ProjectNOLA

Project NOLA Leads to Quick Arrest in French Quarter "Fake Rideshare" Armed Robbery

Yesterday evening, a Project NOLA live facial recognition alert led LSP Troop NOLA to the immediate arrest of 31-year-old Beaunca Caldwell after she entered the French Quarter. Caldwell was wanted in connection with last Sunday’s armed robbery in the French Quarter, which allegedly involved a "Fake Rideshare." While being interviewed by NOPD Eighth District, Caldwell allegedly attacked a detective and attempted to escape, resulting in additional charges.

Project NOLA assisted the NOPD throughout the investigation by providing critical crime camera footage and initially identifying Caldwell as a possible suspect. Job well done LSP Troop NOLA for the amazing response and NOPD Eighth District for the extremely impressive detective work!

As always, special thanks to everyone hosting Project NOLA cameras on their homes and businesses, who are truly helping to make New Orleans a significantly safer place to live, work and visit!

ENJOY JAZZ FEST Y'ALL!

PROJECT NOLA FINDS TESLA FIREBOMBING SUSPECT: John Michael Hinkhouse was taken into custody by the NOFD and ATF in connection with the April 14th Molotov cocktail firebomb arson at the Tesla Service Center in New Orleans. Following the attack, Project NOLA used its expansive network of high-definition crime cameras to track the suspect’s movements, eventually leading investigators to a residence on Bordeaux Street. At that location, New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) arson investigators recovered a motorcycle believed to have been used in the commission of the crime.

This arrest marks Project NOLA’s successful contribution to the closure of the second major arson investigation this year to be categorized as a potential act of domestic terrorism, following the high-profile Bywater arson spree. This latest case further demonstrates Project NOLA’s unique ability to help protect our community from high-level threats. By fusing community-based real-time video intelligence with inter-agency collaboration, Project NOLA continues to help make New Orleans a safer place to live, work and visit.

Operating a national Real-Time Crime / Fusion Center at LSUNO, Project NOLA received a high-priority alert yesterday afternoon from a partner law enforcement agency in North Carolina regarding a credible threat to the New Orleans area. The subject, an individual reportedly suffering from PTSD, was believed to be traveling to the city with the intent to commit a mass-casualty event at a local festival and engage in "su***de by cop.

Project NOLA staff immediately disseminated this intelligence to Louisiana State Police (LSP) Troop NOLA, who coordinated the notification of local and federal authorities. To provide a final layer of protection, Project NOLA entered the subject’s profile into its city-wide network of live facial recognition cameras around New Orleans so state and federal agencies may instantly be alerted if the individual were to evade capture elsewhere.

Following this multi-agency coordination, the subject was successfully apprehended last night at a hotel in Florida. Authorities seized a handgun and approximately 200 rounds of ammunition.

This successful outcome underscores Project NOLA’s frequent role as a national fusion center, where we serve as a critical intelligence hub by connecting multiple law enforcement agencies together. By fusing community-based private-sector technology with public-safety operations, we facilitate the rapid sharing of actionable data across jurisdictional lines to prevent crimes and other tragedies before they occur.

While New Orleans celebrates, Project NOLA is working to keep French Quarter Fest safe! While Project NOLA staff helped the NOPD gather evidence after a stabbing at Canal and Rampart earlier today, our Live Facial Recognition cameras detected the two suspects entering the French Quarter. Immediately, our LFR system automatically notified Troop NOLA and Project NOLA staff manually alerted the NOPD. Within minutes, BOTH stabbing suspects were apprehended!

Great work NOPD Eighth District & LSP Troop NOLA, and special thanks as always to everyone hosting Project NOLA crime cameras on their homes and businesses that are helping to make New Orleans a significantly safer place to live, work and visit!