| New orleans crime after katrina exaggerated Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.newswatch50.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=158180C0-E238-4EC7-B80D-D00DDCEAB696http://www.newswatch50.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=158180C0-E238-4EC7-B80D-D00DDCEAB696 http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-20050929-09182600-bc-us-katrina-crime.xml
Report: New Orleans crime exaggerated NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- Widespread reports of rape, murder and anarchy in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina struck were exaggerated, The New York Times said Thursday.
One month after the category 5 storm came ashore, the newspaper said many of the reports were "urban myth," fueled by fear and frustration.
Autopsies have been performed on more than 10 percent of the 885 dead, and Dr. Louis Cataldie, the state's medical incident commander for Hurricane Katrina victims, said that six or seven deaths appear to have been the result of homicides.
During six days when the Superdome was used as a shelter, the head of the city's sex crimes unit, Lt. David Benelli, said he and his officers lived inside the dome and ran down every rumor of rape or atrocity. In the end, they made two arrests for attempted sexual assault, and concluded that the other attacks had not happened.
"I think it was urban myth," said Benelli. "Any time you put 25,000 people under one roof, with no running water, no electricity and no information, stories get told."
Copyright 2005 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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