Justified Newspaper

01/01/2025

12/30/2024

12/30/2024

12/24/2024

12/23/2024

UPDATE: She has been located. Thank you for your assistance.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking help in finding Violet Hopko.

14 year old Violet Hopko, is 5'1" tall, weighs 185lbs, has brown hair and green eyes. She was last seen wearing a white shirt with tiny blue flowers and blue jeans.

If anyone has information as to her whereabouts, please contact OPSO at 318-329-1200.

12/18/2024

UPDATE: She has been located. Thank you for your assistance.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking help in finding Dezirae Franklin.

Dezirae Franklin, 30 years old, was last seen a week ago, off Prairie Road, before leaving with an unknown friend. Franklin is known to frequent addresses on Camp Lane and Prairie Road.

If anyone has information as to her whereabouts, please contact OPSO at 318-329-1200.

12/18/2024

I share the same concerns as many other people about these drone sightings. If one was hovering over my private property, like many people, I too would want to shoot it down. Unfortunately, it violates federal law and could violate State laws involving unlawful discharge of a firearm. It could also hurt other people and property. So unfortunately, I do not advise individuals to shoot down a suspected drone. Instead, take pictures and call local law enforcement.

12/16/2024

12/16/2024

RUNAWAY JUVENILE: JUSTYCE WROTEN is still missing.
Wroten is a 14-year-old Black Female, 5'1" tall and weighs 135 pounds. Wroten has long black & red hair. She was last observed near the Family Apartments in West Monroe but could be near Samuel Drive in Monroe. She was last seen wearing all black clothing.
If anyone has any information as to her whereabouts, please contact OPSO at 318.329.1200.

UPDATE: She has been located. Thank you for your assistance.

RUNAWAY JUVENILE: JUSTYCE WROTEN

Wroten is a 14-year-old Black Female, 5'1" tall and weighs 135 pounds. Wroten has long black & red hair. She was last observed near the Family Apartments in West Monroe but could be near Samuel Drive in Monroe. She was last seen wearing all black clothing.

If anyone has any information as to her whereabouts, please contact OPSO at 318.329.1200.

12/15/2024

The Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office is mourning the loss of Sheriff, Gary Lynn Gilley. Sheriff Gilley passed away at St. Francis Medical Center today, December 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving family. Sheriff Gilley was a highly respected law enforcement officer not only in Richland Parish, but in the entire community of North Louisiana. Sheriff Gilley was a law enforcement officer for nearly 30 years. Please be in prayer for the family and coworkers of Sheriff Gilley, along with the entire community of Richland Parish.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later under the direction of Brown Holley Funeral Home in Rayville, LA.

12/13/2024

NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION RESULTS IN SEARCH WARRANT AND ARRESTS

An extensive investigation into suspected narcotics activity, within the city limits of Farmerville, has resulted in multiple arrests this week.

Sheriff Dusty Gates said the UPSO Narcotics Division conducted an extensive investigation into suspected narcotics activity at a residence on Vergie Page Drive in Farmerville. On several occasions deputies observed a high volume of vehicle traffic coming to the residence, coinciding with someone exiting the residence briefly and making contact with vehicle occupants. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and executed by UPSO deputies this week.

During the search of the residence, deputies located paraphernalia consistent with the packaging and sales of illegal narcotics. Deputies located ma*****na in several areas of the residence, including two vacuum sealed bags weighing approximately 1.25 lbs., total. The search yielded a loaded 9mm handgun near the narcotics as well as a small amount of cash, divided up into multiple denominations. The investigation also revealed two juveniles were present in the residence and one of them admitted to consuming illegal narcotics on previous occasions.

The following arrests were made based on the findings of the investigation:

Antonio Lamar Gipson, 27, of Farmerville, was arrested for Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule I Narcotics (Ma*****na), Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of CDS, Possession of Firearm or Carrying Concealed Weapon By a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile, Illegal Use Of CDS in the Presence of Person Under Seventeen Years of Age, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. He has been booked in the Union Parish Detention Center. Gipson is a convicted felon and currently on parole, which bars him from possessing a firearm.

A juvenile male was issued a summons for Possession of Ma*****na and released to a guardian.

If you have any information concerning drug activity in our parish, please contact UPSO, Crime Stoppers of Union Parish, or your local law enforcement agency. Tips may also be submitted anonymously on our Mobile App.

12/12/2024

MISSING PERSON:

The Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office is requesting public assistance. Reggie Glen Plunkett, a 55-year-old white male, was last seen on Friday, December 6, 2024, near his residence on Lockhart Drive at approximately 8:30 pm. He has not been seen or heard from since. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact the Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office at 318-259-9021.

12/10/2024

12/10/2024

SUSPECT ARRESTED AFTER STRIKING CATAHOULA PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPUTY

Catahoula Parish, LA – This afternoon, shortly after 4:00 PM, a Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Deputy was injured while attempting to serve an out-of-parish warrant on Benny Ray Reynolds, 68, of Hwy 3102 in Jonesville. The warrant stemmed from a violation of a protective order.

While attempting to take Reynolds into custody, the suspect struck the deputy in the face and resisted arrest. Despite being tased, Reynolds continued to resist and made verbal threats toward law enforcement. The deputy then retreated to his patrol vehicle and awaited backup.

Upon arrival, Captain Darron Cooper established communication with Reynolds, who had retreated into his residence multiple times, claiming he was a “sovereign citizen.” After a brief standoff, Captain Cooper and Chief Ben Adams successfully took Reynolds into custody without further incident.

The injured deputy underwent a CT scan, which revealed no major injuries but did confirm a loosened tooth.

Reynolds has been charged with the following offenses:
• Battery of a Police Officer (Felony)
• Resisting Arrest
• Public Intimidation

The Catahoula Parish Sheriff Toney Edwards commends the professionalism and restraint of the deputies involved in resolving this volatile situation safely.

Reynolds remains in custody pending his initial court appearance.

For further information, please contact the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-744-5411

12/09/2024

TALLULAH MAN ARRESTED FOR SERIES OF FIRES

MADISON PARISH (December 9, 2024)- The State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFM) has arrested a Tallulah man for several vacant house fires dating back to April 2023.

Tory’shawn Banks, 21, was booked into the Madison Parish Jail on November 27 on 4 counts of Simple Arson, 1 count of Aggravated Arson, 5 counts of Criminal Trespass and 5 counts of Criminal Damage to Property.

On November 12, the Tallulah Fire Department responded to an abandoned house fire located in the 500 block of W. Scott Street in Tallulah. SFM investigators, who had been requested to look into the cause of the fire, determined it was intentionally set.
During the investigation, Banks became a suspect in this case. In addition, deputies confirmed there had been four other fires at vacant homes investigated in neighborhoods where Banks lived with family since spring of 2023:

• 4/6/23 500 block of Harding Street
• 8/6/23 600 block of Adams Street
• 9/5/24 300 block of Morgan Street
• 10/23/24 300 block of Morgan Street

In one of these cases, smoke from the fire filled the neighboring home so much that smoke alarms sounded and affected an elderly resident inside.

After reviewing all of the case details, deputies believed they were all connected and that Banks was the suspect in all of them. An arrest warrant was obtained and he was taken into custody on Nov. 27.

In an interview with investigators, Banks admitted his role in all of the fires.

State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams wants to commend the agency’s Fire Investigations Unit for their work on this case and thank the Madison Parish Sheriff's Office and the Tallulah Fire Department for their partnership in getting answers and an arrest. Chief Adams also thanks the community members who offered helpful information and direction throughout this investigation.

As a reminder, if you have information about any fire-related crime, you can share that information with the SFM by calling our Arson Hotline at 1-844-954-1221 or by submitting an online tip form. All information can be shared anonymously.

On Behalf of State Fire Marshal Chief Bryan J Adams
Contact Information- [email protected]

12/09/2024

UPDATE: He has been located. Thank you for your assistance.

The Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office is seeking help in finding Joseph A. James, aka Arthur Kage.

Originally from the Alexandria area, Joseph A. James, was last seen in Ouachita Parish. Possibly using the alias of Arthur Kage, he was in West Monroe in November.

Joseph James, black male, date of birth 2/5/1992.

Alias, Arthur Kage, date of birth 12/5/1993.

If anyone has information as to his whereabouts, please contact OPSO at 318-329-1200.

11/30/2024

MPD needs the public's help locating this runaway juvenile. If anyone knows the whereabouts of this thirteen-year-old, Rayveon Lewis, please call MPD at (318) 329-2600.