crime

Armed robberies reported on Fern, Eagle streets this weekend, police say

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A man in his 70s was robbed at gunpoint on Fern Street on Saturday night, and a 30-year-old man had his rental car taken early Monday on Eagle Street, New Orleans police said. Around 11:20 p.m. Saturday, March 1, a man in his 70s was getting out of his vehicle in the 1600 block of Fern Street (near Birch Street) when he was confronted by an armed man, according to the initial NOPD report. The gunman demanded the victim’s money, then left with it, the report states. Shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, a man in his 30s was confronted near Eagle and Apricot streets by an assailant who put a gun to his face, according to the report in that case. The gunman took the keys to the victim’s rental car and drove off in it, a white, four-door Chrysler 200, the report states.

events

First Presbyterian Church hosts screening of Netflix mass-incarceration documentary “The 13th”

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The First Presbyterian Church on South Claiborne Avenue will host a free screening Sunday afternoon of “The 13th,” the acclaimed Netflix documentary about mass incarceration. The screening will be from 4 to 7 p.m. at the church at 5401 South Claiborne Avenue. “In collaboration with New Orleans Council for Community & Justice, First Presbyterian Church is hosting a movie screening of the documentary ‘13th’ followed by a discussion about related current political events, including the controversial policies of the current White House administration,” according to the event announcement. “The film is based around the enforcement of the 13th Amendment, which formally abolished slavery, except as punishment for a crime. The documentary ‘13th’ explores the intersection of race, justice, and mass incarceration.

crime

Two arrested after officers interrupt armed robbery in progress, police say

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Two people were arrested overnight when officers interrupted an armed robbery in progress on Oleander Street, New Orleans police said Friday morning. A 911 caller told dispatchers around 2:40 a.m. Friday, March 31, that her friend was being robbed in the 8300 block of Oleander Street (between Dante and Cambronne), according to the NOPD report on the case. NOPD Second District Officers John Castelin and Justin Orlansky arrived to see a man later identified as 21-year-old Angelo Holmes and a teenager standing over another man inside an apartment. The assailants tried to escape, but the officers stopped them and arrested them, the report states. The victim told police he knew Holmes and the teen, and when they arrived at his apartment, the teen had a knife and Holmes had a gun, according to the report.

business

Newman student posted a photo of rifles, said “Don’t come to school tomorrow” online, police say

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A 15-year-old student at Isidore Newman School has been arrested after he allegedly posted a photo Wednesday morning of several rifles and a shotgun online with the message “Don’t come to school tomorrow,” New Orleans police said. The student, whose name has not been released because of his age, is charged with terrorizing, intimidation and interference in the operation of schools, according to a NOPD news release:

The NOPD today, March 30, 2017, arrested a 15-year-old juvenile in connection with an alleged threating photo and message posted on social media. At approximately 8:26 a.m., Second District officers were informed by Isidore Newman High School, 1903 Jefferson Avenue, of a possible threat via social media. Officers relocated to the school to investigate the incident. During the investigation, officers learned that on the morning of Wednesday, March 29, a 15-year-old male identified as a current student at the school posted a photograph on the Snapchat social media application displaying several weapons on a bed with a statement reading, “Don’t come to school tomorrow.” This post was shared with several of the juvenile’s friends.

business

Broad Street Cider & Ale distillery gets initial approval from city officials

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A new micro-distillery called Broad Street Cider & Ale in one of the Green Coast Enterprises buildings near Washington Avenue received initial approval from city officials on Tuesday. The “cidery” is planned for the vacant first floor of the building at 2723 South Broad Street, just down the block from Laurel Street Bakery, according to plans for the project. The second floor will continue to be used for offices, the plans show. “We would make a limited amount of hard cider (wine fermented from apples) for our customers to either consume at the location or purchase packaged for consumption elsewhere,” the business wrote in documents submitted to the city. “We would also offer other brands of beer, wine and alcoholic beverages for our customers to purchase and consume at the location.”

crime

Newman School closes after “threat of violence” on social media

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The Isidore Newman School is closed today (Thursday, March 30) after a “threat of violence” was posted to social media, though the person responsible has already been identified, school officials said. Head of School Dale Smith announced the closure in an email to parents early Thursday. “Last night we learned that posted on social media was a threat of violence at our School,” Smith wrote. “We worked through the night with a core administrative team and with our threat assessment consultant to evaluate alternatives and make decisions. We also are working with NOPD.

crime

Heroin, meth, pills and a gun seized in Fern Street traffic stop, police say

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Two Seattle residents were arrested Wednesday with a stash of drugs including heroin, crystal meth, Ecstasy and pills as well as a 9-mm handgun in a traffic stop on Fern Street, New Orleans police said. Zachary Stoughton, 39, and Sharlaina Lowry, 24, were both arrested on numerous drug charges and carrying a gun while in possession of illegal drugs, according to a NOPD report. For details, see the full news release below:

NOPD Second District officers made a major drug arrest during a traffic stop on Fern Street this week. On March 29, 2017, Second District Officers Russell Gary and Jason Jorgenson conducted a traffic stop of a 1991 Acura Integra near the intersection of Fern and Forshey streets. Upon approaching the vehicle, the officers noticed a strong smell of burning marijuana.

crime

Woman, 55, arrested on negligent homicide charge in 2015 crash

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A 55-year-old woman was arrested this week on a negligent homicide charge in connection with 2015 crash on Toledano Street that killed a pedestrian, New Orleans police said. Annie Hooper was arrested on Manhattan Boulevard in Jefferson Parish in connection with the incident, which occurred Sept. 21, 2015, in the 3000 block of Toledano Street, according to a NOPD report. At the time, police said the driver of a gold Pontiac Grand Prix lost control of her vehicle and crashed into two parked car, flipping a Ford F-150 pickup that landed on a man nearby. The victim died of his injuries at the hospital, the report said.

schools

New Orleans College Prep votes against returning any schools to OPSB (live coverage)

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The New Orleans College Prep governing board voted Tuesday evening against returning either Cohen College Prep High School or Crocker College Prep to the oversight of the Orleans Parish School Board for the next school year, meaning all the charter network’s schools will return at once the following year with the rest of the schools around the city. OPSB Deputy Superintendent Mary Garton attended College Prep’s board meeting Tuesday to invite the network to return one or more of its schools. State law mandates that all schools under the Recovery School District will return in a year, but OPSB was hoping that around 10 would choose to do so early this year to begin building organizational structures for them, and so far, nine schools have chosen to do so — including some from the Choice Foundation and Firstline, as well as Sci Academy. The primary benefit of returning early, Garton said, is that schools in the OPSB and their leaders naturally have more conversations and input with OPSB administrators about how the system will be designed for the return of all schools. Some networks have opted to send a single school back to place their leaders as a sort of liaison with the OPSB during the transition.