Projectnola.com

!alert - Officers dispatched to a residential burglary on the 6900 block of Vicksburg soon found themselves in a car chase after the perp(s). The vehicle chase ended just over the JP/ Orleans Parish line on Veterans Blvd., where one perp jumped into the 17th St. Canal, and was observed going under the bridge. NOPD officers quickly formed a perimeter, and began to close in on the perp's position, but were not able to reach the perp. After the perp refused to come out, the NOPD dive team was requested, and the subject was apprehended.

At present, bridge traffic on Vets is shut down, as officers are trying to recover as much stolen property that they can. Crime lab has already processed the burglarized home, and is proceeding to the parish line for the other half of the incident.

Note, a criminal trespass was also reported on the 6900 block of Canal Blvd. It is unknown at this time if other houses in the area were burglarized.

BTW - I wish to note that officers braved "a tone of snakes", and the possibility of encountering an armed and dangerous subject from a very exposed position, in effort to apprehend the perp. Super kudos to the apprehension team that did what they had to do... by engaging the perp, although they were at a severe tactical disadvantage.

Full NOPD Press Release: Brothers Arrested After Citizens Report of Suspicious Activity

New Orleans, LA - Members of the New Orleans Police Department’s Lakeview Crime Prevention District arrested two brothers’ 38-year-old Michael Battenberg and 40-year-old Thomas Battenberg after officers received information from our concerned citizens of suspicious activity. The incident occurred at approximately 1:45 P.M., in the 6900 block of Vicksburg Street.

According to investigators, Sergeant Doug Eckert of the L.C.P.D. responded to the scene and observed a door opened to a home and two individuals putting electronics in a SUV. When the Sergeant went to investigate the suspects entered the SUV and fled the scene. Sergeant Eckert activated his lights and siren at which time the suspects continued to flee. After a vehicle pursuit, the suspect stopped the vehicle in a parking lot in the 100 block of Veterans Boulevard, where both suspects fled on foot. The driver, Thomas was apprehended at Veterans and Homestead and the second suspect fled into the Seventh Street Canal. A short while later The Special Operations Division arrived on the scene and searched for the suspect by boat. The officers found the second suspect, Michael hiding under the bridge and was apprehended.

Superintendent of Police Ronal Serpas said, because of the alertness and vigilance of our citizens and the quick response of the Lakeview Crime Prevention Sergeant, the information assisted the officers in apprehending the suspects and preventing them from committing other burglaries.

Both suspects are being interviewed and will be booked accordingly.


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Officer Garry Flot