Sheriff: Bat-wielding suspect threatened to kill people

A 33-year-old Amelia man was charged with aggravated assault Sunday after threatening to kill several people while swinging a bat in Amelia, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Hugo Cantu, 33, of Village Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 3:07 a.m. Sunday on the charges of simple criminal damage to property and domestic abuse aggravated assault.
A deputy assigned to patrol the Amelia area responded to a disturbance at a home on Village Lane. The deputy learned that Cantu was swinging a bat and threatened to kill several people, Hebert said. Cantu then started swinging the bat, causing damage to a camper trailer, Hebert said. He was booked into parish jail with bail set at $3,500.
Hebert reported responding to 166 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Benjamin Broussard, 30, of Natalie Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 10:33 p.m. Monday on the charges of disturbing the peace by intoxication, aggravated battery and simple assault.
A deputy assigned to work the Patterson area responded to a disturbance on Natalie Lane. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Broussard was involved in a fight with a male victim and threatened to do harm to both a male and female victim, Hebert said. Broussard was intoxicated during the incident. He was booked into parish jail with no bail set yet.
—Cary Cheramie, 31, of Shady Grove Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 12:50 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of Tramadol, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and abuse of toxic vapors.
Narcotics division detectives responded to a call concerning illegal drug activity at a home on Shady Grove Drive in Patterson. During the investigation, detectives made contact with Cheramie and found him to be in possession of synthetic cannabinoids in the presence of a minor, Hebert said.
A subsequent search ensued and Cheramie was found to be in possession of Tramadol. He ultimately admitted to consuming synthetic marijuana, Hebert said. Cheramie was jailed with no bail set.
—Robert Gros, 47, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:11 p.m. Friday on charges of failure to yield to vehicles approaching intersections and driving under suspension.
A deputy monitoring traffic on U.S. 90 in the Jeanerette area observed a vehicle proceed out onto the roadway in front of oncoming traffic. The maneuver caused several motorists to quickly apply their brakes and slow to avoid a collision. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Gros, and learned that his license was suspended. Gros was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17.
—Waynisha Jones Navy, 31, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:19 a.m. Saturday on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, hit and run driving and driving under suspension.
A deputy patrolling the Patterson area was alerted of a hit-and-run that occurred in a nearby parking lot. The deputy found the vehicle involved in the crash and made contact with the driver, Navy.
During the investigation, the deputy learned that Navy’s license was suspended and that she was operating her vehicle while intoxicated. Navy registered 0.081 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a breath test. She was booked into parish jail and later released on $7,477.50 bail.
—Navarrete Santiago, 20, of South Verret Street in Amelia, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Saturday on the charge of no driver’s license.
A deputy assigned to the Amelia area responded to a call of a crash. Details of the call included that a vehicle had struck two mailboxes.
The deputy located the vehicle matching the description given and made contact with the driver, Santiago. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Santiago did not have a driver’s license. Santiago was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17.
—Lonnie Baker, 24, of Taft Street in Patterson, was arrested at 3:13 p.m. Saturday on the charge of driving under suspension.
A deputy patrolling the Bayou Vista area observed a vehicle with a plastic bag attached to its undercarriage. The deputy conducted a stop and alerted the driver, Baker, of the issue. During the encounter, the deputy learned that Baker’s license was suspended. He was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17.
—Blake Dinger, 23, of Neptune Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace.
Deputies responded to a disturbance at a business in Bayou Vista. During the investigation, deputies learned that Dinger was engaged in an argument with another individual. Dinger was found to be intoxicated, and was yelling at several other customers going in and out of the business, Hebert said. Dinger was jailed and later released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Everett O. Jack, 39, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:22 p.m. Saturday on the charges of aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Officers responded to an address on Fifth Street in regard to a report of a subject pulling a gun on a person and that the subject with the gun had fled into a home. Officers located the person suspected of the assault and identified him as Jack.
Police learned of two incidents where Jack had allegedly pulled a gun on the complainant, including once the prior night. Jack had fled from officers, Blair said.
Investigators found evidence of the alleged assault and possession of a firearm, Blair said. Jack, a convicted felon, was jailed.
—Patrick L. Phillips, 29, of Todd Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:06 a.m. Friday on warrants charging him with aggravated assault and simple battery.
Officers located Phillips on La. 182 and arrested him on warrants. The warrants were obtained from an investigation into an alleged aggravated assault and simple battery reported Dec. 27, 2015, on Terrebonne Street. Phillips was jailed.
—Samuel A. Morgan Sr., 49, of St. Clair Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Friday on the charge of theft of goods and on a warrant charging him with probation violation.
—Blake Dinger, 23, of Neptune Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Friday on the charge of theft of goods.
Officers responded to a retail store on Brashear Avenue in regard to a report of two shoplifters. The alleged shoplifters exited the store and left the area in a vehicle before officers arrived. Responding officers located a vehicle matching the description provided and stopped the vehicle. Morgan and Dinger were identified as the occupants of the vehicle. Police found evidence that Morgan and Dinger had committed the theft, Blair said. Morgan and Dinger were jailed.
—Zachary Beckley, 21, of Conti Street in New Orleans, was arrested at 9:18 p.m. Friday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Officers responded to an area on La. 182 in regard to an intoxicated person walking into several businesses. A description was provided and officers located Beckley, who matched the description, in the area. Officers suspected Beckley to have been drinking and believed that he may be intoxicated. Beckley was jailed.
—Shanita Evans, 38, of Seventh Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:39 a.m. Saturday on the charge of theft of goods, and on warrants charging her with simple battery and criminal trespassing, and at 6:25 p.m. Sunday, on the charges for theft of goods, introduction of contraband into a penal institute, possession with the intent to distribute ecstasy and possession of Alprazolam.
On Saturday, officers responded to a retail store on Brashear Avenue in regard to a report of a shoplifter. Police located the subject suspected of the theft and identified her as Evans.
Officers found evidence that Evans had committed the alleged theft. A warrants check revealed that Evans had active warrants. The warrants were obtained from an investigation of an alleged simple battery and criminal trespassing on Mallard Street reported May 28. Evans was jailed.
On Sunday, an officer responded to a local supermarket on La. 182 in regard to an off duty officer detaining a suspected shoplifter. The officer arrived and identified Evans as the suspected shoplifter.
The officer was told that the off duty officer was approached by employees stating that Evans had taken several items from the store and was attempting to leave, Blair said.
The off duty officer identified himself as a police officer and confronted Evans about the theft when Evans attempted to flee on foot but was unsuccessful and detained by the officer, Blair said.
An investigation revealed that Evans had allegedly taken several items from the store, valued at $165.77, which was returned to the store. Evans was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail for booking.
During booking, police conducted a more thorough search of Evans and located suspected ecstasy and Alprazolam, Blair said. Evans was jailed.
—Johnathan P. Wiggins, 29, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:11 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with unauthorized use of an access card.
Officers located Wiggins on La. 182 where Wiggins was arrested on a warrant. The warrant was obtained from an investigation of an alleged unauthorized use of an access card in Morgan City reported June 20. Wiggins was jailed.
—Braxton R. Thorngate, 29, of Decatur Avenue in Wheeling, Virginia, was arrested at 6:47 p.m. Saturday on a charge for theft of goods.
An officer responded to a local supermarket on La. 182 in regard to a report of a shoplifter. The officer arrived and located the subject suspected of theft, identified as Thorngate.
Officers were told that Thorngate had allegedly taken a drink, valued at $3.12, from a shelf and consumed the beverage. Reports indicate that Thorngate then placed the empty bottle on a shelf and attempted to leave the store without paying.
Evidence of the alleged theft was uncovered by officers. Thorngate was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
—Chyral C. Whitehead, 36, of Parro Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 11:21 p.m. Monday on a warrant for probation violation.
Whitehead was located by officers on La. 182. Whitehead was arrested on an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Whitehead was transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.
—Kenneth White, 52, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:01 p.m. Monday on warrants for failure to appear for no driver’s license and failure to appear for speeding.
White was located by officers on Roderick Street and White was arrested on active warrants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. White was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—James J. Bailey Jr., 22, of Clark Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:31 a.m. Saturday on the charges of criminal damage to property over $500, phone harassment and aggravated assault. Bailey was transferred to the parish jail with no bail set yet.
Police learned that Bailey allegedly texted messages to his girlfriend threatening to do bodily harm to her and told her father she was dead. Bailey also cut two tires on his girlfriend’s vehicle. Bailey didn’t actually physically harm the woman, police said.
—George Favors Jr., 48, of Cherry Street in Patterson, was arrested at 3:03 p.m. Sunday on the charge of possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute. Favors was jailed with no bail set yet.
—Wilfredo Benitez, 53, of Imperial Valley in Houston, was arrested at 3:41 p.m. Sunday on the charges of DWI first offense, driving left of center and no driver’s license. Benitez was jailed with no bail set.
—Kerry Washington, 54, of Grout Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:50 p.m. Monday on a warrant for distribution of crack cocaine. No bail is set yet.
—Cindy M. Sanders, 45, of Tall Timbers Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 3:38 a.m. today on the charges of careless operation, two counts of criminal damage to property and DWI by refusal. No bail is set yet.
—Broderick Bennett, 24, of Tiffany Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:53 a.m. today on the charges of wrong way on a one-way street, leaving the scene of an accident, suspended driver’s license, no insurance and expired motor vehicle inspection sticker. Bail is set at $1,111.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Travis Murray Sr., 33, of Houston Street in San Antonio, was arrested at 9:02 a.m. Sunday on the charge of child desertion. He posted $5,000 bail.
—Robin Murray, 34, of Houston Street in San Antonio, was arrested at 10:04 a.m. Sunday on the charge of child desertion. She posted $2,500 bail.
The charges stem from a complaint at a gas station reporting a 10-year-old boy was standing alone by a gas pump for over 15 minutes, Richard said. The boy said his parents left him there and went to eat breakfast.
The boy’s parents told him they would be back later, Richard said. When the boy’s parents returned to the gas station, they were arrested.