JEANERETTE — UPDATE: The victim of a fatal shooting in Jeanerette has been identified as 40-year-old Terry Charles according to the Iberia Parish Coroner's Office ————The Jeanerette Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Wednesday afternoon in the 500 block of Henkle Street Officers responded to a call around 1:10 p.m and he was transported for care,” Moore said “Investigators have since been updated that he has succumbed to his injuries This is now an active homicide investigation.” The identity of the victim has not been released pending family notification Police have not released any information about a suspect “No suspect information at this time,” Moore said Moore said the department believes the shooting was not self-inflicted “It’s caused by another individual or individuals,” he said but it could help lead to something we’re investigating.” to contact the Jeanerette Police Department at 337-276-6323 or email specialvictims@jeanerette.com Detectives are conducting a shooting investigation in the 500 Block of Henkle St Jeanerette Police responded to a call from a resident who needed assistance was suffering from a gunshot wound and was taken to a nearby hospital please contact the Jeanerette Police Department at 337-276-6323 or email specialvictims@jeanerette.com The Jeanerette Police Department says their detectives are conducting a shooting investigation in the 500 Block of Henkle St Officials say the scene is active and asks the public to avoid the area Henkle St is currently closed from Matthew B Polk to Martin Luther King Dr Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Jeanerette Police Department at 337-276-6323 or email specialvictims@jeanerette.com Contact us today for advertising opportunities on the radio and also on our website It’s the KQKI news site on your mobile device © 2023 Teche Broadcasting Corp. Weather Alerts provided by WillyWeather — Following a shooting that left one man dead a leaked surveillance video of the incident has surfaced on social media The shooting occurred on Church and Pellerin Streets on Feb The Iberia Parish Coroner's Office identified the man who died as Oshaun Smith To read our past story on this, click here who are demanding answers as they struggle with the public sharing of their loved one’s final moments I can’t put into words how my family is feeling,” said Oshanae Smith "For this video to be leaked of my little brother’s death it’s raised so many questions and concerns It has left us even more devastated and hurt In an effort to understand how the video was released and what steps are being taken, KATC spoke with Jeanerette's newly appointed chief of police Terrance Moore—who has also served as interim chief since December—about the security of the city’s crime cameras the leaked footage and the actions being taken to address the leak I spoke to our partners dealing with the crime cameras and they assured me that the integrity of the cameras or the video has not been compromised No one can actually access the cameras via other means Moore also acknowledged that an internal investigation by an independent agency is underway to identify the source of the leak With concerns rising over the possibility of sensitive footage being released in the future KATC asked Chief Moore how families could trust the agency moving forward We have to stipulate policies in place,” Moore said what we had was a common way of taking information and just bringing it over with no type of secured means what I done after I noticed the leak of the information we changed up the way we going to do that now Even with our law enforcement partners in this community—how they would share information—it's going to be more of a secured way to share that information so we can avoid this happening in the future." Moore further explained that the department is taking steps to limit who and which agencies can access the footage “Any of our other partners that were involved with the project dealing with the crime cameras has been discontinued We have our technology guys who are now the sole operators of the cameras there’s going to be one person in charge of those cameras and if we need anything at this point moving forward,” he said their nails are painted orange as a symbol against gun violence "Where is the professionalism within the city Where’s the professionalism within the police department we will not stop until justice is served,” said Oshanae Smith Chief Moore said the investigation into the leak is ongoing and urged anyone who has seen or shared the video to stop doing so out of respect for the Smith family The Jeanerette Police Department responded to 57 calls for service from April 10 to April 14 and released on a summons to appear in court on the charges of Disturbing the Peace and Battery of a Dating Partner Distribution or Possession with Intent to Distribute Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of a Controlled Substance and Resisting an Officer on a Jeanerette City Court Warrant for Failure to Appear for Disturbing the Peace by Language Alexander was released on a summons to appear in court on a Jeanerette Police Department Warrant for Operating A Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated 1st Offense on the charges of 2 counts of Resisting an Officer on the charge of Possession or Carrying a Concealed Weapon by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies — UPDATE: KATC is following up on a story we first brought you in March A family is still seeking justice after their loved one's final moments were shared via social media through a leaked city camera surveillance video we spoke with Jeanerette Police Chief Terrance Moore regarding the leak He said they were conducting an investigation to find out the source of the leak and from which agency it could have been from there are only two law enforcement agencies: the Jeanerette Police Department and the Jeanerette City Marshal's Office We reached out to City Marshal Fernest "Pacman" Martin Sr to see if the leak could have been from his department The marshal's office conducted an internal investigation The results of the investigation have been released and according to Marshal Martin it has been confirmed that his office does not have possession of any video footage related to the shooting incident that occurred in February at the intersection Pellerin and Church Street Martin also states that the system's password was changed by Chief Moore in December Martin says this prevented the Marshal’s Office from accessing any video recordings and confirming the office was unable to retrace or review any footage since then "I believe the public deserves to hear what is happening behind the scenes The failures and neglect my family has faced in dealing with those in power who are supposed to protect and serve our community." We will keep following this story to get more answers To see our original story, click here IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — A legal dispute between Jeanerette mayor Carol Bourgeois and city attorney Lucretia Pecantte has escalated—with Pecantte filing a lawsuit against Bourgeois after he allegedly withheld payment from her for the month of December who has served as the city attorney since 2021 who is a contract employee rather than a city employee said she has always been paid by submitting an invoice to the city clerk and receives a check in the mail shortly after “I’ve been doing that ever since I’ve been working,” Pecannte said during an interview with KATC Pecannte reached out to Colden to inquire about the status of her check Colden told her the mayor had the check and the invoice—a statement Pecannte found concerning Pecannte said she called and texted Mayor Bourgeois that same day but received no response seeking a court to order him to turn over her check and to pay her attorney fees and alleged damages The case is scheduled to be heard at the Iberia Parish Courthouse on Feb The mayor declined to comment on the matter when reached by KATC We have also submitted a public records request for the bill in question from Dec Mayor Bourgeois told KATC that he would have the requested documents "in a few of days." Pecannte said she still has yet to receive payment for her services “I came into the office yesterday and submitted the invoice for February,” Pecannte said We'll keep you updated as this story develops.------------------------------------------------------------Stay in touch with us anytime To reach the newsroom or report a typo/correction, click HERE Sign up for newsletters emailed to your inbox. Select from these options: Breaking News Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram Subscribe to our Youtube channel IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — The Third Annual Creole Festival and Gumbo Cook-Off will be held this weekend at the historic Albania Mansion The event is expected to draw large crowds though some are grappling with mixed emotions about attending due to the venue's complex history "One of my friends in particular was like 'I can't believe you would buy that place,'" said Albania Mansion owner and New Orleans native a three-story home built in the early 1800s was constructed by enslaved African Americans Creel has worked to preserve the mansion while acknowledging its painful past “My belief is that what they did is they left us a message in a bottle beautiful piece of architecture so that one day ‘Tell me about the people who actually built this place.’” Creel hopes festival attendees will remember the mansion’s history as they enjoy the festivities then all the lessons are lost,” she explained the chefs will begin cooking early in the morning to prepare their dishes All gumbo cooked during the event will be available for purchase and enjoyment by attendees tickets will be available for activities like pony rides Three bands will be featured throughout the day on the property as well One hundred percent of the money raised at the event will go toward the refurbishment of Jeanerette Attendees are encouraged to visit the mansion’s grounds and learn more about its history with a plaque dedicated to reminding visitors of the enslaved labor that built the property For more information, click here IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — As the city of Jeanerette prepares for what they're calling a “drama-free” Mardi Gras parade on Sunday the Jeanerette City Council is working to ensure the event is also accident-free the Jeanerette Mardi Gras Association has hosted a parade to celebrate the city’s Mardi Gras festivities this year’s parade faced uncertainty due to rumors about its cancellation stemming from concerns over violence at last year’s event “We’ve heard that the parade was canceled,” said Pamela Edwards who attended Monday night’s meeting to address the confusion council members requested the meeting to discuss the parade’s logistics "The council is lost just as well as the residents on what's going on—that's why we called this meeting," said Alderwoman Mariah Clay on Monday night Clay also called out Mayor Carol Bourgeois for "making all types of calls" regarding the city event "without updating anybody or making anybody aware of what's going on at any time." Clay also addressed interim police chief Terrence Moore during the meeting claiming that "he told the council he wanted to 'cancel the parade' due to public safety concerns." police and Mardi Gras Association took their three minutes to talk about making this year's route safer and more accessible—both for the public and first responders “We can’t predict all the variables that could arise but we want to have a route that is accessible and secure for fire and police,” Moore said it was confirmed that the parade will proceed on Feb 23—but a route was not announced until Tuesday on the Mardi Gras Association's Facebook page: "The parade lineup will start in front of the police station on Canal St The parade will make a left onto MLK from Canal The parade will then proceed down Main St and turn right onto Canal ending back in front of the police station entrants should continue straight towards Admiral Doyle Dr to exit." To read the full Facebook post, click here the police department and the Mardi Gras Association would continue to work together on the details Updates on the parade route and safety measures will be shared via the city’s and police department’s Facebook pages IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — Tensions ran high at a Jeanerette City Council meeting Monday as neighbors expressed growing concerns over public safety and the recent resignation of Police Chief Dusty Vallot The agenda item that drew the most attention was Item 9-C: "Discussion of community police protection concerns." Residents packed the council chambers questioning what measures the city would take to ensure the safety of its residents amid ongoing crime and leadership instability within the police department One resident compared the sound of recent gunfire he heard to the noise he experienced during Basic Training "These shots have been going on—25 shots—I heard that from my house on Felix Street I feel like I’m back at Basic Training," he said Jeanerette has experienced a high turnover rate in police leadership with ten different police chiefs having served the city over the past 24 years This instability has left many residents questioning law enforcement's effectiveness and ability to address rising crime in the area Mayor Carol Bourgeois addressed the resignation of Chief Vallot stating that it was a personal decision after months of discussion who had applied for several law enforcement positions including a stellar recommendation from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office Bourgeois also noted that Vallot had been a top candidate for the "Most Valuable Patrol Officer" (MVP) award from Iberia Parish Crime Stoppers the mayor announced that Lieutenant Terrence Moore a veteran officer with the Jeanerette Police Department who addressed the council and community during Monday night's meeting stressed the importance of having good communication between the Jeanerette Marshal's Office and the Jeanerette Police Department He and Jeanerette Marshal Fernest "Pac Man" Martin emphasized the need for cooperation to combat crime more effectively "The chief—he called who he wanted to call But I’m not mad at him—that’s his prerogative The meeting reflected widespread frustration within the community as residents questioned what concrete actions would be taken to improve safety in the wake of the leadership changes With gun violence and turnover in the police department affecting the community many residents are hoping that stronger coordination among local law enforcement will lead to improved security in Jeanerette IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — Recent shootings in Jeanerette have left families on edge concerned for their safety and demanding action to curb the violence 88-year-old Louvenia Antoine was hosting a family gathering at her rental home on Pelican Court when gunfire erupted outside that’s someone in the front of the house shooting.’” which shows a vehicle driving past Antoine’s home just before shots were fired but neighbors reported that a man was shot nearby Attempts to verify this with local police were unsuccessful and the Jeanerette Police Department did not respond to requests for comment Antoine's next-door neighbor discovered bullet holes in his vehicle and home The neighbor whose property was damaged declined to comment but confirmed police collected bullets from the scene the following day expressed her frustration over the safety of her elderly mother 88 years old—she should not have to go through things like that," she said 10 shooting may be linked to another violent incident on Nov was shot and killed while sitting in his car on the 1900 block of St A 15-year-old has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile respectful man who had no involvement with the suspects Steward expressed deep concerns about the role of parents in youth crime questioning why young offenders are allowed to run the streets where are the parents letting their kids run around terrorizing the streets like this?" she said Jeanerette Mayor Carol Bourgeois said more police presence alone would not solve the problem "Police presence helps—somewhat—to deter crime today; it doesn’t stop it do your best to maintain the authority you need to have with your child." Bourgeois suggested that parents must take more responsibility for their children pointing out that the real solution to the violence lies in stronger family involvement the calls for change are growing louder as families fear for their safety and demand accountability for those behind the recent shootings local officials announced that Jeanerette Police Chief Dusty Vallot is resigning and that his last day would be Friday which we obtained from a local elected official "I've decided to further my Law enforcement career at a different agency." Vallot said he is "saddened to announce his resignation," but that it came after "countless conversations with his family." He also mentioned how he has "put his family second in order to uphold the Oath [he] pledged," when he took the position over four years ago The now-former chief added that his time with the Jeanerette Police Department "has been both pleasurable and stressful," and that he "wishes he could have got all the things and personnel needed to do the job accurately...in order to better serve the community." In a conversation with Mayor Carol Bourgeois he said Vallot's resignation did not come as a surprise and knew that he was looking to pursue other opportunities on a state level or at a local sheriff's department and didn't want to accept his resignation at first," Bourgeois admits "But I understand that it's his personal decision and you can't hold someone back from other opportunities and we wish him the best in all his future endeavors." the mayor says "they have things covered," citing experienced patrol personnel and other veteran officers Mayor Bourgeois says after he and the council discuss the "game plan," they will most likely search for an interim chief Here's Chief Vallot's full letter of resignation: “I am saddened to announce my resignation from my position as the Chief of the Jeanerette Police Department This conclusion came after countless conversations with my family My time here as Chief has been both pleasurable and stressful I wish I could have gotten all the things and personnel needed to do the job accurately without any outside interruptions or interference to better serve the people of this great community I have dedicated my entire life to this community while putting my family second in order to uphold the oath I pledged to when appointed I’ve decided to further my law enforcement career at another agency My last day as Chief of Police will be Friday I want to thank the Council and Mayor for the past 4 1/2 years you have all given me thank you from the bottom of my heart for always giving “OUR” department 100% every day You will always be considered part of my family thank you for the support and respect you all have given me these last 4 1/2 years as your Chief." IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — Nearly four months after former Police Chief Dusty Vallot resigned the Jeanerette City Council has officially appointed Interim Police Chief Terrance Moore as the new Chief of Police who had served as interim chief since December 6 was formally approved by the council during a meeting on Monday night began his law enforcement career with the Jeanerette Police Department before moving on to the Franklin Police Department in 2008 He returned to Jeanerette PD in his current interim role where he expressed his commitment to improving the department and its relationship with the community and pretty much pick up the slack to get our police department going in the right direction,” Moore said in his address to the council before the vote The council unanimously approved Moore’s appointment and the new chief received a round of applause from those in attendance Moore outlined several priorities for the department including rebuilding trust with the community He also shared crime statistics from the past 90 days four to five Louisiana State Police patrol officers have been assisting Jeanerette PD around the city and the ball got rolling,” said Jeanerette Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr Moore also discussed the department’s need to replace six to eight police units many of which are “rundown,” and his efforts to secure space for juvenile offenders in the city Jeanerette PD does not have long-term facilities for housing juveniles and Moore is working with the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office to ensure bed space for these cases “Majority of our crime is committed by juvenile offenders,” Moore said. “We had to secure bed space after the most recent incident and we’ve now partnered with another agency to provide that service.” The department has secured one bed at the Jackson Parish facility—Moore said the next closest location was in Oklahoma Moore also emphasized his "open-door policy" and commitment to rebuilding community trust as key components of his leadership and hopefully I can rebuild the trust—we do have some issues going on; we’re gonna address those issues..." A Jeanerette man was sentenced to 60 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty in a drive-by shooting that left an eight-year-old child dead sheriff's deputies told KATC that the child was the only person injured when Jonas Hawk shot rounds into a group of people outside a home on N pleaded guilty to manslaughter and to being a felon in possession of a firearm Hawk was prohibited from possessing a firearm as he had a prior conviction for aggravated flight from an officer and was on probation for attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon at the time of the offense Hawk pled guilty to manslaughter and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and was sentenced to 60 years at hard labor without benefit of probation Hawk was sentenced to the maximum on both charges—forty years at hard labor for his manslaughter conviction and twenty years at hard labor without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence for his possession of a firearm by a convicted felon conviction This case was prosecuted by Ashley Hammons and Brady Holtzclaw and was investigated by the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office with assistance from the Jeanerette Police Department and the Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory To read our story about the shooting, click here and here Jeanerette Police have posted the details you'll need if you plan to attend the Krewe of Ezana's Mardi Gras Parade "We’re officially (3) days away from Krewe of Ezana’s Mardi Gras Parade," a post on the department's Facebook page states Here's the list of streets that are designated as “ NO PARKING “ on both sides of the roadway: Monnot Street (Both sides of MLK Drive)Martin Luther King Drive ( The entire street)Baker Street (Both sides of MLK)Hebert StreetSigue StreetCrowley StreetPellerin StreetPellerin RoadMain Street (Areas along Parade Route) And here are more details: Areas are posted and effective starting Friday at 12 noon Violators will be cited and towed at owner’s expense This includes the neutral zone along the roadway No food trucks or vendors along the parade route Any vendors on private property have to be clear of the neutral zone and away from parade route Neutral Zone is approximately 5 feet or more from roadway Any area forward of a ditch or sidewalk between the roadway is considered the neutral zone ALL VENDORS MUST HAVE PERMIT OBTAINED FROM THE CITY OF JEANERETTE Trust we have a place for you if choose not to," Interim Chief Terrance J Moore Sr IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — After weeks of confusion about the city’s plan for Mardi Gras Jeanerette’s Mardi Gras Association canceled the ‘Krewe of Ezana’ parade on Sunday Jeanerette's 'Krewe of Ezana' Mardi Gras Parade scheduled to roll last Sunday at 1:00 p.m. was officially canceled Sunday morning due to the rain The Jeanerette Mardi Gras Association announced on Facebook just hours before the parade was set to begin: "Due to the inclement weather and significant rainfall we regret to inform you that the parade has been canceled." “We kind of knew since yesterday it wasn’t going to happen,” said Jeanerette resident Pius Willis “They should’ve pushed it to yesterday if they wanted to have it but I knew today it wasn’t going to happen.” Jeanerette Police Chief Terrence Moore confirmed the cancellation of security measures many of which had been coordinated with out-of-town personnel the Mardi Gras spirit was alive in Jeanerette said they were not letting the cancellation ruin their Mardi Gras plans “Mardi Gras is not just about culture; it’s about family and fellowship and everything we do in Acadiana is surrounded by food and family,” Peters said The family will attend Grand Marais's Mardi Gras parade next weekend instead Jeanerette's association plans to hold an emergency meeting on Monday night and will likely issue an additional statement following that gathering The Jeanerette Police Department responded to 24 calls for service in the last 120 hours on the charge of Disturbing the Peace Engaging in a Fistic Encounter on the charges of Disturbing the Peace Engaging in a Fistic Encounter and Battery of a Dating Partner IBERIA PARISH — At the Coffee House Diner on 807 Main St. kids met a special someone right before Easter weekend kicked off hosted their annual Easter Basket Giveaway Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament. It marks the culmination of Holy Week, a period of reflection and remembrance leading up to the celebration of Easter Sunday, according to Britannica To see all of our Easter events, click here IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — A Jeanerette City Council meeting on Monday night originally advertised to address public safety concerns in the community which was advertised as an opportunity to discuss safety issues such as an upcoming hydrant flush in the city’s sewer and water system—expected starting at 9:00 p.m 19 & 20—as well as a proposed 3.5% millage rate for Iberia’s Fire District 1 “We are looking at revitalizing all of our stations," said Iberia Fire District 1 Chief Guy Bonin The millage proposal will appear on your March ballot But what many residents had hoped would be the main topic — addressing public safety concerns in the city— was not discussed who had requested that the agenda be expanded to allow for public input on police-related issues “You have citizens within the city of Jeanerette who want to vocally express their concerns about being treated unfairly within the police department and administration,” Clay said "I can apologize to citizens that feel that Residents like Bert and Taniqua voiced their dissatisfaction with the council’s handling of the situation “They’re taking us for a joke," said Taniqua in an interview with KATC "and the citizens of Jeanerette have had enough That’s why we’re trying to come together and stand out.” “I understand that there are agenda items," Bert commented "But I feel like there should be other issues too that should be discussed that are not just on the agenda." this is why I came to this meeting — for things to get discussed,” Taniqua added "Like things have gotten out of hand—I'm afraid to go outside." We reached out to Mayor Carol Bourgeois and Interim Police Chief Terence Moore for comment IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — UPDATE: The Jeanerette Mardi Gras Association has issued details about the last-minute cancellation of their parade Tuesday's announcement follows an emergency meeting the association had Monday night After weeks of confusion about the city’s plan for Mardi Gras It was canceled Sunday morning due to rain Here's the announcement from the association: To our valued parade participants and community We understand the disappointment and frustration surrounding the cancellation of the 2025 Jeanerette Mardi Gras Parade due to inclement weather the Jeanerette Mardi Gras Association Board convened on Monday night to thoroughly discuss possible alternatives several obstacles prevented us from moving forward with that option including:• Lack of police availability on an alternate date to ensure public safety.• Float availability only on the following Sunday which coincides with the neighboring Grand Marais Mardi Gras Parade we have determined that the best course of action is to refund all parade entry fees Refunds will be issued on March 15th at King Joseph Recreation Center with the exact time to be announced at a later date All parade entry participants have been contacted by the association spokesperson and are aware of their refunds We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this process Our mission has always been to bring the spirit of Mardi Gras to Jeanerette we remain committed to making future celebrations even more special IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — As voters prepare to head to the polls this Friday for early voting the Iberia Parish Council has opened a new polling location at City Hall in Jeanerette This marks a historic moment for the parish A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Jeanerette City Hall on Thursday morning commemorating the building being opened as the parish's second polling place “I’m going to give you a key to the city," Jeanerette mayor Carol Bourgoise said to Secretary of State Nancy Landry it opens the door to all of our hearts here in Jeanerette." convenient option for casting their ballots the only voting location was at the courthouse in New Iberia which posed accessibility challenges for many a lifelong resident and confidential assistant to the Iberia Registrar of Voters emphasized the importance of voting in her community she never missed an election; so the importance of voting was really engrained in me,” she said Government officials gathered at City Hall to commemorate the opening of the new polling place encouraging residents to utilize the “Geaux Vote” app to access sample ballots and find voting locations Secretary of State Nancy Landry highlighted the app’s benefits “It’s a great way to get information about early voting and Election Day.” officials hope this new site will increase voter participation in the community Early voting for the November 5 election starts TOMORROW Early voting continues through October 29 (excluding Sunday IBERIA PARISH:AssessorDavid GronerRaymond "Shoe-Do" LewisAshlie Myers Spiker For more early voting information, click here — A man is recovering after a small plane crash in Jeanerette on Wednesday The tail dragger plane touched down next to the runway at 11:40 am and nosed over Executive Director of the Iberia Parish Airport Authority The pilot was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries Ace aircraft crashed just before noon Wednesday at the Jeanerette airport A pilot was injured when his plane crashed at Jeanerette Airport on Wednesday The pilot was arriving at the airport just before noon Wednesday in a single-engine Corben Jr Ace aircraft when the crash occurred just off the airport’s runway The plane nosed over and landed upside down The pilot was the only person aboard the plane Officials said the pilot sustained minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital and fire officials checked for hazards and cleared the scene Email notifications are only sent once a day News Tips:newstips@theadvocate.com Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: The Jeanerette Police Department responded to 59 calls for service from April 15 to April 22 on a warrant for ST Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office on the charges of Disturbing the Peace and a Jeanerette City Court Warrant for failure to appear OWI First Offense Welch was released on a summons to appear in court Phillips was released on a summons to appear in court Touchet was released on a summons to appear in court Miller was released on a summons to appear in court The juvenile was released to his Guardian pending disposition in court A female juvenile was arrested on April 22 Juvenile was released to parent pending disposition in court on the charges of Aggravated Flight in a Vehicle and Distribution or Possession with Intent to Distribute and awaiting transportation to Iberia Parish Jail Authorities in Jeanerette have issued an urgent alert to residents on Bert Street urging them to remain inside their homes due to an active crime scene in the area According to a press release from the Jeanerette Police Department these streets are currently closed to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic as officers work the scene Law enforcement has not yet released details about the nature of the incident but they are advising residents to stay indoors until further notice for their safety The department stated that updates will be provided as more information becomes available anyone with questions can contact the Jeanerette Police Department at (337) 276-6323 More details will be provided as they become available Gallery Credit: RACHEL CAVANAUGH Authorities in Jeanerette have issued an urgent alert to residents, urging them to remain inside their homes due to an active crime scene in the area.\nRead More 🚨🚨Urgent Press Release🚨🚨\n\n******Update!!!!**********\n\nMatter has been resolved and contact was made with subject woman and child to own one and still have 67 million guns left over.\" At roughly 120.5 guns per every 100 residents the United States has double the ratio of Yemen where there are an estimated 52.8 guns for every 100 residents — The Jeanerette Fire Department put out a house fire on Martin Luther King Drive Thursday morning firefighters arrived to the home to find about half of it involved in the fire but the mother and three children that lived within the home lost everything Jeanerette Fire Department made a post to Facebook reaching out to neighbors you can drop off any donations to the fire station at 1820 Martin Luther King Dr. Mary Fire Department located in Four Corners Or you can donate directly to the mother at her Cashapp: $AnjhanaeAllen IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — Over the weekend the first African American mayor of Jeanerette to ever be elected passed away after battling an ongoing illness friends and colleagues of the former mayor remembered him fondly described him as more than just a political figure I’ll miss everything about him,” Ward said “TK was a very good—very good friend and family member of mine.” For Ward Alexander was not only a friend but also a childhood companion him and I played football at Bowley together from the same area where we grew up together,” Ward recalled “We came up as kids and you know we was very and serving in different branches of the military as well as American Legion Post 549 which Alexander commanded “When he make a decision that it was something he wanted do Mayor Carol Bourgeois reflected on his contributions to the community one of his accomplishments was the construction of a gym—a gymnasium—that was attached to the King Joseph Recreation facility,” Bourgeois said Alexander’s time in office was not without controversy While many remember him for breaking barriers for African Americans in local politics Alexander served one-year in jail following a conviction related to public bribery those who knew him personally spoke of his generosity and kind spirit “TK was the kind of person that he’ll do what he can for a person for nothing,” Ward said Once you don’t have that gratitude in Jeanerette KATC reached out to Alexander's family and was given a statement by one of his daughters: his Sister Susie passed last week (she was worrying about her brother) especially his wife of 59 years this coming November 26 He helped everyone who needed help and support Growing up I can remember the numerous phone calls and taking messages from people needing electrical work or help throughout the community." The family is also grieving the loss of Alexander's younger sister and updates will be provided as soon as possible IBERIA PARISH (JEANERETTE) — Four years ago a Jeanerette man envisioned bringing a new cultural touch to downtown Jeanerette by transforming a local building into the Deep-Rooted Jazz Lounge and its current owner is demanding action from the city to move the project forward “It’s not a club; it’s a place where you can relax and wind down after the day,” owner Dean Hill Jr “I think it’d be nice for us to intertwine together—mix the music styles and create something unique for Jeanerette.” Hill said he aims to combine New Orleans-style jazz with Acadiana's zydeco and swing music traditions and hopes the lounge can offer a relaxing venue for locals to unwind after a long day Despite obtaining the necessary credentials Hill says delays in securing a liquor license and approval for occupancy limits have stalled the project “I passed all the federal and city ordinances required Two years ago, Hill took over the lounge after the previous owner struggled to obtain city approval. Now, Hill is facing similar hurdles in getting the business off the ground. During Monday night’s city council meeting Hill once again asked city officials when action would be taken Alderman Mariah Clay voiced concerns about Hill receiving adequate time to present his case stating that public comments should be fairly heard I’m only asking that these people be allowed fairly to hear their concerns,” Clay said KATC reached out to Clay for further comment on the situation "I felt compelled to advocate on behalf of Mr Hill due to the ward representative's lack of responsiveness regarding the necessary steps to initiate the review process for the business we have sworn an oath to serve our community and foster a healthy environment for businesses to thrive Having served on the council for only two years I am unable to provide insight into why the approval of the business license has been delayed for four years despite the business's compliance with state requirements The Mayor should be able to provide further details and a solution to enable the business to finally open its doors I hope that the issue preventing the approval of their license without reasonable cause can be resolved and the business can be given a fair opportunity to open." City Attorney Lucretia Pecantte also expressed concerns about the prolonged approval process noting that she had spoken with Hill’s lawyer before the meeting serious concerns...serious concerns,” Pecantte said Mayor Carol Bourgeois promised to meet with Hill sometime soon during Monday night's council meeting We reached out to the mayor for further comment "His application is still being processed." give us a chance to get our business up and running,” Hill said let them come talk to us about whatever issue that we’ve got going on.” The Jeanerette Police Department responded to 13 calls for service in the last 48 hours and made 3 arrests Illegal Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm Lewis was released on a summons to appear in court Rawlins was released on a summons to appear in court The Jeanerette Police Department responded to 15 calls for service in the past 48 hours on the charge of 6 counts of Criminal Damage to Property A former Patterson Police officer and current Jeanerette Police officer has been arrested has been booked with possession of drug paraphernalia possession of pornography involving juveniles and sexual abuse of an animal a detective began investigating a possible case of malfeasance in office by a local police officer Detectives got a search warrant for Charles' phone and allegedly found pornographic images of children and videos depicting pornography with animals .Detectives made contact with Charles at a Bayou Vista home and executed a warrant; they allegedly found drug paraphernalia there between the initial complaint and his arrest Charles left the Patterson Police Department and started working for the Jeanerette Police Department IBERIA PARISH — UPDATE: State Fire Marshal's Office confirmed that the suspect in the Jeanerette City Hall fire has been arrested the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Jeanerette Police Department announced Wednesday that they were searching for a man wanted for setting fire to Jeanerette City Hall in connection with the incident that happened around 1 p.m He was booked with Aggravated Arson and Manufacture and possession of delayed action incendiary devices Eugene arrived at City Hall on a bicycle and tried to break into the mayor’s office portion of the building He used what officials described as "a delayed incendiary device" to set the fire A statement from the State Fire Marshal’s Office said several people were inside City Hall at the time of the fire and there was minimal damage reported," the statement said Investigators are asking anyone with information on Eugene's whereabouts to contact the Jeanerette Police Department at 337-276-6323 or the State Fire Marshal's Arson Tipline at 1-844-954-1221 Tips can also be submitted online at lasfm.org [lasfm.org] where information can be shared anonymously.