Morgan City man arrested on warrant in hammer attack

By ZACHARY FITZGERALD

A 45-year-old Morgan City man was arrested on an aggravated second degree battery warrant stemming from a July incident where he struck someone in the head with a hammer, Morgan City Police Chief Travis Crouch said in a news release.

Gilbert C. Howard, 45, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:39 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for aggravated second degree battery.

Howard turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department on a warrant stemming from an incident in July where Howard is alleged to have struck another person in the head with a hammer during an altercation causing injuries, Crouch said. The victim in the case received injuries requiring medical treatment, Crouch said. Detectives investigating the incident secured an arrest warrant for Howard as a result. He was taken to jail and held with bail set at $2,500.

Morgan City Police Chief Travis Crouch reported the following arrests: 

—Brandon M. Scott, 26, of Catherine Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:20 a.m. Tuesday for criminal trespassing.

Officers were dispatched to a residence located in Brownell Homes regarding Scott, who was at the residence after being barred from housing authority property. He was located at the residence and taken to the Morgan City Police Department and held with bail set at $342.

—Rhett David Granier, 20, of Patterson, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for simple battery.

Granier was located at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to the Morgan City Police Department and released after posting $692 bail.

—Hailey Rodriguez, 20, of Patterson, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for simple battery.

Rodriguez was located at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. She was taken to the Morgan City Police Department and released after posting $692 bail.

—Rigoberto C. Barrios, 28, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:42 a.m. today for domestic abuse battery.

Officers were dispatched to a local motel in regards to a domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, they were advised that Barrios had struck a female during an argument. Even though Barrios denied the incident, officers were able to obtain physical evidence of the battery, Crouch said. Barrios was taken to the Morgan City Police Department where he remains.

—Andrew Stephen Hebert, 22, of Leona Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:09 a.m. today for possession of a legend drug without prescription, possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance-marijuana, and improper lane usage.

An officer observed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner near the intersection of Myrtle Street and Railroad Avenue. The officer conducted a traffic stop and came into contact with the driver, Hebert. While conducting the investigation, officers located a prescription medication, Buspar, which the driver did not possess a valid prescription. He was also found to be in possession of marijuana, Crouch said. He was taken to the Morgan City Police Department where he remains. 

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 38 complaints over a 24-hour period in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Randolph Vilo, 53, of the 900 block of Washington Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Tuesday for failure to appear on charges of driving under suspension and improper display of temporary license plate. He was arrested by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and was transferred to the St. Mary Parish Jail. Vilo was released on $5,000 bail.

—Halie Rodriguez, 20, and Rhett D. Granier III, 20, both of the 100 block of Natalie Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 5:14 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for simple battery each for the Morgan City Police Department. Deputies responded to a welfare concern at the residence and upon investigating the call deputies learned of the outstanding warrants and both were taken to the parish jail. Rodriguez was transferred to other jurisdiction. 

—Andrew Hebert, 22, of the 200 block of Leona Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:42 p.m. Tuesday for possession of marijuana first offense. Narcotics detectives were conducting a narcotics investigation in the area of Everett Street and Fifth Street. Detectives made contact with Hebert and could detect the odor of marijuana emitting from his vehicle, the sheriff said. Detectives received consent to search Hebert and located marijuana on him. He was released on a summons.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.