Wednesday, December 1, 2010

C’EST BON
An off-duty Lafayette police officer underscored the meaning of service last week when he nabbed an armed robbery suspect who was hoofing it away from the scene of the crime. The incident occurred in a parking lot on the 500 block of Jefferson Street on Thanksgiving eve. According to an LPD spokesman, a 46-year-old Abbeville man had just been robbed at gunpoint. As the suspect fled and the victim phoned 911, the off-duty officer, who has not been identified by the department, grabbed the 22-year-old knucklehead and held him until on-duty officers arrived. The gun was recovered. “Off-duty police officer” is a bit of an oxymoron; cops are always on the beat, even when they’re off the clock. Glen Dartez, we’re thinking of you.

PAS BON
Coming off the three-year, 6-27 debacle that was the Jerry Baldwin era for the UL football team, hopes were high in 2002 when former Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle took over as head coach. After all, Bustle had coached phenom Michael Vick, and he brought considerable offensive acumen to the table. “Bustle Up” bumper stickers began appearing all over Acadiana. On Monday, after nine years chalking up the Xs and Os, Bustle was relieved of his duties as principal Ragin’ Cajun. His tenure brought a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and four six-win seasons. But with an overall record of 41-65, including a 3-9 record and dwindling attendance during the 2010 campaign, the thrill was clearly gone. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. Coach Bustle was beloved by his players, who must have known their coach’s fate in the back of their minds Saturday when they capped the season — and Bustle’s UL career — with a 23-22 win over rival UL Monroe. Bustle was the proverbial class act. But while class will win friends and admirers, it doesn’t win football games.

COUILLON
There are cruel jokes, sick jokes and dirty jokes. And then there’s trying to extort money from your own maw maw. A 19-year-old Lafayette woman was arrested by police last week, accused of subjecting her 65-year-old grandmother to the torment of fearing her granddaughter was in mortal danger. Cops say the victim contacted them to report multiple calls from an unknown person demanding she cough up $1,500 or the granddaughter gets whacked. The granddaughter had been missing for 12 hours, lending credence to the hoax. But, police say, the investigation revealed it was the 19-year-old granddaughter behind the extortion. At last check police said they still weren’t sure who made the threatening phone calls on behalf of the suspect. We can help. It was the other couillon.