Amelia woman charged in ‘rolling meth lab’ fire

A 31-year-old Amelia woman, charged March 23 with operating a “rolling meth lab” in a car that caught fire on the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City, was additionally charged Monday with principal to simple arson in connection with the incident, police said in a news release.
—Jewel A. Ross, 31, of N. Verret Street in Amelia, was arrested at 1:07 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with principal to simple arson.
Ross was already incarcerated in the Morgan City jail as a result of an investigation into a clandestine lab which was discovered on March 23, police said. The lab in subsequent explosion led to injuries of another. The Morgan City Police Department received an arrest warrant from the state Fire Marshal’s Office charging Ross with principal to simple arson as a result of that incident, police said. She was booked and remains incarcerated.
At 2:01 a.m. on March 23, officers were dispatched to the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City in regard to a vehicle fire. Officers arrived to discover a vehicle burning with two occupants, Jewel Ross and Pearl Ross, both 31, of Amelia. The fire was put out by the Morgan City Fire Department, police said. Jewel Ross and Pearl Ross are twin sisters.
Officers found evidence indicating that the sisters were in possession of a functioning clandestine laboratory used in the production of methamphetamine, police said. Evidence indicated that the hazardous contents of the lab ignited, leading to a fire inside the vehicle, police said.
A hazardous materials response team was summoned to the scene to recover and contain any hazardous waste products. A passenger in the vehicle, Pearl Ross, was flown to Teche Regional Medical Center by Acadian Ambulance air med unit with severe burns, police said. Pearl Ross is still listed in serious condition at a hospital with third degree burns covering about 70 percent of her body, police said. Jewel Ross had refused medical treatment for minor burns, police said.
Morgan City Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. reported the following arrests:
—Michael L. Marshall Jr., 37, of Morgan City, was arrested at 1:27 p.m. Monday on the charges of stop sign violation and driving under suspension
An officer observed a vehicle disregard the stop sign at Victor II Boulevard and Myrtle Street. The officer stopped the vehicle to speak with the driver, identified as Marshall. Police discovered that Marshall was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. He was jailed.
—Demetria Y. Francis, 36, of Waveland, Mississippi, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. today on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.
An officer observed a vehicle traveling on U.S. 90 with improper lighting. The officer stopped the vehicle to speak with the driver. Upon conducting the investigation, the officer, according to reports, observed both occupants to appear extremely nervous. A narcotics canine was deployed and ultimately led to the recovery of suspected marijuana from the vehicle. Francis was identified as the admitted owner of the illegal substance. She was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Police Department where she was booked and incarcerated.
—Aaron L. Walker, 26, of Brownell Homes in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:49 a.m. today on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of driving under suspension.
Walker was located by officers at Teche Regional Medical Center and placed under arrest on an outstanding warrant for the Sixth Ward Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
—Antoine Webb, 32, of Commerce City, Colorado, was arrested at 1:34 a.m. today on the charges of driving under suspension and speeding 46 mph in a 35 mph zone.
A patrolling officer observed a speeding vehicle on La. 182. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Webb. He was jailed and released after posting cash bail.
—Christopher L. Haynes, 32, of Patterson, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana second offense, a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of hit and run driving/driving under suspension, for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana and driving while intoxicated.
—Page Mabe, 26, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Diazepam, and a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers located Mabe and Haynes at a Sixth Street address in Morgan City and placed then under arrest on outstanding warrants for the 16th Judicial District for failing to comply with conditions of drug court. They were jailed.
—Anthony Harris, 19, of Morgan City, was arrested at 5:03 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of disturbing the peace and a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Harris, who was already incarcerated in the Morgan City jail, was booked on warrants for failing to appear and pay fines in the Sixth Ward Court of Morgan City. He remains jailed.
—Caffery J. Williams, 48, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:57 p.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and improper lighting.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle being operated with improper lighting in the area of Railroad Avenue near Myrtle Street and stopped to speak with the driver, Griffin said. The driver, Williams, was discovered to be operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Officers also located an open container of alcoholic beverage in his possession inside the vehicle, Griffin said. Williams was jailed.
—Thomas W. Giroir, 24, of Canton Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Sunday on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a Ridgeway Drive residence and learned that Giroir and a woman had been involved in a verbal dispute, which became physical, Griffin said. The victim, who advised she was struck by Giroir, exhibited evidence of a battery. Giroir was jailed.
—Carlos A. Figueroa Garcia, 47, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:58 p.m. Sunday on the charge of theft by shoplifting (value $21.65).
Officers were dispatched to a pharmacy located on Marguerite Street in Morgan City in regard to a shoplifter. Officers were advised that Garcia was detained after he was observed committing the theft of a watch from the store, Griffin said. Garcia was arrested and jailed.
—Wesley R. Bass, 18, of Walnut Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Sunday on warrants charging him with unauthorized use of a movable more than $750, theft and criminal trespassing, and on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Tanner A. Aucoin, 19, of Columbus Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Kimberly Evans, 24, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia second offense.
—Bree Aucoin, 20, of Middle Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Morgan City Police Department received a complaint of a theft from a Walnut Drive residence and began an investigation. Detectives were able to identify a suspect in the theft as Bass who was accused of committing the theft of gasoline and marine electronics from another Walnut Drive residence.
Bass also was identified as a suspect in the unauthorized use of a marine vessel taken from a different Walnut Drive residence which he allegedly used in commission of the reported theft. Investigators developed information and obtained a search warrant for the Walnut Drive residence occupied by Bass. Investigators executed the search warrant and located Bass, Tanner Aucoin, Bree Aucoin and Evans.
During the investigation, detectives located suspected marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia. All were arrested. Bass was also arrested on warrants which detectives’ obtained as a result of the investigation. The subjects were transported to the Morgan City Police Department where they were booked and incarcerated. The investigation is continuing and should anyone have any information regarding this or any other crime is urged to contact the Morgan City Police Department Detectives Division at 985-380-4605.
—Desmon H. Cousins, 38, of Oregon Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:42 a.m. today on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Officers patrolling the city wharf located a person sleeping inside a vehicle and stopped to investigate, Griffin said. Cousins was found to be in possession of a pipe commonly used to consume illegal narcotics and was subsequently arrested. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 47 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—A juvenile female, 14, of Patterson, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Monday for battery of a school teacher and battery of a police officer. A school resource officer assigned to the St. Mary Parish Alternative School responded to a report of a disturbance in a classroom. During the course of the investigation, the SRO learned that the juvenile struck a teacher in the head. During the arrest, the juvenile head butted another deputy assisting with the complaint. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Benjamin M. Decuir, 36, of the 2100 block of W. Old Spanish Trail in New Iberia, was arrested at 5:29 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt, speeding, and failure to honor written promise to appear.
A deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for travelling at a high rate of speed on U.S. 90 in the Calumet area. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Decuir, and discovered an active warrant for his arrest. Decuir was jailed and later released on $350 bail.
—A juvenile female, 12, of Patterson, was arrested at 6:59 p.m. Monday on the charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace fighting, criminal trespass and ungovernable juvenile.
A deputy responded to a complaint of a fight in the Patterson area. During the investigation, the deputy determined that the juvenile went to a residence with the intention of fighting another juvenile. The 12-year-old engaged the juvenile who was at the residence in a fight, Hebert said. An adult female victim was struck in the head multiple times while attempting to break up the altercation. The 12-year-old was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Perry J. Ourso, 55, of the 500 block of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at midnight today on the charges of theft by shoplifting and trespassing.
—Jenny K. Landry, 57, of the 500 block of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at midnight today on the charge of theft by shoplifting.
A deputy responded to a complaint of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. While en route, the deputy received information that two people loaded a large flat screen television into the back of a pick-up truck and were leaving the area, the sheriff said. The deputy located the suspect vehicle in the parking lot of the store and conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy made contact with the driver, Ourso, and a passenger, Landry. Using witness statements and video surveillance, the deputy identified Ourso and Landry as the suspects who stole the television. The deputy transported them to the parish jail for booking. Ourso’s bail is set at $2,000. Bail is set for Landry at $1,000.
—Dana Cross, 23, of the 1700 block of Harry D. Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:23 a.m. Monday on a warrant for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Narcotics detectives assisting Morgan City Police in “Operation April Fool” located a firearm belonging to Cross at a residence in Centerville where he had just been arrested and transported on another warrant. Detectives discovered that Cross was a convicted felon and obtained a warrant for illegal possession of a firearm, Hebert said. Cross was located at the Morgan City Police Department jail and taken to parish jail with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Judith Fabre, 22, of Bridge Road in Patterson, was arrested at 12:44 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with monetary instrument abuse. Fabre was released on $2,000 bail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.