[StBernard] SDT Truck Theft Case Will Move Forward

[Westley Annis]

SDT Truck Theft Case Will Move Forward
Judge Sets New Hearing For August

POSTED: 12:23 pm CDT July 21, 2009
UPDATED: 12:42 pm CDT July 21, 2009


CHALMETTE, La. -- A judge has found probable cause to move forward with the
case against a former SDT Waste and Debris Services employee accused of
stealing a company truck.

Philip Barbarin was in court Tuesday morning for a hearing on the matter.

St. Bernard Sheriff's investigators say Barbarin stole a waste removal truck
from SDT's Chalmette lot in March. The same vehicle, investigators believe,
dumped waste material into a Ninth Ward storm drain.

The unit was then left in front of an SDT building with the engine on and
the keys in the ignition.

Company owner Sidney Torres has stated he believes someone was trying to
make SDT look bad. It was the second such incident in a matter of months
involving a company truck.

In both cases, the illegal dumping was captured on home video and then aired
on a local television station. WDSU was offered a copy of the latter
incident but declined to purchase the tape.

Torres was called before the New Orleans City Council to address the issue.

Barbarin is charged only with the theft of the vehicle, though Orleans
Parish and federal authorities had indicated they are investigating to
determine if further charges are warranted.

Torres has provided surveillance video from company headquarters as well as
GPS data that may be used as evidence in the case.

Another hearing was set for August 25. The case is scheduled to go to trial
on October 20.