Police: ‘Prop money’ under investigation

A 22-year-old Morgan City woman was arrested Monday in an ongoing investigation after police discovered she allegedly used “prop money” at a bar, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Vanisha L. August, 22, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:10 p.m. Monday on the charge of monetary instrument abuse.
The Morgan City Police Department Detective Division has been conducting an investigation of counterfeit money being used at several locations in the area. The counterfeit bills are described as “prop money” and are used for motion pictures, Blair said.
Information was received that one of the bills was used at a bar in Morgan City, and the suspect was in the area of Belanger Street.
Officers located the suspect, identified as August in the area of Federal Avenue and Belanger Street. August was detained for questioning and according to reports, admitted to using the counterfeit money.
August was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
The investigation continues and more arrests are expected, Blair said.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Cherry L. Donati, 29, of Second Street in Berwick, at 7 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of speeding.
Donati was transported from the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center to the Morgan Police Department for an active warrant she held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Donati was jailed.
—John R. Pitre, 25, of Gen. Hodges Street in Morgan City, at 4:53 p.m. Monday on charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Gen. Hodges Street in regards to a disturbance.
When officers arrived, they spoke to witnesses that stated Pitre was having a verbal altercation with them. Officers made contact with Pitre and observed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.
While speaking to officers, Pitre continued to use profanities and refused to lower his voice. Pitre was asked several times to calm down, but he refused. Pitre was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 39 complaints and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Troy A. Jones, 30, of the 1400 block of James Street in Siracusa, at 9:26 a.m. Monday on a warrant for theft and criminal trespass. A deputy investigating a report of a theft learned that Jones scrapped a decorative metal item that he took from the victim’s yard in Siracusa.
The item was located and recovered at a local scrap yard. Jones came to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City in reference to the investigation and was subsequently booked on the warrant. Jones was released on $2,000 bail.
—Monica Leblanc, 61, of the 100 block of White Strip Cove in Carencro, at 10:49 a.m. Monday on the charge of theft of goods. A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy learned from store personnel that Leblanc was seen leaving the business with over $170 in unpaid items. Leblanc was jailed and later released on $1,000 bail.
—James Sargent, 45, of the 100 block of Henderson Street in Houma, at 11:54 a.m. Monday on the charges of theft of goods and criminal trespass. A deputy received information that a suspect from a previous shoplifting complaint reported on Friday had returned to a store in Bayou Vista.
The deputy made contact with the suspect, identified as Sargent. During the investigation, the deputy viewed surveillance footage and collected statements showing Sargent leaving the store with over $500 in welding machines and other items, Hebert said. Sargent was booked and released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 11, 2016.
—Damien Adams, 21, of the 5100 block of Longview Pvt. Lane in Abbeville, at 4:37 p.m. Monday on the charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of a reckless driver on U.S. 90 in the Berwick area.
A deputy located the suspect vehicle in the Franklin area and conducted a traffic stop. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Adams attempted to pass between two vehicles.
He was also seen forcing other drivers off the roadway by driving too closely to them. Adams was booked and later released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 11, 2016.
—Ken Wiggins, 42, of the 200 block of Cremo Lane in Patterson, at 9:24 p.m. Monday on the charge of theft. A deputy investigating a complaint of theft learned that Wiggins, who knew the male victim, stole two video games from the victim’s home. Wiggins was released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 11, 2016.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Wilfred Richardson Jr., 35, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Richardson was also had a warrant for the Patterson Police Department charging him with theft by shoplifting. Richardson was jailed with no bail set.
—Cherry Donati, 30, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, at 8:39 p.m. Friday on the charge of simple burglary and on a warrant for the City Court of Morgan City for speeding.
No bail is set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Shane Scott, 32, of Spruce Street in Morgan City, at 2:42 p.m. Friday on the charges of driving under suspension and a warrant for probation and parole violation. No bail is set.
—Jonathan Daigle, 56, of Aucoin Street in Morgan City, at 9:07 p.m. Friday on the charges of improper lane usage and driving while intoxicated second offense by refusing breathalyzer test.
Daigle was transferred to Centerville jail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.