Employees accused of stealing money

Two former employees of a Patterson restaurant have been accused of stealing money out of the business’s cash register over a yet to be determined period of time, Patterson Police Lt. Larry Jones said.
—Destiny Bennett, 28, of the 300 block of Ellis Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11 a.m. Tuesday on the charge of theft over $3,000 with an access card. Bennett was jailed on $5,000 bail.
—Jessica Torgrimson, 24, of the 200 block of Lake Road in Franklin, was arrested at 11 a.m. Tuesday on the charge of theft over $3,000 with an access card. Torgrimson was jailed on $4,000 bail.
Police have identified at least $3,000 that the two allegedly stole from their former employer, GameDay Pizza in Patterson, Jones said.
Authorities have not yet determined how far back the alleged theft may have occurred, Jones said.
The investigation is ongoing and more arrests are possible, Jones said.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Toye Miller, 45, of the 500 block of Arcemont Lane in Morgan City, Tuesday on the charge of battery-aggravated domestic violence. Miller was jailed with no bail set.
—Arthur Gant, 56, of the 400 block of Cleveland Street in Patterson, at 7:37 a.m. today on the charges of resisting an officer by flight and resisting an officer by failure to comply. Gant was jailed on $722 bail.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 43 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Devon Marsh, 23, of the 1000 block of Ciro Street in Morgan City, was additionally charged at 8 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of resisting an officer and operating an ATV on a public road, a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of cocaine, and a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of criminal damage to property and criminal trespassing. Marsh was already incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. No bail is set.
—Carlos Pinchs-Francos, 44, of the 1100 block of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for monetary instrument abuse and theft.
On Tuesday, a detective began an investigation into a complaint of an unauthorized transaction on a debit card.
The investigator learned that while the card never left the owner’s possession, the account information was used to make a purchase at a store in Bayou Vista, Hebert said.
The detective identified Pinchs-Francos as the suspect who used a copied or cloned card to make the purchase, Hebert said.
The suspect was located at his home. While speaking with the detective, Pinchs-Francos admitted that he used the card, Hebert said.
He was jailed with no bail set. The case remains under investigation.
—Christopher Swiney, 32, of the 2000 block of Fifth Street in Morgan City, at 9:17 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A deputy received information regarding a subject with an active warrant at the Berwick Police Department. The deputy made contact with Swiney and transported him to the parish jail for booking. Bail is set at $11,140.32.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Ariel J. Popote, 23, of Trevino Street in Berwick, at 2:25 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to pay a fine on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Popote was transported from the Berwick Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department in reference to an active warrant held for the 6th Ward City Court. Popote was jailed.
—Brad J. Derouen, 25, of South Road in Morgan City, at 3 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to pay a fine on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Derouen was transported from the Berwick Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department in reference to an active warrant held by the 6th Ward City Court. Derouen was jailed.
—Robert Narcisse, 52, of Grove Street in Morgan City, at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of contempt of court.
Narcisse was placed under arrest in the City Court of Morgan City for appearing in an intoxicated condition. He was jailed.
—Jennifer Lazano, 36, of Brownsville, Texas, at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on warrant charging her with domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property.
Lazano was arrested on warrants stemming from a Sept. 19 incident in which she was involved in a disturbance and committed a battery on an individual, Blair said. Lazano was jailed.
—Clarence Francois, 48, of Duke Street in Morgan City, at 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of contempt of court.
Francois was arrested for failure to complete community service requirements. He was jailed.
—Minerva Almazan, 59, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, at 5:28 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of resisting an officer, disturbing the peace and simple battery.
Officers were dispatched to Mallard Street in regards to a disturbance.
Officers were told that Almazan was involved in a verbal altercation with one of her neighbors, Blair said.
According to reports, Almazan is alleged to have committed a battery on an individual.
During the investigation officers learned that Almazan had given officers a false name, Blair said. Almazan was jailed.
—Aubaray White, 25, of Dallas, Texas, at 2:21 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and license plate lamps required.
An officer patrolling the area of Brashear Avenue near Fifth Street observed a vehicle with improper lighting.
A traffic stop was conducted at which time the driver was identified as White. During the investigation, the officer noticed a smell of suspected marijuana coming from inside the vehicle, Blair said.
White gave officers consent to search the vehicle at which time officers located suspected marijuana and items used to smoke illegal narcotics. White was jailed.
—Ameedah Charles, 30, of 11th Street in Morgan City, at 9:39 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with simple battery.
Charles was located on 11th Street. A local warrants check was conducted at which time it was determined that the Morgan City Police Department held an active warrant for her arrest. Charles was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Nicholas Laue, 27, of Hickory Street in Slidell, at 5:44 a.m. today on the charges of speeding 59 mph in a 45 mph zone and driving under suspension. Bail is set at $1,250.

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