Quinn Coffman

1 week ago | theadvocate.com | Quinn Coffman

At least three jails broke Louisiana law by using shackles on female prisoners who were pregnant or even giving birth, a new state audit says. The audit also found that 65% of jails holding state female inmates failed to guarantee feminine hygiene products at no cost to all incarcerated women, which is required by law for state offenders.

1 week ago | theadvocate.com | Quinn Coffman

A woman who allegedly set a fire that left her boyfriend's boat engulfed in flames has been arrested on a count of aggravated arson by the Baton Rouge Fire Department Investigations Division. Zhanea Lee, 30, was arrested Tuesday, accused of intentionally setting fire to the boat in the 8200 block of Greenwell Springs Road. The fire also allegedly threatened nearby apartments.

1 week ago | theadvocate.com | Quinn Coffman

The Iberville Parish Sheriff's Office arrested the town clerk of White Castle last week on counts of felony theft, attempted felony theft and malfeasance in office. Monica Allen Lee, 52, was arrested Friday, May 23 for allegedly depositing over $2,000 of city funds into her personal account, according to a Sheriff's Office source. Lee had been a city employee for 27 years and the town clerk for 11, a city official confirmed.

1 week ago | theadvocate.com | Quinn Coffman

After returning from the Vietnam War in 1973, William "Bill" Johnson became the first Black officer in the Zachary Police Department. On May 17, he died, and today he is being laid to rest. Johnson served 25 years with the force before retiring as a captain. Friends and family say he was respected by both the Zachary city government and the community at large. "He was a servant of others, he enjoyed helping others," said Gloria Johnson, Bill's wife of 20 years.

1 week ago | theadvocate.com | Quinn Coffman |Claire Grunewald

As the world experiences waves of digital transformation year after year, children in Louisiana are being victimized in a rising tide of internet sex crimes. The state has seen tips for these crimes hit record highs, soaring from 171 reports in 2010 to 16,000 in 2024. These trends have caught the attention of law enforcement across the state and have amped up efforts from the statewide Internet Crimes Against Children task force to recruit more departments.