Latest news with #StitchGuillory
American Press
4 days ago
- American Press
'We see you': Joint operation to combat recent gun violence nets 13 arrests
A joint operation between the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, Lake Charles Police and Louisiana State Police to address the recent gun violence in the community has netted 13 arrests in the past few weeks — and Sheriff Stitch Guillory has a message for those who are in possession of stolen firearms and are bragging about it online: 'We see you.' Over a six-week period between June and August, six shootings were reported within the parish. Four resulted in fatalities. In June, LCPD responded to a fatal shooting in the 200 block of North 1st Avenue and CPSO investigated the death of a man whose body was discovered on the side of the road near the 6700 block of U.S. 90 riddled with gunshot wounds. In July, CPSO investigated a fatal shooting at the Lake Charles Event Center Seawall, a Fourth of July shooting in the 1100 block of Allen Street in DeQuincy, and a shooting in the parking lot of Cowboys Night Club. On Aug. 5, LCPD responded to a fatal shooting in the parking lot of the On The Rocks bar — which is across the street from the McNeese State University Legacy Center. Guillory said the joint operation was underway before the On The Rocks shooting. 'We're not being reactive, we are proactive,' he said. 'Getting guns off our street and targeting criminals in and around local bar establishments where we know we're having problems (led to the operation). We decided to get ahead of the curve, it just so happened that the homicide at On The Rocks happened afterward.' Police Chief Shawn Caldwell said the arrests range from a 'variety of gun charges, a variety of drug charges and some traffic charges, as well.' During the arrests, seven illegally possessed firearms, more than 400 grams of marijuana, 12 Xanax pills and nine pressed Fentanyl pills were recovered. 'We take this serious. We're going to go out there, we're going to identify these people and we're going to arrest them,' Caldwell said. 'When we're done with that, we're going to turn them over to the DA.' District Attorney Stephen Dwight said two prosecutors on his team have been assigned to the joint operation to lend support and answer questions on searches and seizures. 'This is what the community wants to see; this is what we want to see,' Dwight said. 'We're getting guns off our streets and drugs off our streets and we're prepared to take these cases and run them through the judicial system.' Guillory said among the firearms confiscated was an AR-15. 'There's no purpose for that,' he said. 'What are you going to do with an AR-15?' To those college students fearful of patronizing local bars after their classes because of the recent violence, the sheriff said there has been no problems inside any of the facilities. 'It's just been in the parking lots, after they're closed,' he said. 'The bars themselves are safe.' Local ordinances require area bars and nightclubs to close at 2 a.m. Special details have been set up at these locations to clear out the parking lots after hours. Guillory said the men and women behind the badge signed up for this career because they want to make a difference in their community 'We're going to do everything we can, we're going to use every tool we have at our disposal to make our community safe and to keep our community safe,' he said. 'To the criminals out there, you want to go on social media and you want to post your stuff, we see it, too. That's our message. When you have drugs and you have them combined with a firearm, that's enhanced charges. I can promise you we're going to work with our federal partners to try and send you away for a very long time.'
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
27-06-2025
- American Press
Deputies suspended after video shows them repeatedly punching bar patron
Two Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's deputies have been placed on administrative leave after a video circulating on social media shows them subduing a man with force in the parking lot of a local bar. Sheriff Stitch Guillory said the deputies responded to multiple calls at the bar during the early morning hours of June 21 regarding fights in the parking lot. While attempting to disperse a crowd of people 'loitering in the parking lot,' the deputies 'encountered a man who was told multiple times to leave the property,' Guillory said in a Facebook posting Friday afternoon. Patrons of the bar who remained in the parking lot during the encounter recorded video of the incident that shows one deputy sitting on the man as he lies on his side in the parking lot. Two other deputies are crouched on either side of the man. At one point, all three appear to punch the man multiple times as a patron screams out, 'police brutality.' Two other deputies and a member of the bar's security team stand in front and on the side of the man as the punching continues. Guillory said the incident 'occurred as deputies attempted to take him into custody.' 'This incident was forwarded to our Internal Affairs Division earlier this week, prior to the video being released on social media, for a full investigation,' Guillory said. 'Internal Affairs is reviewing the totality of the situation to ensure our deputies acted appropriately and in accordance with CPSO policies and procedures.' Guillory said two of the deputies have been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. 'Being placed on leave does not imply wrongdoing,' Guillory said. 'If the investigation determines any policy violations or wrongdoing occurred, appropriate action will be taken.'
American Press
21-04-2025
- General
- American Press
Sheriff to host Senior Citizen's Fishing Rodeo
(Special to the American Press) Special to the American Press Sheriff Stitch Guillory and the CPSO Elderly Services Division will host the annual Senior Citizen's Fishing Rodeo 7-11 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the CPSO Farm Pond behind the Calcasieu Correctional Center at 5400 E. Broad St. Participants are asked to bring their own chairs, fans, and fishing gear (only one pole per person, please). CPSO will provide help in baiting the lines, removing fish from the hook, if requested, and bait for catching fish. Refreshments will be provided. All senior citizens 55 years of age and older in the parish are invited at no charge. For more information, call 540-2346.
