Wednesday, April 5, 2023

It was some day Thursday, March 30, as Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, Chief Deputy Brad Walker and members of the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Department faced what appeared to be a major terrorism threat. While details are still somewhat sparse, we have attempted to provide as much information as possible.

Hats doffed to Sheriff Mitchell, Chief Deputy Walker, members of the Sheriff’s Dept. and other law enforcement agents for diffusing what could have easily turned into a tragic event leading to many deaths.

The incident began with a call made to the Sheriff’s Office concerning the welfare of William Hardy III at 262 Geohagan Rd. near Ft. Jesup. According to the caller, Hardy had made comments regarding shooting children and blowing up a courthouse.

The Sheriff’s Patrol Division, along with Detectives, began an immediate investigation into the complaint. They learned from witnesses that the threats were directed to children in Missouri and a courthouse in Kansas. Witnesses stated that Hardy had said he would resist arrest and would not be taken peacefully. Witnesses also told deputies that Hardy had a fortified room inside his home containing a large number of guns and ammo, which was later verified by the Sheriff’s Office.

As the investigation unfolded, Hardy’s house was surrounded and attempts were made to communicate with Hardy. A drone flew above the residence as law enforcement attempted communication. Contact was eventually made with Hardy, who stated he was out of town.

Meanwhile in downtown Many, some business owners and residents alike were somewhat unnerved by the presence of helicopter surveillance overhead and a Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) armored vehicle on downtown streets. The MRAP is a military light tactical vehicle designed to withstand improvised explosive attacks and ambushes.

Following the interviews of witnesses, Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Hardy from 11th Judicial District Judge Verity Gentry for two counts of terrorizing, (felonies).

During the incident, the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Operations Group (SOG) team was activated. The DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office SWAT team was called to assist, and they provided the MRAP armored vehicle and helicopter for air support.

After talking with a negotiator, Hardy agreed to turn himself in at the Project Celebration parking lot in downtown Many. He was taken into custody and booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center. As of press deadline, his bond had not yet been set.

It is our understanding that Hardy is a veteran of armed services and suffers from PTSD. We have received reports that Hardy was upset because his children had been taken from him by court order, and they and other family members had moved out of state. 

And who said we didn’t need courthouse security?  It’s worth noting Sheriff Aaron Mitchell, DA Don Burkett, Judge Verity Gentry and the Sabine Parish Police Jury all said we did.

The Sheriff’s Office received 33  9-1-1 calls on March 30. They ranged from disturbances and wrecks to trespassing and medical emergencies. One call was a single wreck on Hwy. 171 north of Converse from which the driver was airlifted in stable condition.

Also on March 30, Patrick Procell Jr. was arrested for aggravated assault with a firearm.

It was reported that Procell went to the residence of Jody Paddie at Peach Tree Mobile Home Park in Noble and threatened Paddie. Procell was armed with a loaded .270 rifle.

According to witnesses, Procell was upset over a 15-year-old disagreement between Paddie and himself.

A two-day jury trial last Monday and Tuesday resulted in the conviction for second degree murder of a Pleasant Hill man.  

Dereginald King, age 34, was found guilty of the murder of Joshua Graves, age 32 at the time of his death.  The killing took place on Dec. 31, 2019 in an apartment parking lot in Pleasant Hill during an alleged drug deal.  The victim was killed by a single 9mm shot to the head. The defendant’s claim of self defense was apparently rejected by the jury which deliberated about 45 minutes.  

The case was prosecuted by Sabine District Attorney Don Burkett. Sentencing is set for April 4 at 1 p.m. Second degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence.

Sabine Chief Deputy Brad Walker investigated the case and elicited a confession from the suspect during his interview.  Det. D.W. “Wade” Seegers and Det. Don Flores were also instrumental in helping solve the case.

A shooting occurred in Zwolle on Monday afternoon, April 3, which resulted in two people being shot.

The incident is being investigated by the Zwolle Police Dept.

Cardell Lynch Jr. was identified as the shooter, and the victims were identified as Jamarquis Winfield and Cardell Lynch Sr.

It is thought that Lynch Jr. shot his father, Lynch Sr., by accident. Everyone is in stable condition. 

Early Tuesday afternoon, March 4, Cardell Lynch Jr. was arrested for Attempted second degree murder and Felon in possession of a firearm.

The Zwolle PD investigation is ongoing. Persons with any information may call Zwolle Chief of Police Daniel Thomas at (318) 315-0078.

Almost 37 years after Lester Rome’s skeletal remains were discovered at the bottom of an abandoned well in Sabine Parish, Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s detectives have reopened the investigation into the Grand Isle man’s homicide.  He was 58 at the time.

Cold case detectives plan to book Patricia Tito, 58, with second-degree murder in connection with the death.  Capt. Jason Rivarde of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office said Tito is in custody of the Louisiana Department of Corrections serving a 40-year sentence for manslaughter in a different case.

Officials are asking for the public‘s help with the case.  Tito implicated Delvin Avard Sibley, 76.  She told investigators that it was Sibley who killed Rome.

Investigators have been in contact with Sibley’s attorneys, but officers have not arrested him in Rome’s death.

“Our investigators are asking anyone with knowledge of Sibley’s possible involvement in the homicide or later disposal of the victim’s remains to come forward,” Rivarde said.

Rome operated Rome’s Lounge in Grand Isle and was reported missing to the Grand Isle Police Department by relatives in January 1984.  The Sheriff’s Office joined the investigation a month later and interviewed Tito, who had begun running the lounge.  She was living in Rome’s home and operating his business.  She told investigators that Rome had gone on a trip and denied that any foul play had occurred.

The case eventually went cold after all investigative leads were exhausted until April 1986 when skeletal remains were discovered in a well northwest of Many in the 1000 block of Recknor Road.  The then-unidentified person became known as “the man in the well.”

An autopsy determined the man had died of blunt force trauma and possible stab wounds.  In 2021, the Sabine Coroner’s Office identified the man as Rome.

The Sabine Sheriff’s Office partnered with the Jefferson Sheriff and reinterviewed Tito.  Sabine Sheriff’s Detective Chris Abrahams joined the cold case later, and Tito told them Rome had been killed in Grand Isle before his body was dumped in Sabine Parish.  Jefferson officials spoke with Tito again in the spring of 2022, and she took them to the location in Grand Isle where she said Rome died.

Though she admitted she was present when Rome was killed, Tito said Sibley was the killer, according to Rivarde.  It was Sibley who left the area with the body, she stated.

Rivarde said detectives later learned the well where Rome’s remains were recovered was on property that used to be owned by Sibley’s family.  As a small child Sibley lived in Sabine Parish and during his adult life he worked as a firefighter in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

After working on the case for 10 months in 2021, Detective Abrahams got an arrest warrant for Sibley, who bonded out of jail on the second-degree murder charge and returned to his home in Mississippi.  Because the murder had reportedly taken place in Jefferson Parish, District Attorney Don Burkett released the case to them.

Tito is serving a 40-year sentence after pleasing guilty in 2007 to the shooting death of Judie Winn, 59, in Caddo Parish.  According to a KTBS-TV story, authorities said Tito shot Winn, the girlfriend of her former lover, in a jealous rage.

Her level of alleged participation is in question, but Jefferson detectives decided to seek a warrant for Tito in Rome’s death because she knew what happened and failed to notify law enforcement or even Rome’s family since 1984.

Anyone with information about the death is asked to call the Sabine Sheriff’s Detective Abrahams at (318) 256-9241 or Capt. Dennis Thornton in Jefferson Parish at (504) 364-5300.

A semi truck and trailer loaded with wood chips overturned on Hwy. 171 Bypass in the northbound lane just west of Fisher Rd. on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Many Police responded to the single-vehicle wreck at about 3 p.m., and the overturn resulted in limited travel along Hwy. 171 while a large wrecker recovered the semi to clear the lanes.

The driver, who was injured and taken to Sabine Medical Center for further evaluation, was cited for Careless operation. It was determined speed may have been a factor in the driver’s loss of control of the semi.

(Special thanks to Many Chief of Police Cheryl Wooley for the information above.)

While traveling through Nashville on Thursday, March 30, wife Laurie and I had the pleasure of having lunch with Bluegrass legend James Monroe, son of “The Father of Bluegrass” Bill Monroe, who originated the genre. James was an important part of Bluegrass music for 30 years with his band, “The Midnight Ramblers.” 

James is shown in this photo, probably from the 1970s, with the “King of Country Music,” the great Roy Acuff, an early superstar of Country music and Grand Ole Opry fame. James recalled appearing in Many and Rebel Park in Marthaville, and we also visited about Mr. Acuff.Roy Acuff appeared at Rebel Park three times, and once went by the home of the late Creed Lester in Many to say hello to his invalid wife. 

Creed was probably one of the world’s biggest Roy Acuff fans.

James shared that he has been working on a book about his life. We look forward to its publication. He also asked about Liz Alford of Plainview, a longtime friend.

While cruising on the Carnival Sunshine out of Charleston, SC, I was surprised to be honored by receiving a Diamond and Platinum Recognition Award for “Wisest Cruiser” in the group. In accepting the award from Cruise Director Leon Smith, I told him and the crowd someone had made a mistake. My wife Laurie and I enjoyed taking grandsons Austin Collins and Jayden Gentry on a cruise to the Bahamas.

About noon on Tuesday, March 4, Coby Lang of Many announced on a Facebook page that he intends to be a candidate for Sheriff this fall. He said he felt called to be Sheriff and this was something he had prayed about for awhile. He recently resigned from his position with the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office. 

Some of the things he says he will address are the number of re-offenders in Sabine Parish; a new, uniform promotion standard to ensure qualified deputies are promoted into positions of authority and responsibility in a clear, effective manner; and wise use of taxpayers’ money to build a solid foundation for the Sheriff’s Office to protect and serve the public for generations to come.

Interested persons were invited to visit langforsheriff.com to learn more.

Word coming to us is that Joe Dewil Jr., retired game warden and ex-Sabine Detention Center Warden under former Sheriff Ronny Richardson, is rumored to become Chief Deputy should Jeff Evans be elected Sabine Sheriff. Dewil is currently employed by the Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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