News for Thursday 013113
By Dave Graichen
Louisiana State Police say three people on their way to Shreveport were found dead Wednesday morning in a car that was pulled from the Tensas River near Madison Parish. The victims left South Carolina on January 7th and were reported missing earlier this month. L-S-P spokesperson, Julie Lewis, says the last point of contact from the three was in Alabama. Two of the victims were from Texas and the other is from South Carolina.
The funeral service for the Chitamacha police officer killed in shootings that also injured two St. Mary Parish Sheriff's deputies will be held tomorrow. The service for Sgt. Rick Riggenbach is scheduled for 2pm at Crossing Place Church in Franklin. The 52-year-old officer was a four-year-member of the tribal police department and served for 10 years as a St. Mary deputy.
A 22-year-old woman from Rosepine, in Vernon Parish, faces criminal charges after her 10-month old baby tested positive for meth. Heather Jenkins brought her child to the ER, who in turn alerted law
officers. Jenkins told them she had been at a home where crystal meth was used, and was afraid the child was exposed. She's been released on bond.
The state’s board of elected utility regulators Wednesday chose Commissioner Eric Skrmetta as its chairman for 2013.The Metairie Republican replaces Louisiana Public Service Commission Chairman Foster Campbell, of Bossier Parish.The five elected members of the PSC then elected Commissioner Clyde Holloway, of Forest Hill, as vice chairman.
About three hundred soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard that are heading to the Middle East will go through deployment ceremonies today. Major James Slaven with the Louisiana National Guard says the members of the 205th Engineer Batallion and the 922nd Engineer Company will aid in the construction of military bases in Kuwait.
Two defense experts have told a judge a man accused of beheading his disabled 7-year-old son and leaving the head in his yard appears to really believe that the boy was a robot or a ventriloquist’s dummy. The doctors told state District Judge John LeBlanc they don’t think Jeremiah Wright, charged with first-degree murder of Jori Lirette, is faking a delusion. The boy, who had severe cerebral palsy and little speech, was killed in August of 2011. Testimony should conclude today in the sanity hearing.
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff's office says a Mamou school crossing guard is under arrest for allegedly selling drugs during school hours. They say John Johns Sr. was distributing pills while he was working. As you may suspect, he faces multiple charges.
The Monroe Police Department is investigating a fatal hit-and-run where a female was found in the road Tuesday night. They say it's believed the victim was run over by a car that drove off. Two people who found the woman were interviewed but there were no witnesses to the crash. The case remains under investigation.
U.L.-Lafayette campus police arrest a man for making online threats against the school and other agencies via Facebook. ULL PD spokesman Sgt. Billy Abrams says 35-year-old Ryan Kazemi's posts mentioned his paranoid schizophrenia and veiled references to other school shootings. He allegedly complained about law enforcement, but made no specific threats against those agencies
State Police say a student at East Feliciana High, in Clinton, is under arrest, after he was overheard threatening to bomb and shoot up the school. 17-year-old Sean Mahan is charged with terrorizing. The school was evacuated and checked for explosive devices. None were found.
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's office says a pastor known for his "Just for Jesus" rallies in Lake Charles has been arrested on drug charges. They say James P. Bertrand was spotted in what appeared to be a drug transaction behind a gas station, but when he was confronted by officers he tried to conceal crack in his mouth after throwing away a plastic baggie. He is charged with possession of crack and possession of drug paraphernalia.