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Crime/Public Safety
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Category Crime/Public Safety
Crime, courts, and public safety coverage for Slidell and St. Tammany Parish.
Commercial Fire Reported at Sam’s Southern Eatery in Slidell
A commercial structure fire prompted a response from firefighters Wednesday morning at Sam’s Southern Eatery on Pontchartrain Drive in Slidell. According to the St. Tammany Fire Protection District No. 1, crews arrived on scene and were able to quickly bring…
Family Changes Plans for Nolan Wells’ Funeral, Event Will No Longer Be Held at Coast Convention Center
The family of Nolan Wells has decided not to hold his funeral at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center, reversing plans that had been announced earlier this week. In a statement released Tuesday, the Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention…
The Nolan Wells case continues to divide the country.
Update: As of July 13, the Wells family’s GoFundMe had grown to nearly $650,000, according to the Clarion Ledger. A Jackson County grand jury later declined to indict anyone in his death; see The Rabbit Hole’s later coverage. What began…
3-Year-Old Dies After Being Found Inside Hot Vehicle in Ponchatoula
A heartbreaking tragedy is under investigation after a 3-year-old child died Friday in Ponchatoula after being found inside a parked vehicle during extreme heat. According to the Ponchatoula Police Department, officers responded on July 10 to a home on Methvin…
41 Men Showed Up in Just 6 Days Thinking They Were Meeting Children, Chris Hansen Says
More than 20 years after To Catch a Predator first shocked the nation, Chris Hansen says the problem is far from over. Speaking about a recent undercover operation in Florida, Hansen revealed that 41 men showed up in just six…
Peaceful Protest Planned as Nolan Wells’ Mother Urges Respect and Unity
A peaceful demonstration calling for more transparency in the investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday at the corner of Government and State Streets in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Organizers say the goal is…
St. Tammany Parish Youth Pastor Arrested on Child Sex Abuse Charges Dating Back to 1990s
A youth pastor affiliated with a St. Tammany Parish church was arrested Friday in connection with allegations that he sexually abused multiple children during the 1990s. According to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, 72-year-old David Mercer was taken into…
Mississippi NAACP Calls for ‘Urgency and Absolute Transparency’ in Ongoing Nolan Wells Death Investigation
The Mississippi State Conference of the NAACP is calling for a thorough, transparent, and urgent investigation into the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, saying the organization is standing with his family as they continue searching for answers. In a…
Slidell man arrested on child sexual abuse material and AI deepfake charges
A Slidell man has been arrested following an investigation into the alleged use of artificial intelligence to create child sexual abuse material. According to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, 32-year-old Joseph Impastato III was arrested after investigators received a cyber…
Investigators Say No Evidence of Foul Play Found in Death of Nolan Xavier Wells
Mississippi investigators say they have found no evidence of a crime or foul play in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, who went missing during a Fourth of July trip to Horn Island. According to Jackson County Sheriff John…