Yesterday evening East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Billy Joe Hebert, 31, for the murder of 45-year-old David King Jr. of 12150 Hooper Road. Hebert and King allegedly met at a men’s shelter in Livingston Parish and lived together in a motel for a short time before King obtained the trailer in Central where his body was discovered by his landlord yesterday morning.

 Detectives responded to a call at 9:52 Monday morning in reference to a deceased male at 12150 Hooper Road in the trailer park behind the Winn Dixie. Upon arrival, detectives found 45-year-old David King Jr. dead inside his trailer. According to the coroner’s initial findings, King was the victim of foul play and had been dead at least 24 hours. There was no sign of forced entry into the trailer, and detectives noted King’s pants pocket had been turned inside out.  Detectives also found a large amount of blood near King’s body and a single strand of hair in King’s hand.  The hair did not appear to belong to the King, as it was shorter and of a different color. All evidence collected was sent to the LSP Crime Lab for analysis.

 During the course of the investigation detectives were able to contact King’s boss who said King owned a small gray Isuzu pickup truck.  The truck was missing from King’s trailer at the time his body was discovered. King’s boss also said King was paid $246 on Friday. At the time his body was discovered, detectives could not find King’s keys, wallet or money. An acquaintance of King told detectives that King had recently moved from another state and did not have many friends. However, King did befriend a man at a men’s shelter known only to him as BJ.

 Detectives made contact with the trailer park manager who stated King moved into his trailer on Saturday, July 11, 2009 alone. A witness reported seeing King with a white male, alleged to be BJ, that same day.  The witness said they saw King and his friend in the gray Isuzu truck and later the same day at the nearby Winn Dixie Store.  The witness said they last saw the truck  parked at King’s trailer Saturday evening.  According to the witness it was no longer there Sunday morning.

 The staff at the men’s shelter in Livingston parish identified BJ as Billy Joe Hebert.  Staff members informed detectives Hebert and King became friends while at the shelter.  After leaving the shelter, the two were roommates at a motel, until King obtained the trailer in Central. 

 While leaving the shelter in Livingston Parish detectives were traveling on Florida Boulevard when they saw King’s truck backed into a parking space in the parking lot of the Village Inn Motel, located at 1210 Florida Blvd, Denham Springs, LA.  Detectives saw Hebert come out and get into the truck. At that time, detectives detained Hebert and obtained a search warrant for his hotel room.  Detectives, along with the assistance of Denham Springs Police Department,  executed the search warrant and collected items belonging to Hebert, and sent them to LSP Crime Lab for further analysis.  Detectives also found a Village Inn Hotel receipt indicating Hebert checked in on Sunday, July 12, 2009 at 4:32 a.m. and paid $236.25 cash for a week’s stay. 

 While interviewing Hebert, he admitted he knew King and was with him at his trailer on Saturday, and that they went to Winn Dixie and ran other errands. According to Hebert, he left King’s trailer, went back to his motel room in West Baton Rouge Parish, and then decided to move out at approximately 4:00 a.m. Sunday morning.  Detectives met with management at the motel in West Baton Rouge Parish and learned Hebert had not checked into the motel as he previously stated.

 Hebert said that King gave him the Isuzu truck, and he planned to pay for it at a later date when he got a job. An acquaintance of King’s said that the King would not have given his truck away, and that he declined to sell it when the witness offered to buy it.

 When confronted with witness statements and evidence obtained from the scene, Hebert asked for an attorney, and the interview was stopped. Detectives booked Hebert into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison for First-Degree Murder.

 Detectives have been unable to locate any relatives of King to notify them of his death.

 Anyone with information as to this incident is asked to contact the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office at 225-389-5000, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at (225) 344- STOP or (225) 344-7867.

The East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office, the Baton Rouge Constable’s Office, and the Delta Drug Task Force have been working together on a summer initiative to create a safer place for residents of several areas. On Tuesday evening, they came together for Central Woods residents, arresting 13 people who had outstanding warrents, towing 3 cars with no proof of insurance, and clearing 56 warrants in the process. The law enforcement officials spoke to the neighborhood residents to gain a better understanding of their needs and to talk about making Central Woods a crime- and drug-free environment. Visit the Central Government Website for more information.

East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Detectives arrested a man last night for allegedly breaking into two sheds, a camper and a vehicle in a Central neighborhood.

Detectives arrested Taylor Payne, 20, of 10438 Shoe Creek for allegedly breaking into the above mentioned structures in Morgan Place subdivision last night at approximately 11:00. Payne was booked into parish prison on four counts of Simple Burglary and two counts of Simple Criminal Damage to Property. According to reports, deputies responded to a call on the 10000 block of Shoe Creek of a man breaking into a shed. Deputies apprehended Payne a couple houses down from the incident.  Payne allegedly broke into one other shed, a camper and a vehicle on the same street. Suspect was unsuccessful at taking any items.  This arrest comes on the heels of a May 25^th arrest of two adults and one juvenile for several storage shed burglaries in the Morgan Place West area. Detectives arrested Jermaine Peterson, 27, of 10210 Avenue L Apt. 226; Termain Johnson, 27, of 1520 E Street, Woodville, MS; and a 16-year-old male for two counts of simple burglary and two counts of felony theft. According to reports, around 1:00 pm on May 25, 2009 the accused allegedly burglarized several sheds in the neighborhood and stole cooking equipment, fishing poles, chainsaws and other items. Detectives were able to apprehend the suspects and recover many of the stolen items following an anonymous tip called in by a neighbor that witnessed one of the burglaries.

Shed burglaries often increase during the summer months. Sheriff Gautreaux encourages residents to protect their property by keeping in mind the following tips:

- lock all sheds

- keep valuables out of plain view

- watch out for neighbors

-immediately report suspicious activity

- keep a record of all serial numbers of property, keep in safety deposit box or keep several copies in safe places such as parents house -If you own a safe, safe should be bolted to floor

East Baton Rouge Parish deputies arrested a 27-year-old man Monday in the Sunday May 17 armed robbery of two employees at Fox’s Pizza Den on Magnolia Bridge Road.

Armed with a pistol, Mark Dwayne Ruffin entered the pizza shop, 18564 Magnolia Bridge Road, through the back door at 9:50 p.m., an affidavit of probable cause said.

Ruffin ordered the employees to show him where they kept cash, the affidavit said.

The employees led him to the manager’s safe, where Ruffin took $2,468. He fled after demanding the employees lie on the ground.

Ruffin, 5324 Landis Drive, was booked into Parish Prison on a count of armed robbery.

Blackwater United Methodist Church was broken into some time Monday night.  Doors were forced open and the thieves made off with a laptop comupter and a video camera.  Police did a full investigation during the day on Tuesday.  Then, some time Tuesday night, the church was burglarized again, presumably by the same person or persons.  This time they found the church’s keys and proceeded to go through just about every room in the large facility.  They stole everything from electronics to soft drinks.  Again, the police spent much of the day investigating.

It goes without saying that if you have information on this crime you should contact the authorities.

Submitted by: Kathryn Ferguson

On Sunday, January 11, 2009, a man presented himself with offering yard/landscape services with a business card for “Full Bloom Landscaping” by Elvis C. Jones. He estimated the job of weeding, trimming, and laying pine straw in my front beds at $200, asking for $100 up front to purchase the pine straw. He came at noon the next day with another man, examined the beds, and gave me a work order form filled out for the job. Then he took my money for the pine straw purchase and I haven’t seen or heard from him since. I have left voice mails on his contact number but after 5 days of calling, his voicemail box is now full. Neighbors, be on the watch for someone claiming to be Elvis C. Jones looking to do yardwork! It may cost you like it has cost me…$100.

Incident : Aggravated Burglary, Attempted Murder

Incident : Burglary of a Business
12/15/2008
Location: 6655 Sullivan Rd.
Incident Date & Time: 12/15/08, 00:28
File Number: 08-91524
Investigator: Detective M. Abernathy
On December 15, 2008 at approximately 00:28 hours, Deputies responded to an alarm at 6655 Sullivan Rd., the location of Cactus Cafe. On arrival, Deputies observed that unknown subject(s) had broken out the glass located on the front door and gained entrance to the building. The subject or subjects responsible for the damage fled the area prior to deputies arrival. A representative from the business advised nothing appeared to be missing at this time.
Anyone with information concerning this matter is ask to call the Sheriff’s Office at 389-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 344-7867.

Incident : Burglary of a Business
12/15/2008
Location: 14455 Wax Rd.
Incident Date & Time: 12/15/08, 00:17
File Number: 08- 91522
Investigator: Detective T. Pitre
On December 15, 2008 at approximately 00:17 Deputies responded to an alarm at 14455 Wax Rd.#H, the location of Subway restaurant. On arrival, Deputies observed that unknown subject or subjects had broken out the glass located on the front door to gain entrance to the building. Once inside, the subject(s) stole the cash drawer that contained no money.
Anyone with information concerning this matter is ask to call the Sheriff’s Office at 389-5000 or Crime Stoppers at 344-7867.

INCIDENT: BURGLARY OF A BUSINESS

12/11/08, 0500 hrs

Location: Smooch My Pooch, Magnolia Bridge Rd

On December 11, 2008 at approximately 0500, deputies responded to an alarm at Smooch My Pooch, Magnolia Bridge Rd in reference to an alarm. It appears that unknown suspects gained access through a rear door and entered the business and stole cash from the cash drawer in the front office.