Dep. Rushing also says that 34-year-old Jennifer D. Lott, also of Denham Springs, has been charged with operation/creation of a methamphetamine lab, possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of Alprazolam, possession of Diazepam, possession of drug paraphernalia, cruelty to a juvenile, and on previous warrants of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and speeding.

The arrests occurred on the evening of Tuesday, July 22, as agents with the LPSO and Tri-Parish Task Force went to a residence in the 9300 block of Randall Drive in Denham Springs. Once inside, Dep. Rushing says that the agents located James and Lott, processed methamphetamine, several chemicals used in the preparation of meth, and a six-year-old child.

Dep. Rushing adds that as James and Lott were taken into custody, the six-year-old was turned over to the Office of Community Services for placement into protective custody.

Livingston Parish Sheriff's Dep. Perry Rushing reports that 31-year-old Mark Anthony Ott, no address available, has been booked as a fugitive from both New Orleans and Hammond. He says that Ott was wanted in New Orleans as a suspect in a murder case and in Hammond for outstanding traffic violations.

The arrest occurred in the evening hours of Tuesday, July 22, along Sherwood Lane in Albany. Dep. Rushing says that agents with the Tri-Parish Narcotics Task Force and LPSO Special Response Team deputies responded to a tip that Ott could be found at a location in the 37400 block of Sherwood Lane.

Dep. Rushing says that after deputies surrounded the location, Ott was taken into custody without incident.

Earlier in the day, LPSO deputies joined with Tangipahoa Parish deputies and officers with the Hammond Police Department in capturing an escaped rape suspect from Catahoula Parish, also found in the Albany area.

Eyewitness News PinPoint Doppler Radar indicates that the line runs between Mandeville and Lacombe through Covington and near the Folsom area. Viewers have informed the Eyewitness News Northshore Bureau that the rain is moderate to heavy at times with frequent lightning. The line appears to be slipping off to the north and northeast slowly.

One viewer reported spotting a funnel cloud near the U. S. 11 bridge, but it apparently did not touch down into the lake.

Viewers can trace the progress of the thunderstorm line here on our website by clicking on the PinPoint Doppler listing under the Weather heading.

Eyewitness News will have further updates as the information is available.

Livingston Parish Sheriff's Dep. Perry Rushing reports that, at last word, 44-year-old Froilan Corrias, with a last known address in Livingston, would face charges as soon as he is released from a local hospital for treatment of heat-related injuries that he apparently received while he was hiding from officers and deputies.

The effort to recapture Corrias, who faced charges of simple rape and simple battery in Catahoula Parish and escaped on Friday, July 11, began on Tuesday, July 22. Dep. Rushing says that officials got a tip that Corrias was hiding in a house near the intersection of North Café Line Road near Ed Brown Road in Albany.

Dep. Rushing says that deputies from the Livingston and Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Offices and officers from the Hammond Police Department converged on the residence and worked for two hours to get Corrias out of the house. According to Dep. Rushing, Corrias was hiding in a false wall inside the attic, covering himself with insulation, in spite of temperatures hovering near 100 degrees.

Dep. Rushing says that as soon as Corrias is released from the hospital, he will be booked into the Livingston Parish Jail.

Livingston Parish Sheriff's Dep. Perry Rushing reports that 27-year-old Rusty Graham has been charged with two counts of simple burglary, possession of stolen things, and trespassing. He adds that Graham may also face more charges as the investigation into the burglary case is continuing.

The arrest came on Monday, July 21, along Walker South Road. Dep. Rushing says that a deputy noticed a vehicle parked in front of a house that had been recently burglarized and no one was supposed to be there. According to Dep. Rushing, the deputy spoke with Graham and then ran a computer check. The computer check indicated that Graham was wanted on a burglary charge in Denham Springs.

As the investigation progressed, Dep. Rushing says that a search of Graham's residence led deputies to recover items taken from the Walker South Road residence, as well as items from a mini-storage burglary in Livingston.

Livingston Parish Sheriff's Dep. Perry Rushing reports that 37-year-old Kim Jane Candies was charged with obtaining a controlled dangerous substance by fraud, possession of a schedule II controlled dangerous substance, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, aggravated flight from an officer, and on a traffic violation warrant.

Dep. Rushing says that deputies were called to a drug store in Watson where Candies was apparently using a forged prescription to obtain pills. Upon seeing the deputies, Dep. Rushing says that Candies fled in her car on LA 16 toward Denham Springs with deputies seeing her throwing pill bottles out of the vehicle.

According to Dep. Rushing, deputies were eventually able to stop the vehicle using spike strips in the Walker area. He says that Candies locked her car doors, refused to come out of the vehicle, and began swallowing pills while using her cell phone. Deputies were able to make entry into the vehicle and eventually take Candies into custody.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Office Capt. George Bonnett reports that 17-year-old Blake Neuman, who was last seen in the 300 block of Legendre Dr. in Slidell right around 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 19, was picked up by the Florida Highway Patrol as he was hitchhiking.

According to Capt. Bonnett, Neuman was helping his family remodel a house they had just purchased in the area, went out for a walk, and never returned.

The incident occurred during the afternoon hours of Saturday, July 19, along the Amite River near Watson. Dep. Rushing says that deputies responded to a call where a man was apparently beaten while tubing along the river with his family. An LPSO helicopter was used to locate the victim and direct emergency personnel to the rather remote area.

According to Dep. Rushing, witnesses told deputies that the victim, 37-year-old Allen Newell of Maurice, told the suspects to quit harassing his niece, who was also tubing along the river. Dep. Rushing says that the suspects then allegedly held Newell underwater until he became unconscious and that when his wife tried to help her husband, the suspects then injured her.

Based on descriptions given them, Dep. Rushing says that deputies located Chaney and Dillon Dawson downriver and arrested them. The deputy adds that Newell was taken to a local hospital where he is expected to survive the injuries.

According to Capt. Bonnett, Neuman was helping his family remodel a house they had just purchased in the area, went out for a walk, and never returned.

Neuman is described as a white male, 5'7" tall, weighing 120 pounds, with a thin build and brown, shoulder-length hair. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark blue crew-neck tee-shirt.

Capt. Bonnett says that Neuman left his cell phone and wallet at the house, is not thought to have money or identification with him, and has no known acquaintances in the Slidell area.

If anyone knows the whereabouts of Neuman, Capt. Bonnett says he or she should call the St. Tammany Sheriff's Office at 985.898.2338.

The events leading to the arrest occurred on Friday, July 18, along Puma Drive in Hammond. Chief Deputy Pevey says that a deputy met with a concerned citizen concerning the whereabouts of the initial suspect, 29-year-old Heather Hollie of Ponchatoula. Hollie is apparently wanted on a warrant charging her with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

According to Chief Pevey, as the deputy was hearing about Hollie allegedly being nearby with a maroon, Nissan Altima marking the spot, the deputy saw the car leaving the area. The chief deputy says that the deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, driven by Carlson.

During the course of the investigation, the chief deputy reports that deputies recovered crack cocaine, cocaine, and marijuana and determined that the vehicle had been earlier reported stolen.

Chief Deputy Pevey adds that Hollie was not located and is still wanted by the sheriff's office.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Capt. George Bonnett reports that Phase II of Operation Safe Streets, featuring extra traffic patrols in numerous subdivisions, doled out some 194 traffic citations on Saturday, July 19.

Capt. Bonnett says that 95 tickets were written in the Slidell, Pearl River areas; 77 citations were issued in the Mandeville, Madisonville, Covington, and Abita Springs areas; and 22 tickets were written in the Folsom and Bush areas.

Capt. Bonnett says that during Phase I, which kicked off the effort back in March, 50 deputies worked in 25 subdivisions throughout St. Tammany and wrote some 919 tickets.

Capt. Bonnett adds that the next installment of Operation Safe Streets will be held on Wednesday, July 30, with locations to be announced later.

Called the "Eat Local Louisiana Challenge", Dr. Strain says finding the local delicacies would be no problem, with farmers' markets and road-side stands all over Louisiana offering the best in fruit, vegetables, seafood, pork, beef, and dairy products.

Dr. Strain adds that finding the appropriate seasonings for any locally-grown dish would be easy, as well, with numerous hot sauces available and the abundance of salt produced in the state.

"Your food will taste better because it's fresher and you'll be proud to support your Louisiana farmers and the local economy," said Dr. Strain. "You'll know your food is coming from your area and not trucked in from hundreds of miles away."

Dr. Strain is also urging residents to learn more about Louisiana products by visiting local farms, farmers' markets, and other production-oriented facilities to see first-hand how food makes it way to dinner tables.

Livingston Sheriff's Office Dep. Perry Rushing reports that 25-year-old Matthew Paul Hanna has been charged with two counts of burglary, possession of schedule II and schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft by fraud, being a fugitive from another agency, and on outstanding warrants charging non-support, speeding, and no seat belt.

The incident occurred on Thursday, July 10, at a residence just east of Denham Springs. Dep. Rushing says that deputies met with a witness who described a suspicious pickup truck in the area as they were investigating the theft of medications and the break-in of a nearby van where some carpentry tools had apparently been stolen.

Dep. Rushing says that deputies were able to locate Hanna and recovered crack cocaine in the vehicle and some pills on his person. According to Dep. Rushing, Hanna told investigators that he had just pawned some saws for $50. The saws were recovered and taken into evidence.

Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Dennis Pevey reports that 31-year-old Tracy Levette Wilson of Kentwood was charged with manufacturing schedule II controlled dangerous substances, operation, creation, possession of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, and two outstanding charges for arraignment. He adds that 37-year-old James Wade Weatherford, also of Kentwood, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, manufacturing schedule II controlled dangerous substances, and operation, creation, possession of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

The incident began on Wednesday, July 9, when TPSO narcotics agents executed a search warrant at a residence in the 22000 block of Smith Road in Kentwood. Chief Pevey says that during the search, agents recovered materials thought to be used to manufacture methamphetamine, methamphetamine, a .357 pistol, and a .22 rifle.

Chief Pevey adds that this is the second time since April that Weatherford has been arrested on a methamphetamine charge. He also says that agents expect more arrests as the investigation is continuing.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Capt. George Bonnett reports that Phase II of Operation Safe Streets, featuring extra traffic patrols in numerous subdivisions, begins this Saturday, July 19, and will continue on Wednesday, July 30, Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 16.

Capt. Bonnett says that during Phase I, which kicked off the effort back in March, 50 deputies worked in 25 subdivisions throughout St. Tammany and wrote some 919 tickets.

The Phase II locations in District II, eastern St. Tammany, include Eden Isles, Quail Ridge, Ozone Woods, Bel Air, Coin Du Lestin, Magnolia Forest, and Hickory Hills. In District III, western St. Tammany, the areas include Flowers Estates, Ingram Estates, Marigny Trace, Tallow Creek, Madison Farms, Arrowood, and Timber Branch. In District IV, northern St. Tammany, the areas are Lake Ramsey and Penn Mill Lakes.

Capt. Bonnett adds that the increased patrols will run from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.