The incident occurred around 7:10 a.m. Monday, May 7^th, on Lowe Davis Rd. near Covington when a tree cutting service was in the area clearing power lines.  Workers cladded in yellow reflective clothing set out orange traffic cones around their vehicle, which was equipped with yellow flashing strobe lights. 

As a worker returned to his work truck to retrieve some tools, he was struck in the back by the mirror of a passing truck.  The suspect fled the scene prior to deputies’ arrival.

The truck was described as an older model red/maroon GMC pickup.  Witnesses stated that they thought there was a stainless steel tool box in the bed of the truck.  There was no known damage to the truck, but witnesses indicated that the truck had metal side mirrors distinctive of an older model truck.

The truck was last seen leaving the scene and travelling west on Lowe Davis Rd., toward Covington.  The victim was transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital and was later released with minor injuries. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 898-2338.

The warrant was signed by the Honorable William “Rusty” Knight, 22nd J.D.C.

Deputies are currently searching for Jefferson, who is believed to be in the Lake Charles area.

Detectives opened a missing persons investigation Tuesday evening after speaking with Nicole’s mother.  She reported her daughter had not been seen since Sunday night.  Investigators began suspecting foul play in this case Wednesday, after statements made by Jefferson contradicted information gathered from other sources in the investigation.

The search for Nicole Jefferson was focused to southwestern St. Tammany Parish Wednesday as a result of information gathered during the investigation.  Deputies searching along the side of the interstate on four-wheelers located Jefferson in the woods, several feet inside the tree line.

Last year, after Nicole and Calvin were divorced, she moved from Bedford, Texas to St. Tammany Parish to be close to her mother.  Sometime after that, she allowed Calvin to move into her Greenleaves home to help with raising their four children.  The couple had a turbulent past, with three domestic abuse battery arrests of Calvin Jefferson in several jurisdictions.

Anyone with information about Calvin Jefferson’s whereabouts is urged to call 911.

Nicole Veade Jefferson (W/F – 106 Trace Loop, Mandeville – DOB: 4/29/81) was reported missing by her mother Tuesday evening.

Jefferson has long, wavy brown hair and brown eyes.  She is 5’-5” tall and weighs 160 lbs.

Jefferson works as a TSA agent at Louis Armstrong International airport.  She was scheduled to report to work at 3:00 a.m. Monday.  She did not make it to work that morning and has not been seen there since.

Anyone with information about Jefferson’s whereabouts is asked to call 9-1-1.

At approximately 11:00 AM Sunday, deputies were called to a residence on Cialona road after family members reported a fight between a couple and their 37 year old son, identified as Fernando Estopinal, V (1035 Cialona Rd, Madisonville – DOB: 5/9/74).  During the incident, Estopinal punched his mother and sister in the head.  In response, Estopinal’s father shot him once in the leg with a pistol.  The Sheriff’s Office was called by the father, who reported what he had done.

Estopinal was contacted at St. Tammany Parish Hospital, where he was brought by family members.  He was issued a summons for two counts of LRS 14:35 – Simple Battery.  He was released back to St. Tammany Hospital staff to undergo surgery.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is on-going.

Ulysses Batiste, Jr. (27681 St. Louis St, Lacombe – DOB: 12/2/1980) was last seen by his mother, Ms. Adeline Perkins, at her residence Tuesday night at approximately 10:00 p.m. That is when Ms. Perkins reported she and her son, who lives at her home, both retired for the evening. At 8:00 Wednesday morning, Ms. Perkins checked on her son in his bedroom and found he was gone.

When Mr. Batiste had not returned by Thursday night, Ms. Perkins called the Sheriff’s Office and deputies began searching the area for him. Mr. Batiste does not drive and has no cellular telephone.

Anyone with information about Mr. Batiste’s whereabouts is urged to call 9-1-1.

The graduates receive P.O.S.T. Level I certification by the State of Louisiana.

Two different academy classes were honored at the ceremony. A full-time class of nine cadets graduated along with a reserve class consisting of the other nine. Full time classes attend the academy during the day; reserve classes attend at night.

Some of the cadets had been newly hired by the Sheriff’s office, while some were already employed by the agency.

Four awards were given to the members of each class who performed the best in four categories of instruction: academics, driving, physical fitness, and firearms. The names of the graduates follow:

STPSO POST Academy – Class #14:

Deputy Jason Alexander
Deputy John Bowers – (Driving award)
Corporal Arlene Donahue
Deputy Clint Kiley – (Fitness award)
Deputy Richard Morton
Deputy Frank Schambach, III
Deputy Jordan Smith – (Academic and Firearms awards)
Deputy Ivy Thompkins, III
Deputy Ashley Yoli

STPSO Reserve Academy – Class N-6:

Deputy Geoffrey Crowe
Deputy Anthony Dupre– (Fitness award)
Deputy Justin Frechette
Deputy Paul Gilberti
Deputy Steven Hoffman
Deputy Rickey Liberto – (Firearms award)
Deputy William McInnis, III – (Driving award)
Deputy Keith Meshell, Jr. – (Academic award)
Deputy Dennis Neyland

The student broadcast his threats on a popular social media site last night, which caught the attention of school officials.  Identifying on a “survivors list” several students who he would leave unharmed, the student promised that others were “going to die” when he saw them at school today.

At approximately 9:30 last night, the Sheriff’s office began receiving calls from school officials and several Monteleone parents concerning the threats.  Deputies were dispatched to the boy’s residence, where investigators spoke with the student and his parents.

The student was placed under arrest for one count of L.R.S. 14:40.1 – terrorizing.  He has been transferred to the Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Facility and is being held there pending a 72 hour hearing.

“We take these types of threats very seriously,” Sheriff Strain said.  “Students must know that if they issue a threat to teachers or other students, they can and will be arrested regardless of their ability or intent to carry out those threats,” Strain added.

Investigators believe the student was acting alone in his threats and that there is no danger remaining to other students at the school.

Extra deputies have been assigned to the school today as an extra precaution.

Otis Stewart (4200 Maple Dr, Pearl River – DOB: 9/21/1970) and Carolyn Babb (4724 Willow Dr, Pearl River – DOB: 10/3/1973) were both booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail last night and are being held without bond.

St. Tammany Deputies received a call last night from Hancock County (MS) Sheriff’s investigators who were investigating the homicide and believed the two may be from St. Tammany Parish.

Deputies located Babb at a residence near her own in the River Gardens subdivision. Stewart was located later in the evening at his residence. Both were arrested without incident on Mississippi warrants for credit card fraud.

Any questions related to the homicide should be directed to the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.

The women have been identified as Debra Fisher (176 S. Military Rd, Slidell – DOB: 1/3/1954) and Heidi Todd (176 S. Military Rd, Slidell – DOB: 3/17/1967).

Investigators have obtained arrest warrants for Fisher for one count of L.R.S. 8:654 – mutilating or disinterring human remains and for one count of L.R.S. 8:652 – unlawful disposal of remains.  Fisher is still being medically evaluated and is will be arrested upon her release.  Pending official identification by the Coroner, Fisher is believed to be the victim’s daughter.

Todd was arrested yesterday evening by Sheriff’s investigators and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail for one count of L.R.S. 8:652 – unlawful disposal of remains.  Todd’s bond has been set at $30,000.

The Honorable Richard A. Swartz, Jr. (22^nd J.D.C.) signed the warrants.

The charge of mutilating or disinterring human remains carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment and a $1,000 fine.  The charge of unlawful disposal of remains carries a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment at hard labor and a $1,000 fine.

The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death remains open.