Police and Fire Briefs for Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012
Police suspect arson in fire to hammock
Baton Rouge police are investigating a hammock set on fire Tuesday at a home on Park Boulevard in the Garden District.
Police were called at 6:30 p.m. to 811 Park Blvd. after the resident came home and noticed the burned hammock in his backyard, Cpl. L’Jean McKneely said.
Part of the ground near the hammock had also been burned, McKneely said. It is unsure when exactly the hammock was set aflame.
The resident also found a burned gas can near the hammock, McKneely said. The can, which did not belong to the resident, was burned to the point that police could not retrieve any fingerprints from it, McKneely said.
Police have no suspects or motives in the case but are investigating it as arson, McKneely said. Nobody was injured, McKneely said.
2 escape house fire; family cat rescued
Two people escaped a house fire Wednesday on Rue Bienvenue in Baton Rouge and firefighters said they rescued a family cat.
Firefighters were called at 2:28 p.m. at a fire at 2180 Rue Bienvenue, Fire Department spokesman Curt Monte said.
Flames were coming out of the roof and the back of the house, Monte said.
Baton Rouge firefighters requested backup from the St. George Fire Department at 3:10 p.m. because the flames were so intense, Monte said.
Firefighters had to leave the home because the roof began to collapse, Monte said. The fire burned most of the roof, he said.
Two people inside the home escaped unharmed, and firefighters rescued a family cat, Monte said.
The fire eventually came under control at 4:30 p.m., Monte said.
The house, valued at $1.5 million before the fire, is considered a total loss, Monte said.
The fire started somewhere on the back porch, but investigators have not yet determined a cause, Monte said.
The American Red Cross was called to assist the residents, Monte said.
Woman to face drug, desertion charges
Baton Rouge police arrested a Baton Rouge woman Tuesday morning after she allegedly left an infant in a plastic container alone in an apartment, an affidavit of probable cause says.
According to the affidavit, the 16-month-old child’s grandmother saw Sharesse Renee Joseph walking 15 blocks from Joseph’s apartment where the grandmother said she knew the child was.
The grandmother contacted the apartment complex’s manager, who found the child in a Rubbermaid container with a blanket and baby bottle, the affidavit says.
The bottle was empty and the baby’s diaper was soiled, the affidavit says.
The grandmother told police Joseph’s boyfriend was there when the baby was dropped off and the boyfriend is barred from the area because of past criminal activity, the affidavit says.
Police found three small butts they believed to be from marijuana cigarettes while searching the apartment, the affidavit says.
Joseph, 26, 9990 Ave. J, was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on one count each of child desertion, aiding to remain on premises and possession of marijuana.
Three arrested on suspicion of DWI
Authorities arrested at least three people suspected of driving while intoxicated in East Baton Rouge Parish and booked them into Parish Prison between 2:30 p.m. Tuesday and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, booking records show.
Those booked and the counts against them:
- Monique Boudreaux, 20, 1300 Wellington Drive, Baton Rouge, first-offense DWI, reckless operation of a vehicle, improper lane usage and disobeying a police officer.
- Sean Krieg, 27, 850 N. 5th St., Baton Rouge, first-offense DWI and reckless operation of a vehicle.
- Leon Varnado, 64, 25328 Elemer Ladner, Denham Springs, third-offense DWI and improper lane usage.
Compiled from staff reports. To talk to a crime reporter at The Advocate, call (225) 388-0369.