Ouachita officials say no to ‘thugs’
"As the chief law enforcement officer in Ouachita Parish, Sheriff Richard Fewell on Friday declared that the parish “could not and would not” accept buses filled with hurricane evacuees who supposedly raped, robbed and looted in the New Orleans Superdome.
“I don’t want people who live here all the time to be the victims of the thugs coming out of New Orleans,” Fewell said.
“My concern is public safety,” said Jones. “I’m the district attorney. I will deal with the aftermath of the problems facing the sheriff and police departments of this parish.”
Originally published September 3, 2005 (?)
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/NEWS05/50903001
(Im making no opinion, just reporting findings)
The Monroe murders of volunteers story debunked?
"Rumors of murder and general mayhem among evacuees in Monroe have been swirling amid the confusion of Hurricane Katrina.
The rumors run the gamut — from the murder of volunteers in their homes to infant kidnappings. Local law enforcement said that's exactly what they are — rumors."
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/NEWS05/509030313
That's basically what the mayor of Baton Rouge (who is black) also said. No racism involved, just acknowledgement that there are criminal aspects to some of those that may be leaving NO.
On the other hand, I think most of the "thugs" will stay and see how much more looting they can get away with.
I did hear that Baton Rouge is asking for more security forces this morning, so you wonder if things may be getting tense there.
This link you posted fascinates me:
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050903/NEWS05/50903001
because there's another link posted in this forum from the very same paper saying that reports of an increase in crime in Monroe are untrue?
They're doing the very same thing in Alexandria. One report did slip through the cracks at The Town Talk, only to be followed by more articles in which the Chiefs of Police of Alexandria and Pineville vehemently deny that there is any increase in crime here. In fact, Chief Daren Coutee of Alexandria said on KALB Newschannel 5 that he wished citizens would tell him who was starting these wild rumors so he could put those individuals in jail.
I was a crime victim myself this week, but no one wants to hear about it. Instead, I have literally been told by the local media that it isn't of significance *unless I can prove the crime was committed by a refugee* and that I should be grateful that my only loss was my $300 insurance deductible and not as great as the families in New Orleans.
What the...? Why does it matter where the person(s) who robbed me lived? The fact is that the individual(s) took advantage of the situation caused by Katrina to commit a crime spree! But, oops, I'd better not bang the drum too loudly because people think I'm a rumormonger.
Thanks for posting a very intriguing link.