Camera captures alleged illegal trash dumping, Shreveport police issue summons.
Camera captures alleged illegal trash dumping, Shreveport police issue summons
By ADAM DUVERNAY | Staff writer
Jun 10, 2024
Shreveport's plan to catch people illegally dumping their trash has brought in its first suspect.
The Shreveport Police Department Thursday issued a court summons to a 29-year-old man on charges of gross littering, the first police action taken in the city based on newly installed cameras meant specifically for catching litterbugs.
SPD Spokesman Cpl. Chris Bordelon said an anti-littering camera positioned in the Allendale-Lakeside area captured someone illegally dumping furniture, but investigating officers learned that person was an employee who'd been dispatched by his boss to dispose of the unwanted items. Bordelon said the business owner was cited for gross littering, a crime which in Louisiana carries a $900 fine for the first offense as well as 16 hours of community service picking up trash with the potential for up to 30 days in jail.
The camera used to identify the suspect is one of those purchased by the city for that purpose. Deploying those cameras is one of the ways city officials have, in recent months, sought to get tougher on litterbugs, especially those dumping old tires around town.
Property Standards Director Terrance Green told a Shreveport City Council committee in March that two grant-funded cameras still had not been set up at any of the known illegal dumping sites, including at least four identified in the Allendale-Lakeside area.
In a news release, Mayor Tom Arceneaux commended the police for taking an innovative approach to the problem.
“The successful use of these cameras underscores our commitment to maintaining a clean and welcoming environment for everyone in Shreveport," Arceneaux said in the news release.