to New Orleans Police.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact NOPD Eighth District detectives at 504-658-6080. Anonymous callers can contact Crimestoppers of Greater New Orleans at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 877-903-7867.

NOPD searching for suspected thief who stole copper gutters from buildings on St. Louis, St. Phillip streets

Capt. Anthony Caprera promoted to lead NOPD 8th District; ex-station chief demoted

A New Orleans Police lieutenant with the 8th District was promoted to the rank of captain on Friday and will now lead the station as its new commander.

Capt. Anthony Caprera (pictured left), who is now in charge of the 8th District, was promoted from lieutenant during a private ceremony in Superintendent Shaun Ferguson’s office on Friday, according to New Orleans Police.

Additionally, Capt. Preston Bax, formerly a lieutenant and assistant commander with New Orleans Police’s 4th District, was promoted to captain and commander of the 6th District during the same ceremony.

The ceremonies were held separately and in private in order to practice social/physical distancing measures to stop coronavirus spread, the New Orleans Police said.

NOPD 8th District officer dies after battle with coronavirus

Caprera takes on responsibility for the district, which includes the French Quarter, the Central Business District and parts, other parts of downtown and a portion of the Marigny.

Caprera replaced his former boss, Lt. Octavio Baldassaro (pictured right), who was demoted from captain following an undisclosed and ongoing internal administrative investigation conducted by the Public Integrity Bureau, New Orleans Police said.

Baldassaro was previously investigated for an excessive force incident in which he was filmed throwing a woman to the ground while arresting her for fighting during French Quarter Festival in 2019, but was later cleared of wrongdoing, according to The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate.

NOPD 8th District officer dies after battle with coronavirus

A 30-year New Orleans Police veteran and 8th District officer passed away on Thursday following complications from COVID-19, according to the department.

Mark Hall Sr., a police officer assigned to NOPD’s 8th District in the French Quarter, died Thursday after he was diagnosed with coronavirus on April 3.

Hall served more than 30 years with the department, most recently with the 8th District, when he died. The NOPD announced his passing in a public statement posted to Facebook.

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin gets early release from federal prison due to coronavirus pandemic

“It is with great sorry that the New Orleans Police Department announce the passing of a brother in blue due to complications from COVID-19,” the statement said. “Hall was a veteran of the NOPD with more than 30 years of service, most recently with the 8th District. Please keep his family in your prayers.”

The Louisiana Department of Health reported 447 coronavirus deaths and 6,557 confirmed cases in Orleans Parish, according to its most recent data published on Monday.

Additionally, public health officials on Monday reported a total of 29,673 confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 1,991 deaths statewide.