Armed robbery charges filed on Bogalusa cop

Anton Atkins, 29, a police officer on the Bogalusa Police Department, has been charged with armed robbery and dangerous use of a weapon.

Anton Atkins

Both charges are felonies and carry a jail sentence of up to 99 years. In addition, while not a separate charge, armed robbery with a gun is listed as part of the complaint as a sentencing enhancement.

Police Chief Joe Culpepper told wpnewsblog that the police department received a complaint at 8:44 p.m. Sunday about an off-duty officer firing his gun.

Culpepper said responding officers found spent casings at the scene, which were collected as evidence and have subsequently been sent, along with Atkins' service revolver, to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office for forensics testing.

"We won't know anything in regards to that until they finish with the tests," Culpepper said.

Culpepper said responding officers, along with detectives, then began conducting an investigation and conducting interviews.

"At the end of the interviews, we had enough evidence to seek the warrants," Culpepper explained.

Culpepper said Atkins had previously worked for the department, then left to work for pardons and parole before returning to the police department in April 2008.

He also said the investigation was ongoing and, that while others might have been involved, only Atkins had been charged at this time. Culpepper also said he investigated a report by wpnewsblog that Atkins' name was not on the booking log and that it was on the report.

"I am thoroughly convinced we have done the right thing (in the handling of the complaint and subsequent arrest)," Culpepper said. "I think there's more to it and that's why the investigation is ongoing."

Arrest made Friday in woman's murder

Crystal Marie Iglehart
(Courtesy Mississippi DOC)

Lafelix D. Miller, 29, first arrested two hours earlier on a variety of charges, is also being held in connection with the murder of 24-year-old Crystal Marie Iglehart of Columbia, Miss.

Miller was arrested on the murder charge early Friday morning.

"When the body was discovered in his front yard (about 2 a.m.), he immediately became a suspect," said Bogalusa Chief of Police Joe Culpepper.

Lafelix Miller

Culpepper said Miller had been arrested about two hours earlier on a complaint about a disturbance. That complaint led officers to charge him with indecency, as he was running naked down the street. He was also charged with resisting arrest and battery on a police officer.

Miller is said to have an extensive criminal record.

Culpepper said evidence frecovered from his person, the crime scene, the autopsy and from witness statements led to his arrest earlier Friday.

Iglehart's last known address was 610 Park Ave. in Columbia, according to the Mississippi Parole Board. She had been charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and flight-escape. She pled guilty on Jan. 16 in Columbia to charges of escape of a felon.

An area merchant said street talk was that the victim was a prostitute thought to be a “new arrival” in Bogalusa and that she had been severely beaten and strangled.

On Friday morning, Culpepper said police had no evidence that Iglehart was a prostitute.

(This is a reader news tip story.)

Police issue warrant in Thursday shooting

Nakai R. Butler

A warrant for attempted 2nd degree murder has been issued for 22-year-old Nakai R. Butler of Kentwood in connection with the Thursday afternoon shooting of a 17-year-old black male near the intersection of Church and Lincoln Streets in the Poplas Quarters area of Bogalusa.

The victim, who was shot through the jugular vein on both sides of his neck, was taken to LSU-Bogalusa Medical Center shortly before 4 p.m. Emergency personnel were able to stabilize him and control the bleeding and he remains in the hospital. His condition has not been disclosed.

Reports indicate the victim's girlfriend identified the shooter in the incident, which took place about 3:30 p.m. There were also concerns about the girlfriend's health because of the emotional stress and the fact she is pregnant.

A large crowd gathered at the scene of the shooting, as well as at the hospital, where the crowd was estimated at between 50 and 100 persons.

(Posted first at www.wpnewsblog)