Suspects sought by NOPD in connection to residential burglary on Burgundy Street

(Photo: NOPD)
New Orleans Police are asking the public’s help in identifying suspects wanted in connection to a Tuesday residential burglary in the French Quarter.

The burglary occurred shortly after 9 p.m. when two suspects (pictured above at left) entered the side walkway into the rear courtyard of a residence in the 1000 block of Burgundy Street, according to New Orleans Police.

The suspects allegedly took two firearms, two bicycles and a backpack before fleeing the location towards Esplanade Avenue.

About six hours later, at about 3 a.m. on June 24, an unknown Black male (pictured above at right) used a credit card belonging to one of the victims at the Brown Derby convenience store on Tulane Avenue and Jefferson Davis Parkway, according to New Orleans Police.

Anyone with additional information on the incident or the identities and locations of the suspects 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.

Woman arrested in connection to Decatur Street business burglary

Thousands gather in Jackson Square to protest police brutality following George Floyd killing

(Photos: New Orleans Police Department, Contributed)
Thousands gathered to protest against police brutality in the French Quarter on Friday following the death of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis Police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes during an arrest on May 25.

The incident was captured on a viral cell phone video and subsequently spawned several rounds of protests in New Orleans and many more that continue throughout the world more than two weeks after Floyd’s death.

Protesters gathered in front of St. Louis Cathedral early Friday evening and the crowd continue to grow for several more minutes until it expanded onto Decatur Street and Washington Artillery Park, where the main gathering was held.

The peaceful gathering lasted for approximately two hours and included numerous public speakers who decried racism and police violence.

A second gathering of protesters marched peacefully through the French Quarter on Saturday, walking down Esplanade Avenue to North Rampart Street before dispersing at Bienville Street.

In anticipation of the gatherings, the city closed access to Jackson Square proper, which contains the statue of Battle of New Orleans General and seventh U.S. President Andrew Jackson.

The Jackson statue had been the target of Take ‘Em Down NOLA, an activist group that advocates for its removal because its symbolization of white supremacy.

Additionally, several businesses were seen boarded-over, although it was difficult to tell whether it was because of Tropical Storm Cristobal or to prepare in the event the protest devolved into civil unrest.

But despite the rumors of possibly violence or civil unrest in the French Quarter, no such incidents were reported and the NOPD thanked demonstrators for the peaceful protest.

The NOPD closed most of Decatur Street, except for a portion in between Toulouse and Dumaine streets in order to accommodate the protest. Hardly any police were seen, a contrast from last Wednesday’s confrontational protest on the Crescent City Connection Bridge.

The June 3 large group of protesters gathered on Highway 90 and attempted to cross the bridge over the Mississippi River before the NOPD deployed tear gas and other non-lethal ammunition.

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.

NOPD searches for suspects wanted in connection to Esplanade Ave. fire station theft

(Photo courtesy of the NOPD)
Two suspects are wanted by New Orleans Police in connection to the theft of a radio from the Esplanade Avenue fire station on Thursday.

The theft occurred after the suspects entered the New Orleans Fire Department Station 9 located in the 400 block of Esplanade Avenue shortly after 2:45 p.m. on May 21, according to the NOPD.

A male suspect allegedly entered a fire truck parked inside the station and stole a black and green Motorola radio from its charging station.

The two suspects fled eastbound on foot down Frenchmen Street, the NOPD said, adding that the radio has a serial number of 581CST1106 and is valued at approximately $5,000.

Surveillance camera footage of the alleged suspects (pictured above) was released on Tuesday by the NOPD.

Anyone with information on this incident 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.

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

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