Article Image Alt Text

Man charged with cocaine possession after foot chase

Staff Report

A 31-year-old Morgan City man was arrested Sunday on a cocaine possession charge after he fled from police on foot when an officer tried to stop his vehicle for running a stop sign, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Vernon J. Robinson Jr., 31, of Chennault Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 a.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, transactions involving drug proceeds, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws-drug free zone, stop sign violation, resisting an officer and driving under suspension, and a warrant charging him with contempt of court.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed fail to stop at the stop sign on Railroad Avenue and stopped the vehicle. The driver, Robinson, fled the area on foot. A foot chase then ensued, and officers caught Robinson moments later.
Police searched the vehicle and located suspected cocaine, which was believed to be packaged for distribution, along with cash, which was believed to be derived from the sales of illegal drugs. The location of the incident was in a drug free zone. Robinson was jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Jonathan C. Murray, 32, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Sunday on the charges of simple battery, two counts of simple assault and entering or remaining on places after being forbidden, and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of failure to report an accident.
Officers responded to a home on South Railroad Avenue in regard to a disturbance. The officers arrived when they located a person, identified as Murray, who allegedly committed a battery on an individual while in the presence of the officers.
Murray had been removed from the home earlier that day due to a previous disturbance and was told not to return. Murray was alleged to have assaulted two other individuals at the home. Murray was jailed.
—Purcell A. Gros, 42, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:56 a.m. Friday on the charge of disturbing the peace by intoxication.
An officer responded to the area of Sixth Street near Arenz Street in regard to a reported disturbance. The officer arrived when Gros was identified as being involved in the alleged disturbance. During an investigation, Gros was believed to be intoxicated. Gros failed to adhere to the officer’s warning and continued shouting and cursing. Gros was jailed.
—Katelyn S. Morgan, 23, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 9 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging her with probation violation and on warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Morgan was transported from the St. Mary Parish jail to the Morgan City Police Department on several City Court warrants. Morgan was jailed.
—Albert G. Soto Jr., 44, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:38 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance laws-drug free zone, improper turning and wrong way on one way roadway.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle make an improper turn at the intersection of Fifth and Greenwood streets. The vehicle was then observed traveling the wrong way on Michigan Street a designated on way road and stopped the vehicle. The driver was identified as Soto. His behavior made officers suspicious that Soto may be involved in illegal drug activity.
The officer searched the vehicle and located suspected methamphetamine, which was believed to be intended for distribution along with suspected drug paraphernalia. The location of the incident was within the location of a drug free zone. Soto was jailed.
—Norma Ramirez-Calzada, 37, of Seventh Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:28 a.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of montelukast sodium, possession of levofloxacin, possession of acetaminophen butalbital, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance laws-drug free zone.
Narcotics detectives executed a search warrant at a home on Seventh Street. Upon entering the home, investigators located Ramirez-Calzada, who was believed to live at the home. During a search of the home, police located suspected methamphetamine, which was believed to be packaged for distribution, marijuana and legend drugs montelukast sodium, levofloxacin and acetaminophen butalbital along with drug paraphernalia.
The location of the incident was within the area of a drug free zone. Ramirez-Calzada was jailed.
—Angel A. Hawkins, 19, of Arizona Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:49 p.m. Saturday on the charge of aggravated battery.
—Tiryce Oliney 20, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:49 p.m. Saturday on the charge of simple battery.
Officers responded to an address on Barrow Street in regard to a reported disturbance. Police arrived and located several people in the area two of which were identified as Hawkins and Oliney. During an investigation, officers were told that Hawkins and Oliney were involved in a disturbance with several people.
During the disturbance, Oliney was accused of committing a battery on a person while Hawkins was accused of spraying pepper spray on another person. Police found evidence of the alleged batteries. Both Hawkins and Oliney were jailed.
—Bryan K. Wright, 42, of Ponderosa Street in Gray, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of entering or remaining where forbidden, a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of resisting an officer and on a warrant charging him with contempt of court.
Officers located Wright at an address on Gen. Hodges Street and arrested him on City Court warrants. Wright was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 104 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Decator J. Crochet Jr., 19, of Oregon Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:50 p.m. no driver’s license, careless operation of a motor vehicle, and no motor vehicle insurance. A deputy was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 90 near Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista.
While speaking with Crochet, the deputy found that he was operating one of the vehicles involved in the crash without a driver’s license and without insurance on the car. The deputy also collected evidence that the car’s brakes were faulty. Crochet was released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
—Katelynn Morgan, 23, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:01 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation.
—Leann Jones, 30, of Azalea Drive in Donner, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of open alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles and driving under suspension.
A deputy observed Morgan, who was wanted on an active warrant, sitting inside a vehicle parked at a business on La. 182 in Morgan City. While speaking with Morgan, the deputy observed an open alcoholic beverage inside the car. The deputy made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Jones, and found that she was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
Jones was released on a summons to appear in court April 5. Morgan was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail is set at $5,000.
—Charlotte McNabb, 52, of U.S. 90 in Patterson, was arrested at 6:40 p.m. Friday on the charge of theft of goods. A deputy investigating a complaint of shoplifting from a store in Bayou Vista located the suspect, McNabb, at her residence.
The deputy also located the stolen items, including several DVDs, at McNabb’s home. McNabb was released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
—Elijah Johnson, 24, of Becky Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 2:18 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for two counts criminal damage to property and on a warrant for domestic abuse battery, criminal damage to property, and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
A deputy responding to a request to remove a subject made contact with Johnson who was parked in the driveway of a residence in Patterson. The deputy located the two active warrants for Johnson’s arrest. The warrant for property damage was issued following an investigation in June 2016 in which a deputy found evidence that Johnson broke a glass bottle on the victim’s vehicle and broke the victim’s cell phone.
The warrant for unauthorized entry was obtained following an investigation into a complaint of a disturbance at a residence in Patterson in May 2016. The responding deputy collected evidence that Johnson entered onto private property, struck a female victim, and damaged a tire on her vehicle. Johnson was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail is set at $4,750.
—Fidel Garcia, 53, of Chirpy’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 4:51 a.m. Sunday on the charges of hit and run driving and careless operation of a motor vehicle with a crash.
A deputy was dispatched to a vehicle crash on the frontage road of Highway 182 in Amelia. The deputy located an SUV partially submerged in water. While speaking with several subjects on scene, the deputy developed information that the driver, Garcia, had left the area following the crash. The deputy located Garcia at his home. Following the investigation, Garcia was released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
—Ricky Tyler, 58, no address, was arrested at 2:08 p.m. Sunday on the charges of criminal trespass and vagrancy. A deputy responded to a report of a trespasser on a property in Amelia. The deputy located Tyler inside a residence. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Tyler had been living at the location after being told to leave the property.
Tyler was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Tyler was later released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
—Darrel Stevens, 74, of Onstead Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:06 p.m. Sunday on the charge of no motor vehicle insurance. A deputy re-routing traffic at Thorguson Drive and U.S. 90 in Berwick due to a crash on the bridge, observed the driver of a pick-up truck use the shoulder of the roadway to by-pass a marked unit that had emergency lights activated.
The deputy stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, identified as Stevens. The deputy found that Stevens was operating the vehicle without insurance. Stevens was released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
—Vergil Bowen, 63, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of no lights on while operating wipers and driving under suspension.
Bowen was also charged on a Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections Division of Probation and Parole warrant for probation violation. A deputy located Bowen at his home on the warrants and transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Bail is set at $4,000.
—Ryan J. Ledet, 23, of Aucoin Street in Amelia, was arrested at 1:10 a.m. Monday on the charges of possession of Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of careless operation of a motor vehicle and failure to report crash and/or provide proper ID.
A deputy responding to a report of a suspicious person at a home in Amelia made contact with Ledet and located the active warrant for his arrest. While taking Ledet into custody the deputy saw him drop two small plastic bags containing a green leafy substance to the floor.
The deputy recovered suspected synthetic marijuana and located a homemade water pipe in Ledet’s room. Ledet was jailed and then released on $4,000 bail.
—Garrett Topham III, 41, of Elm Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:42 p.m. Friday on the charges of careless operation of a vehicle, improper lane usage, and driving under suspension.
Responding to a complaint of a reckless driver on U.S. 90 in the Patterson area, the K-9 Unit observed a pick-up truck matching the suspect vehicle’s description cross over the fog line several times and conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy also received information that the vehicle had struck several traffic cones in Patterson. The deputy spoke with the driver, identified as Topham, and found that he was driving the vehicle with a suspended license. Topham was released on a summons to appear in court April 5.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Alexander Washburn, 23, of Fairview Drive in Berwick, was arrested at 3:49 a.m. Friday on the charge of domestic abuse battery. Washburn posted $2,500 bail.
—Katy Guidry, 26, of Fairview Drive in Berwick, was arrested at 3:49 a.m. Friday on the charge of domestic abuse battery. Guidry posted $2,500 bail.
—Irvin Ramos, 26, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 8:23 p.m. Saturday on the charges of driving under suspension and license plate light required. Ramos posted $1,250 bail.
—Brandon Lemoine, 18, of Hebert Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:16 p.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail is set at $1,250.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Bobby Jo Fitch, 35, of Honey Lane in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:04 p.m. Friday on the charge of aggravated battery. Fitch was booked into the Patterson jail and then transferred to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville.

Follow Us