Wesley Lowe had Protective Orders against child's mother

Wesley Lowe

Catherine Lowe

UPDATED: 2PM - Bossier Undersheriff Doyle Dempsey says 'likely' that charges against Lowes will be upgraded. Dr. Chandler says that child could have been saved with timely treatment. Father didn't want to seek help because he had been charged with abuse in Nebraska in 2008 and didn't want that to come out.

On September 29th of 2010 Wesley Lowe filed for protective orders, on behalf of the child, against the child’s mother, alleging that the mother had temporarily given up her rights to the child until an investigation into alleged abuse was completed.
Lowe has been arrested for negligent homicide of the child, as well as for possession of drugs.
Lowe stated that the mother, although told by Child Protective Services not to have contact with the child, showed up at the child’s school in Bossier wanting to know why she wasn’t there, and then went to BCPD in an attempt to get the child.
The Protective Order was granted effective until October 26th and then extended until November 16th and then again until January 4th, 2011 and finally until January 25th.
On December 22nd, the mother filed for contempt of court against Lowe, stating that he had not allowed the court approved supervised visitation at Louisiana Boardwalk. A hearing on this motion was set for January 25th.
And now the child is dead and the father has been charged with negligent homicide, as well as possession of Schedule II and Schedule IV CDS. It appears that the system was doing its best to protect the child, acting on the information at hand.
The information at hand, of course, did not include the fact that the father had drugs in his home. A lot more will be developing in this case and we will post information as it becomes available.

Two arrested in death of 5 year old

The Bossier Press Tribune is reporting that two people have been arrested in the death of a five year old Elm Grove girl.
Wesley Lowe, white male, 32 of 52 Sunset Villa, Elm Grove and Catherine Lowe, white female, 34 of 52 Sunset Villa remain in the custody of BSO following the death of the five-year-old child Thursday at 9:25 a.m.
The BSO booked Wesley Lowe and Catherine Lowe yesterday for charges of negligent homicide, possession of a controlled dangerous substance schedule II and possession of a controlled dangerous substance schedule IV.
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Sammy Wyatt: I love Bossier City!

Sam Wyatt held his formal announcement for the office of City Marshal on Wednesday.  Here are excerpts dealing with his experience and qualifications.

While on the Bossier City Police Department, I continued to pursue (a) higher level of education to prepare myself for the future by obtaining an Associate of Criminal Justice Degree at Bossier Parish Community College in August 2002, a Bachelor of Criminal Justice Degree at Louisiana State University at Shreveport in December 2003, and Master of Business Administration Degree (M.B.A.) at Centenary College of Louisiana in May 2008.

In 1992 I started my law enforcement career at the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office after serving in the U.S. Navy. In 1993 I had the honor of joining the Bossier City Police Department, which is one of the proudest moments of my life. During my career with the police department, I served in several different divisions / units including S.W.A.T., Patrol, Special Investigations, Crime Stoppers, and Criminal Investigations. I also served as the supervisor over the Vice Unit, Crime Stoppers, DWI Task Force, and Evening Patrol Shift. While assigned to Criminal Investigations Division, I served almost 9 years as an investigator in the Juvenile Unit investigating 1311 cases of crimes against children such as homicide, physical and sexual child abuse, child neglect, child pornography, and the sexual exploitation of children. My passion has always been “protecting those who cannot protect themselves.”
During my career with the Bossier City Police Department I was honored with several awards which include the Unit Citation from the Chief of Police in 1994, 1998, 1999, and 2001; Investigator of the Year in 1999 and 2004; the Clyde “Hoppy” Pearson Award for Educational Achievement in 2002; and the Meritorious Service Award in 2002.
In 2006 I was elected to serve as a Trustee on the Municipal Police Employees Retirement System Board of Directors, a 1.6 billion dollar retirement system made up of over 10,000 retired and active police officers. In 2009, I was elected by the members of the board of directors to serve as the boards Vice President.

Dempsey promoted to second-in-command at Bossier Sheriff's office

Sheriff Deen congratulates Undersheriff Dempsey

Bossier Sheriff Larry Deen on Wednesday promoted Chief Doyle Dempsey to the rank of Undersheriff.
With the promotion, Dempsey, 44, assumes the position of being the Bossier Sheriff Department’s second-in-command. The new Undersheriff was hired by Deen in March of 2004, and since that time he has steadily moved up from deputy to sergeant to lieutenant to captain to major to lieutenant colonel to chief.
“Doyle Dempsey has excelled in everything we have asked him to do,” said Deen. “I have total confidence in his ability to handle the job of Undersheriff.”
The Bossier Sheriff’s Department becomes the first agency in Louisiana to include the position of Undersheriff. The rank was created by Deen, who says Dempsey will have complete authority to run the Bossier Sheriff’s Department when Deen is away on sheriff’s department business.
“I am deeply humbled by Sheriff Deen’s decision to promote me to the rank of Undersheriff,” said Dempsey. “I am excited about what lies ahead as we seek to continue to provide around-the-clock safety for the wonderful citizens who live, work and worship in Bossier Parish.”
“Undersheriff Dempsey is a man of great integrity,” said Deen. “I have no doubt he will represent the Bossier Sheriff’s Department with honor and distinction.”
The promotion is effective immediately for Dempsey, who lives in Bossier City with his wife, Michelle, and his two daughters, Caitlin and Regan.

Sheriff Deen draws first opponent in 20 years

Website

Mike McConnell, a former Shreveport Police detective and Bossier Deputy Sheriff, has announced that he is running against Sheriff Larry Deen this year.
It will be interesting to see who (if anyone) among the current power structure comes out in support.  I don't know McConnell, but I have to agree with nearly every comment I've heard to the effect that there is no way Deen will be defeated.  It will take deep pockets to even make a credible run for the office.
Going into this election cycle, Deen has approximately $500,000 in his campaign coffers. 
Again, until we see whether or not McConnell has a power broker in his pocket and some financial resources lined up, it's hard to see a real race develop.
This is not a swipe at McConnell, just reality as I see it. 

Icy Weather on the Way!

Tonight Wintry Mix Lo 31 °F

Sunday Wintry Mix Hi 35 °F

Sunday Night Snow Likely Lo 25 °F

Monday Slight Chc Light Snow Hi 35 °F

Sunday: Snow, freezing rain, and sleet, becoming all snow after noon. High near 35. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New ice accumulation of 0.4 to 0.6 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of 3 to 7 inches possible.

Sunday Night: Snow likely, mainly before midnight. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Northeast wind between 5 and 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Spotted Dick

First, check out Opinonated Catholic - he has the link to an article about Buddy Roemer possibly running for president.  Really.
As for the picture, yes, this is real.  A friend put it on Facebook.  I won't give you his name because I know he would be embarassed.  On second thought, he probably won't be, he did offer it to his Facebook pals.  It was Russell Carter.  Blame him, not me.
This stuff is a real product, found it on a Heinz website.
Heinz Spotted Dick Pudding 300g, imported from England. This is a traditional British sponge pudding made with golden syrup, suet and raisins. Best served hot with custard.

Court rules in Vernon case

Judge Parker Self this week upheld the Bossier City Fire & Police Civil Service Board’s ruling of February 16, 2010, regarding the firing of Bossier City Police Officer Philip Vernon.
Just in case anyone doesn’t know the details of the case, here are the basic facts as laid out in the Judge’s opinion.
• “Mr. Vernon had transported Assistant District Attorney Sherburne Sentell, who had been arrested on October 3, 2009 at the Horseshoe Casino on Domestic Battery charges. Mr. Vernon filed a supplemental report regarding the incident and an additional charge of Public Intimidation was filed against the arrestee. An internal affairs complaint was filed against Mr. Vernon based upon the conflict between the officers report and the video evidence as it relates to the transport of the arrestee in the police vehicle. The internal affairs complaint was sustained and Mr. Vernon was found to be in violation of the Department’s Code of Conduct regarding false statements and malicious prosecution. Thereafter, Mr. Vernon was terminated. Mr. Vernon appealed his termination to the Board. The Board issued a Written Finding of Fact and Decision by a four to one vote on February 16, 2010.”
• “The evidence and testimony presented to the Civil Service Board established that Philip Vernon filed a report that contained false information; however, the majority of the Board felt Mr. Vernon perceived the statements made by Mr. Sherburne Sentell as threats to his employment. The Board felt there was no malicious prosecution intended. By majority vote the board finds the Appointing Authority acted in good faith and just cause but the punishment too severe and modifies the action to a ninety day suspension without pay.”
Both the city and Vernon filed suit in District Court to overturn the ruling of the Civil Service Board, Vernon because his lawyer objected to the fact that the Board, in its original meeting, had included wording that the city did not act in good faith. This was later amended to state that the city did act in good faith. The court ruled that the written finding issued February 16th (which stated that the city acted in good faith)
• “is appropriate and is deemed to be the decision of the board from which these parties seek an appeal”.
The City of Bossier appealed saying that the Board only had the authority to either affirm the city’s decision or reinstate Vernon, that it did not have the authority to change the punishment.
Vernon’s lawyer had brought up the fact that the tapes of the Civil Service hearing were incomplete and of poor quality.
The court noted on this issue that
• “The statute reads that the Board shall not be required to have the testimony taken and transcribed, but either the employee or the appointing authority may, at their own expense, make the necessary arrangements therefore”.
Since neither the city nor Vernon’s lawyer had arranged for transcripts, then none were made. The ruling of the board stands on its own.
The court reviewed Vernon’s incident report and the tapes from the in-car video during transport. The Judge noted that Vernon’s report contained the following in chronological order:
Line 6: transported Sentell to the Bossier City Jail
Line 7: begins ‘while in route’
Line 20: he (Sentell) then advised me (Vernon) that he was going to see to it that officers were sued and that the officers were going to lose their jobs over this incident.
Line 23: Upon arrival at the Bossier City Jail
The Court concluded
• “While reading this narrative in context and applying a reasonable understanding to these words as would be expected by a reasonable person, the reader can draw the conclusion that the ‘intimidation’ the officers would lose their job was made during the transport to the jail while the arrestee was in the police vehicle”.
The court reviewed the tapes and agreed with internal affairs investigators that Sentell was agitated and intoxicated.
• “While the Court notes that during the video Mr. Sentell requested several persons of influence be contacted; threatened to sue; informed the officers of his job duties and utilized words that would make a Sunday School teacher blush, Mr. Sentell did not threaten the officers with the loss of their jobs during his transport to jail. This directly contradicts the supplemental report filed by Mr. Vernon.”
• “Of importance is the question that Mr. Vernon, during the internal affairs investigation, was asked in hindsight after listening to the tape do you still feel that Mr. Sentell was trying to threaten you with your job. Mr. Vernon’s answer was ‘hindsight, and looking at the tape, um I’d have to say no, sir’.”
Conclusion:
• “This Court, having reviewed the law and evidence does hereby affirm the findings of fact and decision by the Board issued on February 16, 2010. The appeals filed by the City of Bossier City and Philip Vernon are without merit and each appellant should bear the costs associated with its appeal.”
Philip Vernon is still an officer with BCPD, but the 90 day suspension for filing a false report stands.

Rick Seaton arrested

KTBS has verified that Rick Seaton, the Shreveport Assistant CAO who was fired last week by Mayor Glover, has been arrested and charged with forcible rape.
Excerpts from the Channel 3 story:
Seaton, 43, was arrested on a warrant charging him with forcible rape. Bond was set at $150,000 and
Seaton was in the process of making it late Tuesday afternoon.
The arrest came after a review of videos from Government Plaza, interviews with the alleged victim and with people who saw Seaton and her together that night.
Authorities said the young woman, who at one point texted her mother that she was in trouble, has told detectives she thought Seaton was a police officer.

Sheriff settles suit for $160,000

Robert Clay Hilman was a thirty year old deputy with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office at the time of his death in 2008.
A suit was filed against the Sheriff and several named deputies in 2009 by his wife, Kim Hilman, on behalf of Hilman’s two minor children. I’m not including the names of the deputies involved because it is not necessary to do so.
The suit alleged that:
• Hilman had been suffering from depression over the death of his mother, and was taking Effexor, an anti-depressant that had been prescribed.
• On January 30, 2008, a deputy was called by Hilman’s wife. The deputy called Hilman who said that ‘he was going to kill himself’ if his wife didn’t confess to an alleged affair. He also admitted that he was drinking for the first time in six weeks. The deputy did not report the suicide threats to BPSO and did not call Bossier Parish EMS to check Hilman.
• An EMS employee, who was on duty for Bossier Parish EMS, received a phone call from another BPEMS employee who was a friend of Hilman’s. According to the other EMS employee, Hilman had told her that ‘he had the house barricaded and it’s over’.
• Several deputies went to the house and observed that it was barricaded by a tractor against the front door with a chain attached between the bucket of the tractor and the front door. The back door was barricaded by a four-wheeler with the winch cable attached to the door knob. This meant that neither the front nor back door could be opened by ordinary means.
• The deputies contacted Hilman by phone and he came out through the garage to talk to them. Hilman told them that he was ‘sick’ and he had barricaded the door to keep his wife out of the house. The suit goes on to say that the deputies were aware that he was an abuser of alcohol who had been drinking. The deputies, after consulting with their superiors, decided that if ‘he would go stay with someone or have someone stay with him’ that they would leave and check on him later in the day, rather than taking him into custody or calling EMS. The deputies got a neighbor to come stay with him, but they did not mention the suicide threats. The neighbor subsequently left the home.
These were some, but not all, of the allegations detailed in the suit.
What is fact is that in the early hours of January 31, 2009, Hilman shot and killed himself with his department issued firearm.
The suit was filed by Shreveport attorney Kenneth Craig Smith, Jr.
The firm of Cook, Yancey, King and Galloway initially represented the defendants in the case, but in October of 2009 they withdrew and the firm of Tutt, Stroud & McKay took over the case.
There was no activity noted on the suit until December 23, 2010 when the plaintiffs accepted a settlement of $160,000 from the defendants; $80,000 for each child.
I take no pleasure at all in writing this, but I do feel that the people have a right to know what is going on with their elected officials, the good, the bad and the tragic.