Latest Weather Blog
The Investigative Unit
3/28/2023
Convicts with life sentences are up for parole; district attorney says it makes no sense
Posted 1:47 PM 3/29/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
GONZALES- Ascension Parish District Attorney Ricky Babin said he recently had two cases involving convicts who were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole come up for parole hearings.
"I don't understand it," Babin said. "I don't understand how someone is convicted (More)
3/27/2023
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT: Air traffic control tower was unmanned at time of deadly BRPD helicopter crash
Posted 8:34 AM 3/28/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - The WBRZ Investigative Unit learned the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic control tower was unmanned at the time a BRPD helicopter with two officers went (More)
3/24/2023
City initiates blight court proceedings tied to abandoned lifeboats after WBRZ report
Posted 1:13 PM 3/25/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - The City of Baton Rouge initiated blight court proceedings against the owner and former tenant of a property after a WBRZ report showed abandoned lifeboats ditched in the middle of an empty lot near Mid City.
3/23/2023
Former WBR sheriff's office employee arrested for lying during traffic stop, allegedly tried to intimidate officers
Posted 1:19 PM 3/24/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BRUSLY - A former West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office employee was arrested on three felony charges this week after she told a fictitious story during a traffic stop that led to an emergency response.
3/17/2023
Lawyers representing fired teacher challenge her conviction for tirade that went viral
Posted 7:50 PM 3/18/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - A teacher who lost her job after she was seen on video waving a bat and a firearm at a family that was driving through her flooded neighborhood (More)
3/15/2023
'He should be in jail': Mom who lost children in crash furious as trooper who caused it gets coveted new job
Posted 3:23 PM 3/16/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - The mother of two girls who were killed when a Louisiana State Trooper slammed into their car back in October 2020 wants (More)
3/14/2023
Despite deadly on-duty crash, ex-LSP leader's son transferring to coveted new role
Posted 4:44 PM 3/15/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - A Louisiana state trooper responsible for the deaths of two children in a car he crashed in 2020 is being transferred to the agency's intelligence (More)
3/10/2023
State trooper implicated in doctor-shopping investigation got 270 prescription pain pills in 73 days
Posted 11:06 AM 3/12/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - During a State Police Commission hearing this week where Trooper Michael Reichardt is appealing his 720-hour suspension, it was revealed that Reichardt got caught up in a doctor-shopping investigation in north Louisiana filling prescriptions for hundreds of powerful painkillers.
(More)...3/8/2023
Prosecutor accused of hurting kids in 2021 hit-and-run crash still awaiting trial
Posted 9:30 AM 3/9/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
NEW ROADS - A prosecutor from Lafayette who was arrested on felony hit and run charges after witnesses say he hit children with his boat on False River and fled the scene is still waiting for his case to go to trial.
3/7/2023
Livingston sheriff's office employee arrested for escape and DWI, resigns her post
Posted 4:42 PM 3/8/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
LIVINGSTON - An employee with the Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office resigned her post Tuesday as the WBRZ Investigative Unit began asking questions about her arrest.
Over the weekend (More)
3/6/2023
In rare interview, sitting judge discusses 'failure' of suspects getting multiple bonds in Baton Rouge
Posted 9:01 AM 3/7/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - In a rare interview, Chief Judge Don Johnson is addressing a concern the public has with a revolving door for alleged criminals who manage to get multiple bonds while they are awaiting trial on their pending cases.
It comes after the WBRZ Investigative Unit exposed (More)
3/3/2023
Face of fentanyl epidemic: Mother loses three children to drug overdoses
Posted 8:38 AM 3/3/2023 by Chris Nakamoto
BATON ROUGE - She's the face of the fentanyl epidemic gripping our community and country.
Pam Rivas has lost three of her children to drug overdoses over the years. Two of her kids died two weeks apart in July 2021.
Her son Matthew McCallister died of a methadone overdose in 2006. (More)...
3/10/2023
Teacher resigned after he was reportedly caught on video 'roughing up' elementary student
Posted 7:37 PM 3/16/2023 by WBRZ Staff
UPDATE: The teacher involved in this story reached out to WBRZ via email on Mar. 10 providing documents that show he is not facing criminal charges and that the restraining order had been dismissed after his resignation.
A (More)
