Tagged: police

One of the suspects in last week’s brazen gator burglary was arrested last night after a chase through the Central Business District, according to New Orleans police.

A police sergeant spotted 29-year-old Rodney Thornton pulling on the door handles of parked cars in the 900-block of Poeyfarre Street at about 9:45 p.m. last night. When the officer approached Thornton, Thornton broke and ran, leading police on a chase that ended with his apprehension in an empty lot.

Officers witnessed Thornton pull a gun from his waistband and drop it on the ground during the chase.

The Louisiana State Police and the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are exploring the possibility of a joint training academy as a way to recruit new officers and reduce agency costs.

State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson said Wednesday that no date has been set for a possible class, according to The Times-Picayune.

Both agencies haven't held training academies because of the state's budget troubles.

Two former New Orleans police officers have asked a federal appeals court to throw out their convictions on charges stemming from the fatal shooting of a man whose burned body turned up in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath.

A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also on Wednesday heard the Justice Department's appeal of a judge's decision to order a new trial for a third officer, Travis McCabe.

McCabe was convicted of writing a false report on Henry Glover's 2005 shooting.

The panel didn't indicate when it would rule.

New Orleans Police Superintendent Ronal Serpas is defending a department policy that has led to more than 70,000 people having their names and personal information fed into an electronic database following traffic and pedestrian stops even if they weren't arrested.

Serpas tells The Times-Picayune that officers are "utilizing judgment in accordance with law and professional practice" in filling out "field interview cards" after stopping and questioning people.

But the newspaper reports that it's unclear how many names may have been improperly entered into the database.