Police: Amelia man broke into home, stole purse

A 39-year-old Amelia man was caught Wednesday after being accused of kicking in the door of a residence in Amelia and stealing a purse, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Jermaine Keys, 39, of the 100 block of Aucoin Road in Amelia, was arrested at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, simple criminal damage to property and theft.
On Tuesday, a deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance outside of a residence in Amelia. The deputy made contact with Keys and instructed him to not return to the residence, Hebert said. Early Wednesday morning, the deputy responded to a second complaint at the home, Hebert said.
The deputy learned that Keys kicked a door open and stole a woman’s purse, Hebert said. The deputy obtained a warrant for Keys’ arrest. A be on the lookout bulletin was issued and Keys was located by the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office on the warrant. He is jailed at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center with no bail set.
Hebert reported responding to 41 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Michael Hawkins, 54, of the 1400 block of Live Oak Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:18 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of theft of goods more than $1,500. A deputy located Hawkins at a business in Siracusaville on the warrant. No bail is set.
—A juvenile male, 15, of Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Wednesday for ungovernable juvenile and simple criminal damage to property less than $500. A deputy investigating a complaint of an ungovernable juvenile at a residence in Bayou Vista learned that the 15-year-old threw a set of keys to the floor shattering a key fob, Hebert said. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Kenneth R. Hamilton, 27, of the 100 block of Bayou Boeuf Street in Amelia, was arrested at 3:46 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of resisting an officer with force or violence, simple criminal damage to property, battery of a police officer, and disturbing the peace by appearing in an intoxicated condition.
Hamilton was being booked into the parish jail when a deputy located the active warrant for his arrest. No bail is set.
Morgan City Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. reported the following arrests:
—Cierra Wiggins, 22, of Patton Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:33 p.m. Wednesday on warrants charging her with possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia first offense.
Officers located Wiggins on Patton Street, and she was jailed.
—Renata Harris, 34, of Village Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 4:16 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for the 16th Judicial District Court on the charge of issuing worthless checks and on a drug court warrant. Harris was located at the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Kayla Francise, 17, of Keith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:18 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of engaging in a fistic encounter.
Officers were dispatched to the area of Fifth and Everett streets in reference to a disturbance.
When officers arrived they were able to view video footage of Francise getting out of her vehicle and engaging in a fistic encounter with another person, Griffin said.
Francise was located in the area and jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.

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