Two Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies are charged with manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daniel Vallee in Marrero last Wednesday. Brooke Thorington reports the shooting came as deputies surrounded Vallee’s S-U-V….
Cut 1 (32) “…I’m Brooke Thorington.”
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Members of Louisiana’s Congressional delegation express concern as Russian forces show signs of invading Ukraine. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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Two Jefferson Parish Sheriff deputies face manslaughter charges after Sheriff Joe Lopinto says lethal force was not justified in the fatal shooting of Daniel Vallee in Marrero last week. Lopinto says deputies surrounded Vallee’s S-U-V and he refused to get out. He says Isaac Hayes and Johnathan Louis fired their guns when Vallee’s hands dropped and hit the horn.
Officers encountered Vallee’s SUV with him in it as they answered a noise complaint at a known crack house. Lopinto says Valle was repeatedly asked to exit the vehicle, he started the car, after raising both hands and placing them on the steering wheel, he hit the horn which startled officers, and shots were fired.
Vallee, who was not armed, was shot multiple times. Toxicology reports show Vallee tested positive for several drugs. Lopinto says the video footage from the shooting will not be released. The two deputies turned themselves in Monday night and were booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Facility.
Lopinto says force was justified in the incident but not lethal force.
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Lake Charles is ready to revitalize its lakefront. 2022 has seen a number of new businesses announce their intentions to open locations on the lakefront, bringing food, entertainment, and recreational activities to the long underdeveloped area. It’s been 17 years since talks began on how to bring the area back, and Mayor Nic Hunter is glad that things are finally in motion.
Cut 6 (12) “…on our lakefront.”
The centerpiece of the redevelopment is Port Wonder. When it is finished, the educational and entertainment facility will sit on the north shore and should serve as a catalyst to bring families back to the lakefront thanks to two notable tenants says Hunter.
Cut 7 (12) “…Wildlife & Fisheries.”
Hunter is proud that most of the businesses moving to the lakefront are locally owned. Over the next few months, things will really get rolling with Mayor Hunter expecting to see the fruits of this labor early in 2023.
Cut 8 (06) “…visitors and guests.”
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U-S Senator Bill Cassidy supports strong economic sanctions against Russia as reports indicate Russian forces have moved into eastern Ukraine and Cassidy says this establishes Russian President Vladimir Putin as an enemy of freedom. He says sanctions worked against Russia when President Ronald Regan was in office
Cassidy says Louisiana can help play a role in weakening Russia financially as that country relies heavily on revenue from natural gas…
President Biden announced new sanctions against Russia this afternoon that he says go beyond what was implemented against them in 2014. He says the United States is cutting off Russia’s major financial institutions from the west and sanctioning Russia’s sovereign debt.
Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson blames the Biden Administration for not doing more sooner…
Johnson says it’s probably too late to avoid a conflict at this point…
Johnson believes the U-S should have supplied Ukraine with anti-tank missiles and defense systems. He says America could have also put sanctions on Russian officials and energy assets.
Biden announced today he’s authorized additional movements of US forces and equipment to strengthen their Baltic allies, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
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Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain will spend the rest of his life behind bars as a judge sentenced Strain to four life sentences, plus another 30 years on top of that. Strain was convicted in November on aggravated rape and incest charges. A mother of one of Strain’s victims spoke with reporters after the sentencing hearing
cut 13 (08) “…Jack hurting him.”
The 60-year-old Strain served as the top lawman in St. Tammany Parish from 1995 to 2016. He was convicted on eight charges of sex crimes against boys, including four counts of aggravated rape. A mother of one of the victims blames herself for not doing more
Strain also faces sentencing in federal court on a bribery charge. It has nothing to do with the sex crimes case, but the publicity of the federal investigation led to victims coming forward.