Man charged with home improvement fraud

A 61-year-old Morgan City man was booked Sunday on a warrant charging him with home improvement fraud after an officer stopped a swerving vehicle on U.S. 90, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Sidney Bourque, 61, of Vivian Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Sunday on the charges of improper lane usage, DWI, driving under suspension and on a warrant charging him with home improvement fraud.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle traveling on U.S. 90 crossing out of its lane of travel several times and police stopped the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Bourque. While speaking with Bourque about the infraction, Bourque was suspected to have been drinking and was believed to be intoxicated, Blair said.
Bourque was found to have an active warrant for his arrest regarding an incident reported July 28 of alleged home improvement fraud. Bourque submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000 chemical test for intoxication, which yielded a blood alcohol concentration of 0.087 grams-percent. Bourque was jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Chadrick T. Powell, 39, of Elizabeth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of driving under suspension and a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of resisting an officer.
Powell was transported from the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office jail to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to two active warrants held. Powell was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Kourtney N. Bergeron, 28, of Barrow Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:04 p.m. Friday on the charge of disturbing the peace.
Officers responded to a business on Second Street in regard to a female causing a disturbance. Police arrived and spoke with several business employees and customers who told officers that Bergeron had been inside the business minutes earlier yelling profane language at several people inside.
Police located Bergeron moments later, and she was jailed.
—Cindy Sanders, 45, of Tall Timbers Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Friday on the charges of improper lighting and DWI.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle traveling in the area of Federal Avenue near Everett Street with no headlights. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle was identified as Sanders.
While speaking with Sanders about the traffic infraction, Sanders was suspected to have been drinking and was believed to be intoxicat-ed.
At the police department, Sanders submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000 chemical test for intoxication, yielding 0.117 grams-percent blood alcohol concentration. Sanders was jailed.
—Patrick J. Lemoine, 23, of David Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 3:46 a.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws.
Officers responded to the area of Greenwood Street near Brashear Avenue in regard to a call of a suspicious vehicle following a vehicle flashing its lights.
Police located a vehicle matching the description provided in the area and stopped the vehicle. The driver was identified as Lemoine. Lemoine’s behavior made police suspicious that he may be involved in illegal drug activity.
Officers searched the vehicle and located suspected marijuana that was believed to be intended for distribution. The location of the incident was within the area of a school in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws. Lemoine was jailed.
—Gregorio Vazquez Ramirez, 33, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:45 a.m. Sunday on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers responded to a home on Ditch Avenue in regard to a call of a disturbance. The officers arrived when they located a woman who showed signs of a battery and Ramirez. Officers were told that the woman and Ramirez were involved in an argument during which Ramirez committed a battery on the woman. During an investigation, officers uncovered evidence of the alleged battery. Ramirez was jailed.
—Ricky D. Pillaro, 60, of First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:40 p.m. Sunday on the charges of careless operation of a motor vehicle and driving under suspension.
Pillaro was identified as the driver of a vehicle involved in a minor vehicle accident in the area of Jennie Drive. Pillaro also had a suspended driver’s license. Pillaro was jailed.
—Craig S. French, 47, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:22 p.m. Sunday on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers responded to a home on Railroad Avenue in regard to a reported disturbance. Officers arrived and located a woman who showed signs of a battery, and French inside the home. The woman told officers that French became angry and, for unknown reasons, attacked and committed a battery on her.
Investigators found evidence of the alleged battery. French was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 114 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Bricelon Martin, 20, of Chitimacha Trail in Cha-renton, was arrested at 3:04 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of child desertion, flight from an officer, criminal trespassing, and remaining where forbidden.
A deputy developed information regarding Martin’s whereabouts and made contact with him at a location on Marguerite Street in Morgan City. Martin was booked into parish jail with no bail set.
—Dimon Batiste, 21, of Gum Street in Franklin, was arrested at 3:31 a.m. Saturday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds, violation of a uniform con-trolled dangerous substance law-drug free zone, no driver’s license and headlamps required.
—Demondre Watson, 20, of Gum Street in Franklin, was arrested at 3:31 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds, violation of a uniform con-trolled dangerous substance law-drug free zone and possession of open alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles.
A deputy patrolling Verdunville observed a vehicle traveling on La. 182 with only one functioning head-light. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Batiste, and a passenger, Watson. The deputy discovered that Batiste was operating the vehicle without a driver’s license.
While speaking with the occupants, the deputy smelled the strong odor of burning marijuana coming from the vehicle. The deputy searched the car and located 10 small bags of marijuana along with other items suspected of being used to package the substance for sale and an open bottle of liquor.
The deputy also found just under $300 in cash suspected of being derived from illegal drug sales on Watson and inside the vehicle. The investigation took place near a church. Batiste and Watson were transported to the parish jail for booking. Watson was released on $12,000 bail. No bail is set for Batiste.
—Eugene J. Lacoste, 50, of Edwin Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 7 a.m. Saturday on a warrant on the charge of simple battery. The warrant was issued following an investigation into a complaint of a battery. The deputy collected evidence that Lacoste struck a man repeatedly in the face. Lacoste turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Lacoste was released on $500 bail.
—Willie Vallet Jr., 49, of Verdun Lane in Verdunville, was arrested at 12:20 a.m. Sunday on the charges of no driver’s license on person, expired driver’s license, expired motor vehicle inspection, proper equipment required, possession of drug paraphernalia and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family.
A deputy patrolling Garden City observed a vehicle traveling on La. 182 with only one operational head light and conducted a traffic stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, Vallet, and found that he was operating the vehicle with no driver’s license in the vehicle and an expired inspection sticker. The deputy also discovered that Vallet’s driver’s license was expired and that he had an active warrant for his arrest.
As the traffic stop investigation progressed, the deputy located a metal pipe and steel wool inside the vehicle. Vallet was jailed with bail set at $7,546.
—Abraham Gilbert Jr., 38, of Wattigny Street in Jeanerette, was arrested at 3:47 a.m. Sunday on the charges of speeding, flight from an officer, possession of open alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles, driving with a suspended driver’s license and switched license plate.
A deputy patrolling Cha-renton observed a vehicle traveling 73 mph in a posted 55 mph zone on La. 182. The deputy initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle slowed but failed to stop.
The vehicle continued to travel onto Ralph Darden Memorial Parkway where the driver pulled over. The deputy made contact with the driver, Gilbert, and found that he was operating the van with a suspended driver’s license. The deputy also discovered that the license plate displayed on the van was not registered to the vehicle.
An open can of beer was also located inside the vehicle. Gilbert was transported to the parish jail for booking. Gilbert was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Two female juveniles, one 14-year-old, of Lake Charles, and a one 15-year-old, of Franklin, were arrested at 6:45 p.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace. A deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance at a store in Bayou Vista.
During the investigation, the deputy collected evidence that the two juveniles yelled and cursed at another juvenile, causing a disturbance in the store. Both juveniles were released to their guardians pending juvenile court proceedings.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Robyn Blanc, 35, of Sixth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Sunday on the charges of operation of a clandestine laboratory, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Naproxen, possession of hydrocodone and possession of Xanax.
—Wynn Whitehurst, 40, of Sixth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Sunday on the charges of operation of a clandestine laboratory, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Naproxen, possession of hydrocodone and possession of Xanax.
—Clifton Martin Jr., 53, of Jones Street in Berwick, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Friday on the charges of open container and seat belt violation. Martin posted $326 bail.
—Peggy Fabre, 49, of Francis Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of drug para-phernalia, improper turning and expired driver’s license. Fabre posted $2,000 bail.
—Scott Authement, 40, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 7 p.m. Sun-day on the charges of burnt taillight, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker, no proof of insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine. No bail is set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Willis Trindale Verdine, 26, of Live Oak Street in Patterson, was arrested at 7:24 p.m. Thursday on the charges of disturbing the peace by fighting, simple battery, possession of marijuana fourth offense and introduction of contraband into a penal institution. No bail is set yet.
—Tristen E. Hines, 19, of Eighth Street in Jeanerette, was arrested at 12:21 a.m. Saturday on the charge of criminal damage to property. Hines was released on $500 bail.
—Sylvester Francois, 19, of Taft Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2 a.m. Saturday on the charge of aggravated assault. Francois was released on $5,000 bail.
—Milton Perry, 48, of Bernard Street in Patterson, was arrested 8:29 p.m. Saturday on the charges of two counts of simple battery-domestic. No bail is set yet.