Latest news with #CalcasieuParishSheriff'sOffice
American Press
14-07-2025
- American Press
Sheriff: Scammers falsely claiming to represent bonding company
Special to the American Press Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory is warning residents of a scam that is resurfacing in tje area involving scammers falsely claiming to represent a bonding company. The scammer contacts family members of incarcerated individuals claiming they can pay a lesser amount to bond their family member out of jail. The caller may provide a local address and phone number in an attempt to look legitimate. The caller may ask the victim to pay the fee using cryptocurrency or money transfer services, such as Zelle or Cash App. This is a scam. Sheriff wants to remind residents of a few tips to use to avoid becoming the victims of a scam: Resist the pressure to make an immediate decision. Verify any information by independently looking up the business and contacting them. Never send money based on a request made over the phone or in an e-mail. Trust your instincts, if something doesn't sound right hang up and report suspicious activity to local law enforcement. If you believe you have fallen victim to this scam, please contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office at 491-3605.
American Press
07-07-2025
- American Press
UPDATE: Arrest made in Fourth of July shooting
Clint Mott Jr. A 20-year-old Sulphur man has been charged in a Fourth of July fatal shooting. Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson Kayla Vincent said the shooting happened at about 10 p.m. July 4 in the 1100 block of Allen Street in DeQuincy. Vincent said when deputies arrived, they found the body of 26-year-old Cortez D. Boston of DeQuincy. Another man, Clint L. Mott Jr., 20, of Sulphur, had also been shot and had been transported to a local hospital prior to deputies arrival. Vincent said their investigation revealed that Boston and Mott began shooting at each other during an altercation. A warrant was issued for Mott's arrest on Sunday. At 2:30 p.m. Monday, Mott turned himself in at the sheriff's office. He was arrested and is being booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Moss is charged with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon during a crime of violence. Judge Tony Fazzio set his bond at $900,000. The investigation is continuing and more arrests are likely, Vincent said.
American Press
02-07-2025
- American Press
UPDATE: One of two murder suspects caught in Beaumont
(Emily Burleigh / American Press) The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office has issued warrants for two Lake Charles men accused of second-degree murder. Sheriff Stitch Guillory said Larry J. Bigelow Jr. and Titus T. Tezeno, both 22, are accused in the death of a man whose body was found late Sunday night on the side of the road near the 6700 block of U.S. 90. Guillory said during a news conference on Wednesday that deputies initially responded to a hang-up 911 call in which the caller said an unresponsive man had been found. The man was later identified as Kalin J. Stevens, 23, of Lake Charles. His death was ruled a homicide. Guillory said deputies initially thought the incident was a traffic fatality, but later found that Stevens suffered from several gunshot wounds. He cited an 'ongoing beef' between the victims and the suspects as the motive. 'Basically what happened is they've been beefing back and forth between each other — and they've had incidents before, but never to this magnitude before,' he said. Both Bigelow and Tezeno are convicted felons and are known to carry weapons, Guillory said. Bigelow has been convicted of burglary, possession of stolen items and domestic abuse. Tezeno has been convicted of burglary and aggravated assault with a firearm. Guillory is asking the public to assist CPSO in locating Tezeno. Bigelow was located in Beaumont, Texas, Wednesday afternoon and was taken into custody. 'We have made attempts to locate them and we have been unable to locate them,' Guillory said. 'We ask the public to not approach them. They are considered armed and dangerous. They've proved how dangerous they are, they've already committed one homicide.' Those who know of Tezeno's whereabouts or have recently been in touch with them are asked to call CPSO's front desk at 337-491-3605. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight said once the CPSO investigation is complete, the DA's office will bring the case to the grand jury and seek an indictment for secondary murder for Bigelow and Tezeno. Officials reminded the public of the risk of assisting Bigelow and Tezeno. 'Anyone that's aiding, abetting or assisting them in any way, you could face felony charges, and we will prosecute you also. So let's do what's right,' Dwight said. Guillory thanked the public for providing law enforcement with the information needed to get this far in the investigation in three days. 'We got this far because of the help from the public, and we're asking the public to do a little bit more. Help us locate these guys so we can get them off our streets,' he said. 'They have no business walking the streets of our community. They don't deserve to walk the streets of our community.' The bonds for Bigelow and Tezeno have been set at $1.5 million each by Judge Tony Fazzio of the 14th Judicial District Court. Tips concerning the case can be directed to the Crimestoppers hotline at 337-439-2222 or on the Close Watch Calcasieu app.
American Press
02-07-2025
- American Press
BREAKING: Body of man found on side of road riddled with gunshot wounds
(Emily Burleigh / American Press) The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office has issued warrants for two Lake Charles men accused of second-degree murder. Sheriff Stitch Guillory said Larry J. Bigelow Jr. and Titus T. Tezeno, both 22, are accused in the death of a man whose body was found late Sunday night on the side of the road near the 6700 block of U.S. 90. Guillory said during a news conference on Wednesday that deputies initially responded to a hang-up 911 call in which the caller said an unresponsive man had been found. The man was later identified as Kalin J. Stevens, 23, of Lake Charles. His death was ruled a homicide. Guillory said deputies initially thought the incident was a traffic fatality, but later found that Stevens suffered from several gunshot wounds. He cited an 'ongoing beef' between the victims and the suspects as the motive. 'Basically what happened is they've been beefing back and forth between each other — and they've had incidents before, but never to this magnitude before,' he said. Both Bigelow and Tezeno are convicted felons and are known to carry weapons, Guillory said. Bigelow has been convicted of burglary, possession of stolen items and domestic abuse. Tezeno has been convicted of burglary and aggravated assault with a firearm. Guillory is asking the public to assist CPSO in locating Bigelow and Tezeno. 'We have made attempts to locate them and we have been unable to locate them,' Guillory said. 'We ask the public to not approach them. They are considered armed and dangerous. They've proved how dangerous they are, they've already committed one homicide.' Those who know the suspects' whereabouts or have recently been in touch with them are asked to call CPSO's front desk at 337-491-3605. Calcasieu Parish District Attorney Stephen Dwight said once the CPSO investigation is complete, the DA's office will bring the case to the grand jury and seek an indictment for secondary murder for Bigelow and Tezeno. Officials reminded the public of the risk of assisting Bigelow and Tezeno. 'Anyone that's aiding, abetting or assisting them in any way, you could face felony charges, and we will prosecute you also. So let's do what's right,' Dwight said. Guillory thanked the public for providing law enforcement with the information needed to get this far in the investigation in three days. 'We got this far because of the help from the public, and we're asking the public to do a little bit more. Help us locate these guys so we can get them off our streets,' he said. 'They have no business walking the streets of our community. They don't deserve to walk the streets of our community.' The bonds for Bigelow and Tezeno have been set at $1.5 million each by Judge Tony Fazzio of the 14th Judicial District Court. Tips concerning the case can be directed to the Crimestoppers hotline at 337-439-2222 or on the Close Watch Calcasieu app.
NBC News
03-06-2025
- General
- NBC News
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office asking for help in locating missing Lake Charles, Louisiana, woman
July is supposed to be an exciting time for the Watley family, filled with birthdays and family celebrations. And everyone could count on one thing: Tameika Watley would never miss a family birthday. But last year, after the family didn't hear from Tameika on any of those summer birthdays, her younger sister Miranda Watley began to feel something was very wrong. 'She never missed holidays. She never missed birthdays,' Miranda told Dateline. Miranda's concern grew when she learned their mother hadn't heard from Tameika since June 5, 2024. 'So I'm like, 'Mama, something's not right,'' she said. At the time, Tameika was staying at her mother's house, but Miranda says it wasn't unusual for her to be gone for periods of time. Miranda called everyone she thought could have seen or talked to Tameika, looked in places she was known to frequent, and even went door-to-door asking people if they had seen her. But there was no sign of her. ' It's just like some type of feeling came over my body,' Miranda said. Miranda eventually decided it was time to bring in law enforcement. She went to the sheriff's office and reported Tameika missing on July 23, 2024. The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office issued a press release on its Facebook page on August 6, 2024, which states they are 'looking for a 37 year old Lake Charles woman, Tameika S. Watley, who was reported missing to CPSO on July 23. During the initial investigation family members advised detectives the last time they spoke with Watley was on June 5, by phone.' The release noted that Tameika does not have a permanent address or a working cell phone and is 'known to frequent several areas in Lake Charles including See Street, Railroad Avenue, 12th Street and North Booker Street.' They asked for the public's help in locating Tameika. According to Miranda, after Tameika was reported missing, a friend told the family she had seen and spoken to her after June 5, which is when the family last heard from her. On June 25 the friend spotted Tameika on 12th Street and 9th Avenue in Lake Charles. The two spoke through the friend's car window. The friend didn't remember what Tameika was wearing, but she told the family she had a bag on her shoulder that looked like a beach bag. Dateline reached out to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office for an update on the investigation into Tameika's disappearance. Public Information Officer Kayla Vincent responded via email. 'Since the report was filed, detectives have conducted numerous interviews, initiated multiple searches, and used a variety of investigative methods and techniques to try and locate Watley. We have also coordinated with other law enforcement agencies regarding unidentified individuals to rule out any possible connections,' she wrote. 'At this time, we have found no evidence to indicate that foul play is involved, but we continue to follow up on any and all possible leads,' Vincent told Dateline. Miranda says that while she tries to maintain hope, she cannot escape the many rumors that she says swirl around the town about what happened to her sister. ' The rumors [are] bad,' she said. 'All I hear — I just hear that she's deceased. That's all I hear.' This has also been especially difficult for Tameika's six children, who are being raised by her two sisters. 'It affects them bad to know that their mom is missing,' Miranda said. ' It's been almost a year, come next month,' Miranda said, which means summer is around the corner, the time of year the Watleys used to fill with joy and family birthday celebrations. Until they bring Tameika home, it will be tinged with sorrow and heartache. Tameika is 5'4' and weighs 140-170 lbs. She has black hair and brown eyes. She has a tattoo on her chest that reads 'Derrick', one on her wrist that reads 'Anita', one on her left leg that reads 'Tayvia', one on her right leg that reads 'Ja'Quaylon', and two others on her upper back. If anyone sees Tameika or has any information on her whereabouts, please contact the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office at 337-491-3605 or submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 337-439-2222.
