Looters undeterred by flooding, police

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NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- With much of the city flooded by Hurricane Katrina, looters floated garbage cans filled with clothing and jewelry down the street in a dash to grab what they could.

In some cases yesterday, looting took place in full view of police and National Guard troops.

At a Walgreen's drugstore in the French Quarter, people were running out with grocery baskets and coolers full of soft drinks, chips and diapers.

When police arrived, a boy stood in the door screaming, "86, 86" -- the radio code for police -- and the crowd scattered.

Denise Bollinger, a tourist from Philadelphia, stood outside and snapped pictures in amazement.

"It's downtown Baghdad," the housewife said. "It's insane. I've wanted to come here for 10 years. I thought this was a sophisticated city. I guess not."

The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported last night that a police officer was shot in the forehead by a looter. The officer, who has not been identified, was in surgery at West Jefferson Medical Center and expected to survive.

The officer and another officer had confronted several looters at a Chevron store. Four persons have been arrested in the shooting, the paper reported. One reportedly was shot in the arm by police.

At some stores, police took charge of property seizures to maintain order and ensure that people took only necessities.

At a drugstore on Canal Street just outside the French Quarter, two officers with pump shotguns stood guard as workers from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel across the street loaded large laundry bins full of medications, snack foods and bottled water.