Arrest reports

A 50-year-old Morgan City man was arrested Friday for taking more than $3,800 for home improvement work he did not do, Morgan City Police Chief Michael Banks said in a news release.
—Houston H. Cooley, 50, of Eighth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:12 p.m. Friday on a warrant for home improvement fraud.
The warrant stems from an investigation into an incident where a woman said Cooley approached her at a restaurant and offered his home improvement services. During the encounter, the victim paid Cooley $3,825 to begin the renovations on Feb. 4, Banks said.
The victim later became suspicious of Cooley and attempted to cancel the work and have the money refunded but was told the work would be completed, the chief said. Detectives learned that Cooley had never ordered materials as he had reported to the victim, Banks said. The work has never been started nor the funds returned to the victim, Banks said. Cooley was jailed.
Morgan City Police Chief Michael Banks reported the following arrests:
—Keindra N. McDaniel, 27, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:29 p.m. Friday for six counts of theft less than $500.
Officers responded to a complaint at an Eighth Street restaurant in regard to a theft. Officers were advised that the management suspected an employee of committing a theft of funds from a register. The employee, McDaniel, was observed removing funds from the register at six different times on video surveillance, Banks said. McDaniel removed a total of $295.52, Banks said. McDaniel admitted to officers that she had committed the theft, advising she thought she would never be caught, Banks said. She was jailed.
—Joseph A. Acosta, 22, of Grove Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:47 p.m. Friday for simple criminal damage to property valued at $400.
Officers responded to a disturbance at a Grove Street residence. Officers learned that Acosta had been involved in a verbal altercation at the residence. During the altercation, Acosta broke a wooden gate and a door to a travel trailer parked at the residence, Banks said. Acosta was jailed.
—Donald P. Laughlin, 44, of Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:03 p.m. Saturday for possession of Schedule I marijuana with the intent to distribute.
Officers responded to a complaint of someone selling illegal narcotics in the area of La. 182 and Grizzaffi Street. Officers responded to the area and located Laughlin, who fit the description of the suspect. Laughlin was questioned by officers and during the encounter, officers located several small cellophane bags of suspected marijuana inside Laughlin’s backpack. Laughlin was jailed where he remains.
—Daniel A. Sauceda, 34, of Gibson, was arrested at 12:46 a.m. today for operating a vehicle while intoxicated second offense, no driver’s license and improper lane usage.
Officers observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner on La. 182 and stopped the vehicle to investigate. The driver of the vehicle, Sauceda, failed a field sobriety test and registered .147 grams-percent blood alcohol concentration on the Intoxilyzer 5000 tests, Banks said. He remains in jail.
—Tracy Thomas, 50, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to pay a fine for expired driver’s license.
Thomas was being transported to the Morgan City Jail facility from St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville to be housed and the warrant was discovered.
—Jennifer S. Wilson, 45, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:16 a.m. Saturday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, no driver’s license and improper lighting.
Officers observed a vehicle traveling on La. 182 without both functioning headlights and stopped the vehicle to investigate. Officers suspected the driver, Wilson, was impaired and offered to conduct a field sobriety test that Wilson refused, Banks said. Wilson registered .121 grams-percent blood alcohol concentration on the Intoxilyzer 5000, Banks said. She was jailed.
—Ariel P. Jorge, 22, of Trevino Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:43 a.m. Saturday for possession of marijuana.
Officers received a complaint of a vehicle being driven in a reckless manner in the area of Everett Street. Officers located the vehicle in the 900 block of Everett Street and came into contact with the driver, Jorge. Officers seized a hand-rolled marijuana cigarette from Jorge, Banks said. Jorge was jailed.
—Anthony D. Richardson Jr., 32, of Park Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:12 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for a probation violation.
Officers responded to a Roderick Street business regarding a disturbance. Officers came into contact with Richardson, who was involved in the disturbance. Officers learned that Richardson was wanted on an outstanding warrant for the Morgan City Police Department. Richardson was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 117 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Raymond Miguez Jr., 49, of Field Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:17 a.m. Friday for violation of a protective order. Miguez was making phone calls in violation of the protective order, Hebert said. Miguez was jailed with no bail set.
—Miranda Rose Brown, 21, of Elaine Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 4:41 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment. She was transported from Assumption Parish to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville. She was jailed on $1,500 bail.
—Seth Lovett, 27, of Wilson Lane Patterson, was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Saturday on warrant for failure to appear for charge of criminal neglect of family. He was jailed with bail set at $3,133.35.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Heather Guidry, 30, of the 500 block of Tiffany Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Saturday for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer by giving false information. Guidry was jailed with no bail set.
—Therold James, 30, of the 300 block of Teche Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:45 a.m. Saturday for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal damage to property. James was jailed with bail set.
—Tradasha Brooks, 19, of the 1000 block of Ciro Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for simple possession of marijuana. Brooks was released on $2,000 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Shawn McCauley, 36, of the 2800 block of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:27 a.m. Saturday for disturbing the peace. McCauley was released on $150 bail.