S. Michelle Lodree, the owner of Big Mama’s Bail Bonds, says someone set her business on Tulane Avenue on fire on purpose last Friday. She says surveillance video shows the incident taking place. In the footage, you can see a person break a window and throw something they set on fire inside, before flames come shooting out of the building.“Destruction. Total destruction. Everything is, if it’s not burned or melted, it’s covered in char and smoke, water. The entire building,” said Lodree of the aftermath.Lodree says the whole thing started Friday morning when she was called by her alarm company saying there could be a possible burglary at her business. She says after police were called, she checked her cameras and saw smoke billowing out of the building.She says police and fire believed the flames started as an electric fire initially. Later on, she checked her tapes and saw the video, which she has since taken to police.Lodree says this is not the first incident she has experienced at the building. She says she has been harassed and stalked for months.“I have been begging NOPD to help me. I have literally spoken into body cams and told them I fear for my safety multiple times,” said Lodree. We have reached out to the New Orleans Police Department for more information about this incident and past incidents and have not heard back.Lodree says the fire didn’t just affect her business and her feeling of safety but also her Christmas.“I’m a person that loves Christmas. If you see the building, it’s like a Christmas winter wonderland. Every year, I do big Christmas giveaways. My surprise giveaway this year is all burned up. Nobody knew about it. So, all of my daughter’s presents, everything that we had for Christmas, was hid here in the building,” said Lodree.Big Mama’s Bail Bonds will remain open for in-person and over-the-phone services.
S. Michelle Lodree, the owner of Big Mama’s Bail Bonds, says someone set her business on Tulane Avenue on fire on purpose last Friday. She says surveillance video shows the incident taking place. In the footage, you can see a person break a window and throw something they set on fire inside, before flames come shooting out of the building.
“Destruction. Total destruction. Everything is, if it’s not burned or melted, it’s covered in char and smoke, water. The entire building,” said Lodree of the aftermath.
Lodree says the whole thing started Friday morning when she was called by her alarm company saying there could be a possible burglary at her business. She says after police were called, she checked her cameras and saw smoke billowing out of the building.
She says police and fire believed the flames started as an electric fire initially. Later on, she checked her tapes and saw the video, which she has since taken to police.
Lodree says this is not the first incident she has experienced at the building. She says she has been harassed and stalked for months.
“I have been begging NOPD to help me. I have literally spoken into body cams and told them I fear for my safety multiple times,” said Lodree.
We have reached out to the New Orleans Police Department for more information about this incident and past incidents and have not heard back.
Lodree says the fire didn’t just affect her business and her feeling of safety but also her Christmas.
“I’m a person that loves Christmas. If you see the building, it’s like a Christmas winter wonderland. Every year, I do big Christmas giveaways. My surprise giveaway this year is all burned up. Nobody knew about it. So, all of my daughter’s presents, everything that we had for Christmas, was hid here in the building,” said Lodree.
Big Mama’s Bail Bonds will remain open for in-person and over-the-phone services.
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