Weekly Update from the Mayor’s Office

Look every Thursday morning for the weekly update from the city. Thank you to the Mayor’s Office and Mr. David Barrow for providing these updates.
This week’s city news:
1) The EBR Sheriff’s Department conducted a Traffic Safety Checkpoint on Wax Rd at E. Brookside Drive (in front of Central High School) on Thursday, September 24, 2009. During the checkpoint from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m., the following occurred:

EBR Sheriff’s Deputies screened 1118 cars.

They wrote 113 tickets for misc. traffic violations

They made 8 arrests, 2 of which were for warrants and 2 DWI’s.

They stored 6 vehicles for no insurance and took 13 license plates for cars with no insurance.

Expect additional checkpoints in the Central area in the future.

2) Police hold man, 26, in burglaries, thefts:

“Baton Rouge City Police have arrested a 26-year-old man for a string of burglaries and thefts across East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes,” a police spokesman said. “Tyler Hood, 12121 Blackwater Road, is suspected in more than 30 offenses in Baton Rouge, Baker, Central, Zachary, suburban East Baton Rouge Parish and Denham Springs,” Sgt. Don Kelly said in a news release. “Hood is believed to have stolen portable generators, lawn equipment, tools, pressure washers, gas cans and other items, mostly from under
carports and in sheds,” Kelly said. Detectives have recovered more than $10,000 worth of stolen property. Hood was booked into Parish Prison on four counts of felony theft and one count of burglary. He is also facing multiple counts from other agencies.

3) In the past week, the Sheriff’s Office has arrested four individuals in regards to door-to-door solicitations in Central. They were arrested on various charges. Door-to-door solicitation is legal during daylight hours unless you have a “No Soliciting” sign by your
residence door. Some of these individuals have been acting suspicious and asking suspicious questions to homeowners. They are from out of state. Please be careful when purchasing items from door to door solicitors, as some people have bought items that turned out to be defective. Never give out personal information to people such as this.

4) The city council approved a Truancy Ordinance at the city council meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2009 in cooperation with the
Central Community School System. A copy of the ordinance is available on the city’s website, www.centralgov.com. This ordinance will help crack down on children who are not attending school without a valid reason. Parents can be fined and/or taken to
court. District Attorney Hillar Moore has placed truancy as a top issue in his administration and is working with all of the school districts in East Baton Rouge Parish to address this issue.