Tag: New Orleans

Gold Rolex watch snatched from victim’s wrist by robbery suspect in Bourbon Street bathroom, NOPD says

New Orleans Police released surveillance camera footage of a suspect who allegedly snatched a gold Rolex watch off the wrist of a victim inside a Bourbon Street bathroom on Jan. 16.

A man briefly chased an alleged thief who snatched a gold Rolex watch from his wrist inside a Bourbon Street bathroom Jan. 16 before losing of the suspect, according to New Orleans Police.

The incident occurred at approximately 2:40 a.m. when the suspect followed the victim inside the bathroom of a business in the 200 block of Bourbon Street and took the watch, New Orleans Police said.

The suspect ran out of the building onto Iberville Street towards Royal Street, according to New Orleans Police. The victim briefly gave chase, but lost sight of the suspect.

New Orleans police are investigating the incident as a simple robbery and on Jan. 23 released surveillance camera footage of the suspect, which is pictured above.

Police describe the suspect as a black male standing six foot one inch tall with a slim build, wearing a white mesh hat with a black front, white t-shirt and dark colored pants.

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

Two suspects wanted by NOPD in connection to Jan. 19 stabbing, simple robbery on Iberville Street

The surveillance camera footage of two suspects wanted by the New Orleans Police Department in connection to a Jan. 19 stabbing and simple robbery in the 700 block of Iberville Street.

Two suspects are wanted for allegedly stabbing a victim during a simple robbery in the 700 block of Iberville Street on Jan. 19 then fleeing the scene, according to New Orleans Police.

The incident occurred at about 6 a.m. when a suspect in a pink shirt allegedly stabbed the victim in the abdomen with a sharp object during the simple robbery, according to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).

The suspect then fled the scene in a black Dodge Durango driven by another person with blonde hair and wearing a black shirt, the NOPD said.

According to the NOPD, the Durango’s license plate is C703792.

The Dodge Durango allegedly involved in the Jan. 19 simple robbery and stabbing in the French Quarter, according to New Orleans Police.

New Orleans Police released surveillance camera footage of the alleged suspects and getaway vehicle on Jan. 23, which are pictured above.

The incident is being investigated as an aggravated battery by cutting and simple robbery, the NOPD said.

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

Body left in Hard Rock Hotel collapse exposed after tarp falls off, then re-covered; Friday protest planned at City Hall

The body of a victim killed by the Hard Rock Hotel collapse was re-covered by a tarp by New Orleans city crews Wednesday after the previous one blew off and exposed the remains.

Photos of the body showing its legs dangling off the side of the collapsed portion of the hotel emerged on social media earlier this week, sparking outrage.

The hotel partially collapsed on the morning of Oct. 12, killing Anthony Magrette, 49; Quinnyon Wimberly, 36; and Jose Ponce Arreola, 63; and injuring dozens more.

The bodies of Wimberly and Arreola are still trapped inside.

In a Facebook post on Jan. 22, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell said the conditions of the collapse have deteriorated since October, making access to the remains “extremely difficult and very dangerous.”

She added that the body of one victim is embedded in highly unstable debris 11 stories above street level and adjusting the tarp to re-cover the body again a “significant safety challenge.”

A new, yellow-colored tarp was placed over the body by city crews on the same day, according to WVUE.

Shortly before the body was uncovered, Cantrell took to social media to scold those who took pictures of the exposed body.

The outrage was shared across social media, except it was directed at Cantrell and other officials, as well as the owner of the collapsed site, Mohan Kailas.

A protest reportedly organized by Trey Monaghan will organize in front of the collapse site near the corner of Canal and North Rampart streets Friday afternoon, according to The Gambit, and march to City Hall. The protest starts at 3 p.m.

WGNO reported that 1031 Canal Development LLC, which owns the Hard Rock property, said the city has control of the site.

During a Jan. 17 press conference, Cantrell said the building could be demolished as early as March and added that retrieving the trapped bodies is her “top priority.”

D.H. Griffin Companies will be managing the demolition of the hotel, Cantrell said, and is “more than confident” that the contractor can safely implode the building.

Street closures, traffic controls scheduled for Jan. 22 filming in the French Quarter

Film crew at the Andrew Jackson Hotel in 2016. | Andrew Jackson Hotel Via Facebook

Street closures, traffic controls and parking restrictions are scheduled throughout the French Quarter on Wednesday to accommodate film production.

Danni Productions LLC will be conducting a Jan. 22 film shoot for a television series titled Your Honor, according to notices posted by the Vieux Carre Property Owners, Residents and Associates.

Your Honor is an upcoming Showtime series starring Byran Cranston.

Street closures include:

  • 800 block of St. Peters Street from 6 to 10 a.m.
  • 700 block of Orleans Street from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Streets with intermittent (three to five minutes) traffic control from 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. include:

  • 700 block of St. Peters Street
  • 600 block of Bourbon Street

Streets with no parking from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Jan. 22 include:

  • 700 block of Bourbon Street
  • 800 block of St. Peters Street
  • 800 block of Orleans Street
  • Portion of the 700 block of St. Peters Street
  • Portion of the 600 block of Bourbon Street


Zulu, Endymion parades rerouted around French Quarter due to Hard Rock collapse

Zulu parade in 2013. Photo: Derek Bridges | Flickr CC

The 2020 parades for the krewes of Zulu and Endymion will be rerouted around the French Quarter due to the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, a New Orleans city spokeswoman said on Tuesday.

Routes for Endymion and Zulu were modified this Mardi Gras season for public safety reasons due to the hotel collapse, said spokeswoman LaTonya Norton.

The Hard Rock Hotel partially collapsed on the morning of Oct. 12, killing Anthony Magrette, 49; Quinnyon Wimberly, 36; and Jose Ponce Arreola, 63.

An evacuation zone that prohibits public from passing through includes several streets surrounding the hotel, including the corner of North Rampart and Canal streets, which were traditionally part of the Zulu and Endymion parade routes.

This year’s Endymion parade route, which begins at City Park and Orleans avenue, will pass down Canal Street but hook a right down Elk Street, continue to Poydras Street, then turn left and continue to wind its way through the Central Business District until it reaches Julia Street and Convention Center Boulevard.

Zulu’s parade, which begins at Claiborne and Jackson avenues, will make its way to St. Charles Avenue and turn left on Poydras Street, then right onto Loyola Avenue and continue past Canal Street, completely avoiding the French Quarter.

The parades for Endymion and Zulu begin at 4:15 p.m. on Feb. 22 and 8 a.m. on Feb. 25, respectively.

Maps for the modified routes are available on routewise.nola.gov.

Residents and visitors are also encouraged to text MARDIGRAS to 888777 to receive updates on parade schedules, transportation impacts, public safety, and weather information directly from the city.