Pauline "Polly" Viola Coleman Carter
December 13, 1942 - May 31, 2025
June 02, 2025
Louisiana State Police Troop L Welcomes New Troopers
After 24 weeks of intense mental, physical, and academic training, these Troopers were among the 46
individuals who graduated from Cadet Class 106 on May 30, 2025.
The cadets began their 24-week training at the Louisiana State Police Training Academy on December 15, 2024. During this period, they received comprehensive instruction in areas such as crash investigation, emergency vehicle operations, impaired driving detection, fair and impartial policing, legal updates, advanced firearms training, leadership skills, and a rigorous physical training regimen.
They will now participate in a 10 to 14-week field training program under the guidance of a veteran Louisiana State Trooper.
Pearl River Man Gets Life in Prison For Domestic Violence
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on May 29, 2025, 50-year-old Angelo Russo of Pearl River was sentenced by Judge Tara Zeller to life in prison after a St. Tammany jury found Russo guilty in March on multiple domestic violence charges. Russo received a total of four life sentences on the charges of Domestic abuse battery with a dangerous weapon, Domestic abuse battery by strangulation, Domestic abuse aggravated assault and False imprisonment with a dangerous weapon. He was also sentenced to 20 years in prison for Obstruction of justice by witness tampering. The sentences all run concurrent with each other. Russo faced enhanced sentencing due to his extensive and dangerous criminal history, which includes seven prior convictions for second degree battery, three for stalking, seven for violation of protective orders, three for unlawful and harassing communications, four for driving while impaired, and one for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
Assistant District Attorneys Gary Tromblay and Iain Dover presented the case to the jury. According to trial testimony, shortly after midnight on March 17, 2023, Deputy Santos Aviles with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Office went to a Pearl River residence in response to a 911 call of domestic violence. Upon arrival, Deputy Aviles made contact with the 44-year-old victim at the residence of a relative of the victim. The victim had visible bruises, lacerations and abrasions on her neck, face and forearms. The victim told Deputy Aviles that her live-in boyfriend, Angelo Russo, had viciously beaten her at their residence following an argument. She said he struck her repeatedly with his fists, dragged her from one room to another room, beat her with a curtain rod, and strangled her with a shirt he had wrapped around her neck. He also sprayed hairspray at her and as he did so, used a lighter to ignite the mist – making the hairspray can into a flame-thrower. After beating her for several hours, Russo locked the victim in their bedroom and told her “You will not leave this room alive.” When Russo eventually fell asleep, the victim escaped from their residence and fled on foot to her relative’s house. Once there, the victim called the police. Russo was arrested and transported to jail. He posted bond a week later.
After charges were filed and a trial date was scheduled, concerned family members of the victim contacted the District Attorney’s Office and reported the victim and Russo had moved to Mississippi and were again residing together. The relatives said Russo had resumed beating the victim and they provided photographs of injuries the victim sustained from recent beatings. Specifically, Russo had slammed the victim’s head against a sink – badly gashing her head; he hit her in the forehead with an ashtray – cutting her; and he hit her head with a nightstand drawer – blackening her eye. Prosecutors filed a motion to revoke the defendant’s bail which the court granted after a hearing. After being returned to jail, Russo called the victim and told her to contact the District Attorney’s Office and tell them she lied about everything and that she had in fact attacked him. He also told her to leave the country so that she wouldn’t be available to testify against him. These communications formed the basis for the witness tampering charge.
During the trial, ADA Iain Dover described Russo as a classic example of a domestic abuser imposing his power and control over a victim, even after being confined to a jail cell. ADA Gary Tromblay said the defendant refuses to accept any responsibility for his actions, and instead blames the victim herself and various inanimate objects as the causes of her injuries. Tromblay called Russo a serial abuser and “a homicide waiting to happen.”
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Sunny, with a high near 89. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 65. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Wednesday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph.
Wednesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 71. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm in the evening.
June 01, 2025
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for May 30-31, 2025
Spencer Collins (age 35 with Bogalusa, La. address) was booked on the charges of Failure to Appear (2
counts) by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
David Stewart (age 46 with Mt. Hermon, La. address) was booked on the charge of Aggravated Battery by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. No bond set at this time.
Bendrick Fortenberry (age 32 with Tylertown, Ms. address) was booked on the charges of Driving Without Headlights, Resisting an Officer/Flight on Foot, Obstruction of Justice/Evidence Tampering, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Simple Battery, and Criminal Trespass by the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office. Bond set at $2250.00.
***All persons are innocent until proven guilty***
Local Forecast for the Next Few Days
For an extended forecast and more details, go to our weather page.
Today Increasing clouds, with a high near 87. Calm wind becoming west around 5 mph.
Tonight A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66. Calm wind.
Monday Patchy fog before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 88. Calm wind becoming southeast around 5 mph.
Monday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 66. Southeast wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Tuesday Sunny, with a high near 89. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Tuesday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. Southeast wind 5 to 10 mph becoming light in the evening.
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