Police: Vehicle chase leads to drug charges

Two Morgan City men were booked on drug charges Sunday after fleeing from police. The chase began on U.S. 90 in Morgan City and continued to Patterson, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Blake Smith, 25, of Tiffany Street in Morgan City, was arrested at midnight Sunday on charges of driving under suspension, no vehicle insurance, improper lane usage, flight from an officer, misuse of temporary license plate, no vehicle registration, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana second offense, obstruction of justice, possession of drug paraphernalia, on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging him with simple assault and a Lafayette Police warrant charging him with resisting an officer.
—Taylor Batiste, 18, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at mid-night Sunday on the charge of possession of cocaine.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle entering the U.S. 90 West onramp from Martin Luther King Boulevard with no visible license plate. The vehicle was then observed crossing out of its lane of travel several times when the officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, Blair said.
The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, and fled while driving erratically reaching speeds up to 75 mph, Blair said. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted in the pursuit as it continued into Patterson. The vehicle turned off U.S. 90 onto Tiffany Street and turned into a residence.
The driver, Smith, and passenger, Batiste, were taken into custody. While handcuffing Smith, officers observed suspected marijuana around Smith’s mouth. An officer believed that Smith was attempting to discard or destroy possible evidence, Blair said.
Officers located suspected marijuana, cocaine and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, Blair said. Police located a temporary license plate in the vehicle which was believed to have altered information.
Both Smith and Batiste were jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Dustin M. Lovell, 19, of Sandy Lane in Franklin, at 1:30 p.m. Friday on a war-rant charging him with violation of a protective order.
Lovell turned himself in at the Morgan City Police Department in regards to an active warrant held by Morgan City Police. Lovell was jailed.
—Antoinette O. Davis, 37, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, at 5:25 p.m. Friday on warrants charging her with illegal possession of stolen things, theft and forgery. Officers located Davis in the area of La. 182 near Everett Street. Davis was jailed.
—Jalon Jenkins, 23, of Yellow Bayou Road in Centerville, at midnight Saturday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear to pay probation fee.
Jenkins was transported from the Patterson Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department where he was arrested on an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Jenkins was jailed.
—Samuel T. Gautreaux, 23, of Ville Platte, at 2:25 a.m. Saturday on the charge of improper lane usage.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle on La. 182 swerving out of its lane of travel and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Gautreaux, showed signs that he may be intoxicated, Blair said. Gautreaux submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000, which yielded a blood alcohol concentration less than the state’s designated legal limit. Gautreaux was booked and released on the traffic offense.
—Louis D. Topham, 40, of Aucoin Street in Morgan City, at 1:30 p.m. Saturday on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Police received a call of a suspicious person in the area of Veterans Boulevard near La. 70. The caller further stated that the person was believed to just have been involved in a drug transaction in the area, Blair said. An officer located Topham, who fit the description of the person.
Officers searched Topham’s and located suspected marijuana. Topham was jailed.
—Rogelio F. Fuentez, 30, of Electric Lane in Morgan City, at 12:34 a.m. Sunday on charges of improper lane usage and driving while intoxicated second offense.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle on Victor II Boulevard traveling out of its lane of travel several times and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Fuentez, showed signs that he may be intoxicated, Blair said. Fuentez submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000 test yielding a blood alcohol concentration of 0.201 grams-percent. Fuentez was jailed.
—Nelson A. Vargas Jr., 28, of Franklin Street in Morgan City, at 2:25 a.m. Sunday on the charge of reckless operation of a motor vehicle.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle traveling on La. 182 onto the U.S. 90 west onramp. The vehicle accelerated quickly, causing it to spin out of control, Blair said. The vehicle continued to drive across the U.S. 90 bridge in a reckless manner.
Police conducted a traffic stop and the driver was identified as Nelson, who was jailed.
—Skyla R. Crochet, 21, of Palm Street in Morgan City, at 7:15 p.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper taillights
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle traveling in the area of Front Street near Terrebonne Street with improper tail lighting and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Crochet, made officers suspicious that she may be involved in illegal drug activity, Blair said.
Officers searched the vehicle and located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Crochet was jailed.
—Victor Vasquez, 35, of Eighth Street in Morgan City, at 8:56 p.m. Sunday on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers responded to an address on Eighth Street in regards to a call of a domestic disturbance. Officers located the three individuals inside the home, one being Vasquez and two others, who were later determined to be the victim and witness to the incident, Blair said.
The officers spoke with the victim, who had signs of a battery, along with the witness. Vasquez and the victim were involved in an argument when Vasquez became angry and was alleged to have committed a battery on the victim, Blair said. Vasquez 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:
—Emanuel Gonzales-Ortez, 21, of the 100 block of Westside Park in Amelia, at 4:18 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of careless operation of a motor vehicle, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, and failure to honor written promise to appear.
A deputy made contact with Gonzales-Ortez at his residence and located the active warrant for his arrest. Gonzales-Ortez was booked into parish jail and released on $365 bail.
—Betty Neddie, 66, of the 1300 block of James Street in Siracusaville, at 12:10 a.m. Sunday on a charge of hit and run driving. A deputy investigating a hit and run incident that occurred in the Amelia Belle Casino parking lot developed Neddie as a suspect. The deputy located Neddie at her residence. While speaking with the deputy, Neddie admitted to striking a vehicle and leaving the scene. Neddie was released on a summons to appear in court May 27.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Shawn Lovell, 38, of the 4000 block of Francis Street in Berwick, at 5:48 p.m. Sunday on the charges of reckless operation of a motor vehicle, violation of controlled dangerous substance law in a drug free zone, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of crack cocaine. No bail is set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.