Last week, the Hammond Police Department Gang Unit charged an inmate of the Tangipahoa Parish Jail with involvement in intimidating a witness from a recent murder trial.
22 YO Jacoriaen “Toine” Cyprian of Hammond sent messages from the jail messaging system to family and friends regarding a particular witness from the trial.
The messages, that detailed the witness’ testimony at trial, were forwarded to many others who later circulated them in various forms of social media.
Cyprian was booked on an additional charge of Obstruction of Justice, which in this case, carries up to 40 years in prison.
Cyprian is currently in custody at the TPSO Jail on attempted murder charges, along with accessory after the fact to murder for his assistance in helping his younger sibling evade law enforcement while on the run for a murder in 2020.
HPD says without witness cooperation in criminal cases, especially cases involving violent crimes, the community cannot rid the streets of gangs and violence that attempt to intrude on the peace, safety and wellbeing of local families. The Hammond Police Department said they will not allow the gangs of Tangipahoa Parish and the City of Hammond to intimidate witnesses and obstruct the justice process.
