EBR contractor with history of fraud arrested after allegedly defrauding bank of $30,500 with fake checks - Baton Rouge news - NewsLocker (2024)

BATON ROUGE — A contractor with a long history of fraud, who was arrested in 2022 on a bad-check charge, was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly defrauding a bank out of more than $30,500, deputies said.Edmund LeBlanc, 61, allegedly deposited falsified checks at and withdrew money from an East Baton Rouge Parish credit union in March, an arrest warrant filed by the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office says.LeBlanc allegedly deposited the checks on March 6 and 7 payable to Handi

Slidell man arrested for allegedly placing cameras in Alabama condo

SLIDELL - A man was arrested after investigators found evidence he allegedly placed hidden cameras in a condominium in Alabama as well as the guest bathroom of his home. Jonathan Bethancourt, 31, was arrested for 11 counts of video voyeurism after a babysitter found a hidden camera in the guest bathroom of his home, disguised as a smoke detector. Investigators searched Bethancourt's home and found another hidden camera as well as video from a condo in Orange Beach. They also f

State Police say water lapping onto La. 1 between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle as Alberto churns

GOLDEN MEADOW — Even though Tropical Storm Alberto is in the southern Gulf of Mexico and headed toward Mexico and Texas, it's impact is being felt along the Louisiana coast.State Police said Wednesday that water is already lapping onto La. 1 between Golden Meadow and Grand Isle.The road remained passable late Wednesday morning, with a few inches of water covering the roadway in spots. If conditions worsen the highway could be closed.State Police advise motorists to not drive into deep

Firefighters return to vacant Anna Street house after it catches fire one day after initial blaze

BATON ROUGE — Firefighters were called Wednesday to an abandoned Anna Street house that caught fire around after previously catching fire early Tuesday, Baton Rouge Fire officials said.Officials said the cause of Wednesday's fire was not initially known, but investigators were on their way to the scene.On Tuesday, the house off Plank Road caught fire around 2 a.m. and was deemed a total loss by the time it was contained at 2:30 a.m. The cause of this fire was also under investigation.

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Landry signs law making Louisiana first in nation to require Ten Commandments posted in public classrooms

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana has become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom under a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry on Wednesday.The GOP-drafted legislation mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in “large, easily readable font” be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities. Although the bill did not receive final approval

Biloxi man arrested after K9 unit seizes $44,000 worth of cocaine during traffic stop in Sorrento

SORRENTO — The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office K9 Unit seized $44,000 of cocaine from a Biloxi man during a traffic stop in Sorrento.Deputies performed a traffic stop Monday on Binh Truong, 52, on Interstate 10 near Sorrento. During the stop, K9 Deputy Krya located two kilograms of cocaine with a street value of around $22,000 per kilo, deputies said.Truong was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. He is charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, deputi

Baton Rouge celebrates Juneteenth with Unity Festival

BATON ROUGE - Baton Rouge will celebrate Juneteenth on Wednesday evening with a Unity Festival at The Main Library on Goodwood Boulevard.The festival will have live entertainment, food trucks and creative activities like character art."It is important for us to be involved, be a part because it is essentially our work. We are responsible for cultivating the entire creative sector throughout our city and our 11 parish region. Finding a way to curate and cultivate a playlist that is diverse and b

Teenager, mother arrested after argument led to deadly shooting on Boulevard De Province

BATON ROUGE - A teenager and his mother were arrested after an argument led to a deadly shooting earlier in June. The teenager was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing Sarantis Thomas, 22, on June 6. The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Boulevard de Province. The teenager's mother, D'ana Broadway, was also arrested Tuesday for being an accessory after the fact following the murder. "My heart first goes out to the f

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Teenager, mother arrested after argument led to deadly shooting

BATON ROUGE - A teenager and his mother were arrested after an argument led to a deadly shooting earlier in June. The teenager was arrested Tuesday for second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing Sarantis Thomas, 22, on June 6. The shooting happened at an apartment complex on Boulevard de Province. The teenager's mother, D'ana Broadway, was also arrested Tuesday for being an accessory after the fact following the murder. "My heart first goes out to the f

Russia and North Korea sign partnership deal that appears to be the strongest since the Cold War

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Wednesday signed a new partnership that includes a vow of mutual aid if either country faces “aggression,” in a pact that came as both face escalating standoffs with the West.Details of the deal were not immediately clear, but it could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. Both leaders described it as a major upgrade

Early blast of heat and humidity leaves millions sweltering across the US

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — A blast of heat and humidity in the Midwest and Northeast days before the official start of summer put a wet blanket on outdoor activities from festivals to sports camps as officials urged people to take precautions.Cities that opened cooling centers this week advised that Wednesday’s Juneteenth holiday means some public libraries, senior centers and pools where residents could beat the heat will be closed.The dangerous temperatures were expected to peak

DOTD announces upcoming project to remove homeless camps at O'Neal Lane underpass

BATON ROUGE - A fenced-in underpass may be coming to O'Neal Lane in an effort to remove the homeless camps there. DOTD's director Fred Raiford says he has been working closely with the department and a contractor to find a solution for the never-ending camps under and near the O'Neal Lane underpass. Raiford said they are having their last planning meeting Wednesday to go over logistics before moving forward."You've got to have something that's resistant from people from gettin

Willie Mays, Giants' electrifying 'Say Hey Kid,' has died at 93

NEW YORK (AP) — Willie Mays, the electrifying “Say Hey Kid” whose singular combination of talent, drive and exuberance made him one of baseball’s greatest and most beloved players, has died. He was 93.Mays’ family and the San Francisco Giants jointly announced Tuesday night he had “passed away peacefully” Tuesday afternoon surrounded by loved ones.The center fielder was baseball’s oldest living Hall of Famer. His si

Gov. Landry criticizes insurance rates, vetoes bipartisan bill to restrict payout costs

BATON ROUGE - At the start of this year's legislative session, Governor Jeff Landry promised to tackle Louisiana’s insurance crisis, but now he has vetoed a bill attempting to lower payouts if a car wreck gets to trial. Landry on Tuesday vetoed House Bill 423 by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, which received bipartisan support in the legislature. Melerine says the measure aims to lower auto insurance premium costs by limiting trial damages paid to an injured party if the

Residents living around University Lakes disappointed by construction mess

BATON ROUGE- One year after the start of the University Lakes Restoration Project, residents are not happy with the progress. Phase one began in June of 2023, which entails dredging City Park Lake, building “living shorelines” around City Park Lake and Lake Erie and improving May Street between City Park and University Lakes. One resident says the work has also resulted in overgrowth of vegetation in the lake behind his home on Stanford Ave. "Basic

Work-release escapes near Plank and Hooper roads; crews searching on ground and from the air

BATON ROUGE — Law officers were searching on the ground and from the air after a state prisoner fled from a van carrying a work-release crew in an area near Plank Road and Hooper Road, officials said Tuesday.The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the crew was from the state Department of Corrections and the inmate involved was being housed at a work-released facility in the parish.Dogs and deputies were on the ground searching for the inmate while a helicopter hovered overh

One person critically injured in shooting along Maplewood Drive

BATON ROUGE - One person was hurt in a shooting along Maplewood Drive on Tuesday afternoon. Officials said the shooting happened along Maplewood Drive, near BREC's Maplewood Park, around 4:45 p.m. One person was taken to a hospital in critical condition. No more information about the shooting was released. Permalink| Comments

Man critically injured in shooting at BREC Maplewood Park

BATON ROUGE - A man was critically injured after two groups exchanged gunfire at the BREC Maplewood Park on Tuesday. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said the shooting happened at 4:45 p.m.. One of the men involved was taken to a hospital in critical condition.No more information about the shooting was released. Permalink| Comments

Amount of vacant house fires in 2024 not alarming Baton Rouge fire officials

BATON ROUGE - What may seem to be an abnormal amount of vacant house fires may just be the standard. Twenty vacant structure fires have popped up in the capital area in the first six months of 2024. Baton Rouge Fire Department Spokesperson Curt Monte says it is nothing out of the ordinary. "When you look at the comparisons from two years ago, last year and this year, the house fires are pretty much in line with what we've seen in the past few years," Monte said.There have been 17 arson

Officials still unaware of source of possible chemical leak in St. Gabriel

ST. GABRIEL — On Monday, three people needed treatment at a hospital after fumes from a possible chemical leak wafted over portions of eastern Iberville Parish. On Tuesday, there were still questions as to how the leak happened.Two affected were older residents and the third was a firefighter dispatched to the scene.Local officials told WBRZ that the source was something along the Mississippi River. Residents said they fell ill after seeing a dark cloud with an unfamiliar smell pass t

Man arrested for possession of child p*rnography, sexual abuse of animal

BATON ROUGE - A man was arrested Tuesday at the end of a months long investigation into his possession of child p*rnography. The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office said deputies got a tip the the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at the end of April that an account owned by 43-year-old Alexander Torres Orellana Darwin had child p*rnography files. After getting a warrant, deputies found Darwin's Google account had more than 900 images of people and 52 vid

Three men from Texas arrested for illegally possessing alligator in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS - Three men from Texas were cited after they found an alligator in Lafitte and brought it to New Orleans. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Ediberto Sanchez, 48, Matthew Erwin, 45, and Elgein Konesheck, 48, all from Sealy, Texas, found an alligator near a park in Lafitte on May 30. The men brought the alligator to New Orleans and were spotted on the sidewalk of Esplanade Avenue with the animal, but were gone when authorities showed up. On June

Baton Rouge Police searching for man who attempted to break into Sherwood Forest Boulevard business

BATON ROUGE — The Baton Rouge Police Department is searching for a man who allegedly attempted to burglarize a business on South Sherwood Forest Boulevard.The man was seen attempting to enter a business at 3535 S. Sherwood Forest Boulevard on surveillance footage early morning on June 11. The suspect was unable to gain entry into the business but caused significant damage during his attempt, police said.Multiple businesses are located at the address, including Planet X Vape Shop, On T

Prayers answered; utility company responds with tree trimming crews

BATON ROUGE - Tree trimming trucks are giving hope to one neighborhood that's had several power outages so far this year. They were in the Mayfair Park area starting Monday morning.Entergy responded fast, inspecting the power lines to provide Barbara Woods and her neighbors with electricity. She spoke with 2 On Your Side earlier this month about the problems she has during inclement weather in her neighborhood. Woods says she says a prayer every time it rains."I pray and ask God to please help

One person shot along North 29th on Tuesday

BATON ROUGE - One person was hurt in a shooting along North 29th Street on Tuesday afternoon. The Baton Rouge Police Department said the shooting happened before 3 p.m. near the corner of North 29th Street and Bogan Walk. One person was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. No more information was immediately available. Permalink| Comments

EBR School Board to decide on list of superintendent finalists immediately after Tuesday community meeting

BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board is hosting a special meeting Tuesday evening to select the finalists for the board's new superintendent.East Baton Rouge Schools will decide the finalists from a pool of 17 applicants. Among the applicants is interim superintendent Adam Smith, who has been serving in the position since Sito Narcisse's departure from the role in January. Smith received the Board's backing in January.Many of the applicants have current or past exper

EBR School Board selects five finalists for superintendent job

BATON ROUGE — The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board selected five finalists for the board's new superintendent during their meeting Tuesday. From a pool of 17 applicants. the following five were chosen: Adam Smith, Andrea Zayas, Kevin George, Krish Mohip and Patrick Jenkins.Smith has been serving in the position since Sito Narcisse's departure from the role in January. He received the Board's backing in January.Tuesday's meeting is the third in a series to provide the publ

WBRZ names new general manager

BATON ROUGE — WBRZ on Tuesday introduced Andrew Shenkan as its new general manager. Shenkan previously held a sales management role at the station."We are thrilled to welcome Andrew Shenkan back to the WBRZ family," said Jake Manship, chief executive officer of Manship Media. "Andrew's extensive experience and proven leadership in the broadcasting industry make him the perfect fit to lead our team and continue our commitment to delivering high-quality news and entertainment t

LDWF: Pontoon boat ran over group of three kids in False River over weekend that hospitalized 14-year-old

JARREAU — A 25-foot pontoon boat ran over and injured a group of three kids on False River over the weekend, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries said Tuesday morning.According to officials, the boating incident happened Saturday afternoon when a boat was towing three children in a tube when they fell off the tube and were floating in the water waiting for their boat to loop back around to pick them up when the pontoon boat ran them over.A 14-year-old had to be airlifted

Deputies searching for man, woman who stole cart full of merchandise from Port Allen Walmart

PORT ALLEN — The West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office is attempting to identify two people who stole a shopping cart full of merchandise from a Port Allen Walmart in May.Deputies released photos of the individuals, a Black man and a Black woman, entering the store and leaving with full shopping carts without paying. They were both seen in security footage leaving in a white Mercedes SUV.If anyone recognizes the individuals and has any information about their identity, re