Shreveport Police Warn of Sharp Rise in Online Sextortion Targeting Children
Shreveport Police Department, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office
The Shreveport Police Department has joined forces with the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force to combat a sharp rise in online sextortion cases targeting local children. In these schemes, predators pose as peers online, build trust with juvenile victims, and then use private images or information to blackmail them. SPD investigators said the new partnership links law enforcement networks across state lines, allowing Shreveport detectives to coordinate with agencies nationwide when a predator and victim are in different states. Parents are urged to talk with their children about online safety and the risks of sharing personal information or images with anyone online. Tips can be submitted to Shreveport Police or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678.
Bossier Schools Warns Parents of Water Gun Prank Involving Imitation Weapons
Bossier Parish Schools
Bossier Parish Schools is alerting parents and students about a circulating social media prank in which participants use water guns styled to look like real weapons. The district is warning that any student bringing an imitation weapon onto campus will face serious disciplinary consequences, and that law enforcement will be involved. School officials are asking parents to discuss the potential consequences with their children before the prank spreads further.
Woman Found Dead in Stolen Vehicle Near Caddo Courthouse; Foul Play Ruled Out
Shreveport Police Department, Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office
Shreveport Police responded Thursday morning to the 600 block of Milam Street near the Caddo Parish Courthouse after a woman was found deceased inside a vehicle. Officers determined the vehicle had been reported stolen from Bossier City and belonged to a relative of the deceased, who was also identified as the theft suspect. Investigators reviewed footage from the Real Time Crime Center and eliminated foul play as a cause of death. No criminal activity is connected to the death. The Caddo Parish Coroner’s Office will determine the exact cause and manner of death.
Louisiana Tax Refund Deadline Is Tomorrow; $17.5 Million Unclaimed
Louisiana Department of Revenue
Louisiana taxpayers have until Friday, Sept. 4, to claim their share of $17.5 million in state tax refunds before the funds are transferred to the state’s Unclaimed Property Division. A total of 22,751 individual and business taxpayers were sent notices in July. Refunds can be claimed online at the Louisiana Department of Revenue’s website or by returning the voucher attached to the notice. The LDR will be closed from 2 p.m. Friday through Monday, Sept. 7, for system updates and the Labor Day holiday.