Sheriff: Man made threats after being terminated

A 52-year-old Morgan City man was arrested Thursday after he allegedly threatened two men at an Amelia business upon being fired from his job, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Ronald L. Johnson, 52, of the Morgan City Motel, was arrested at 7:40 a.m. Thursday on two counts of aggravated battery. Deputies responded to a complaint of an aggravated battery that occurred at a business on La. 182 in Amelia.
Upon arrival, a deputy learned that Johnson brandished a knife and made threats towards two men after being terminated from the job, Hebert said. Another deputy located Johnson walking on La. 182 and detained him. The deputy located a knife on Johnson, Hebert said. The knife was positively identified as the weapon Johnson showed when he made the verbal threats, Hebert said. Johnson was jailed with no bail set.
Hebert reported responding to 176 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Dayjah Murray, 19, of the 100 block of Mount Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Thursday on the charge of theft. A deputy responded to a business in Bayou Vista in reference to a complaint of theft by an employee. The deputy learned that Murray admitted to store personnel that she stole items from the store. The deputy released Murray on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Lisa A. Contreras, 43, of the 100 block of South Verrett Road in Amelia, was arrested at 8:55 a.m. Friday for violation of the parish leash law. A deputy responded to an animal complaint on South Verrett Road. During the course of the investigation, the deputy learned that two dogs belonging to Contreras got out of their yard and were running loose, Hebert said. Contreras was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Alecia Sylvester, 26, of the 1400 block of James Street in Siracusa, was arrested at 2:54 p.m. Friday on the charge of disturbing the peace fighting.
—Tina Clark, 25, of the 600 block of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:54 p.m. Friday on the charge of disturbing the peace fighting.
A deputy responding to a report of a disturbance on James Street observed two women fighting. The two women, identified as Sylvester and Clark, were transported to the parish jail for booking. Sylvester was released on $250 bail. Clark was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Kimberly R. Harris, 43, of the 400 block of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:52 p.m. Friday 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 Harris was seen concealing items in her purse before attempting to leave the store without paying for the goods, Hebert said. The deputy released Harris on summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Christina L. Pitre, 39, of the 400 block of First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:23 p.m. Saturday on the charges of theft of goods, misrepresentation during booking and on a warrant from Lafourche Parish for issuing worthless checks.
A deputy responding to a report of theft at a store in Bayou Vista located the suspect in a vehicle parked in another store parking lot. The deputy made contact with the driver, who identified herself using a false name, Hebert said.
The deputy observed the stolen items inside the vehicle. Following the investigation, the deputy transported the subject to the parish jail for booking. During booking, a jailer determined that the suspect’s true identity was Christina Pitre, the sheriff said. Pitre was released after posting $1,750 bail.
—Lang Van Lee, 73, of the 600 block of Woodshire Street in Houma, was arrested at 12:39 a.m. Sunday for two counts simple battery and illegal possession of stolen things. A deputy responded to a complaint of a subject taking license plates from vehicles in the parking lot of a business on Lake Palourde Road in Amelia.
During the investigation, the deputy learned that Lee grabbed and pushed a male and female victim when they confronted him about the theft, Hebert said. The deputy also located two stolen license plates in Lee’s possession. Lee was jailed with bail set at $1,500.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Johnny Reyes, 35, of Breaux Bridge, was arrested at 8:48 a.m. Thursday on four counts of failure to appear.
Reyes was transported from the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville to the Morgan City Police Department for outstanding warrants he held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Reyes was jailed.
—Dicie Fulks, 31, of Halsey Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Thursday on the charge of direct contempt of court. Fulks was arrested in City Court, due to her disrupting court proceeding, Blair said. Fulks was jailed.
—Christina A. Breaux, 22, of Diane Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Thursday on two counts of failure to appear.
Breaux was transported from the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville to the Morgan City Police Department for outstanding warrants she held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Breaux was jailed.
—Kristy L. Poindexter, 29, of Polk Street in Houma, was arrested at 9:56 p.m. Thursday on the charges of improper lane usage, license plate lamp and driving under suspension.
A patrol officer in the area of La. 70 and Lakewood Drive observed a vehicle with improper lighting. The officer stopped the vehicle to investigate. The driver, Poindexter, was determined to have a suspended driver’s license. Poindexter was jailed.
—Darius D. Grogan, 21, of Patterson, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law, illegal use of a controlled drug in presence of persons under age 17 and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Charleston Grogan, 20, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law and illegal use of controlled drug in presence of persons under age 17.
—Traylon A. Grogan, 23, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law and illegal use of controlled drug in the presence of persons under age 17.
Narcotics division officers were dispatched to the Brownell Homes area in regard to people smoking illegal narcotics inside a vehicle, Blair said.
Officers located the vehicle described on Wren Street. Inside the vehicle were Darius Grogan, Charleston Grogan and Traylon Grogan. Also in the vehicle were two juveniles, ages 4 and 5, Blair said.
During the investigation, officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, Blair said. Darius Grogan, Charleston Grogan and Traylon Grogan were all placed under arrest. The juveniles were turned over to a relative. The three suspects were jailed.
—Kedesha Scott, 20, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense and three counts for failure to appear.
Scott, located in the Fifth Street area, was determined to have outstanding warrants for the Sixth Ward City Court. Scott also had suspected marijuana in her possession, Blair said. She was jailed.
—Gordon C. Helman, 23, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:57 a.m. Thursday on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, failure to dim bright lights, passing in a no passing zone and modified exhaust system.
A patrol officer in the area of Federal Avenue and Bowman Street noticed a vehicle with improper lighting and passing another vehicle in a no passing zone. A traffic stop was conducted. The driver, Helman, had the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, Blair said.
Helman performed poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. At the Police Department, Helman submitted to a chemical test for intoxication and registered 0.176 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Helman was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—John Alcina, 30, of the 700 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 10:53 a.m. Friday on the charge of criminal damage to property. Alcina was released on $379 bail.
—Brian Michael Racicot, 49, of the 100 block of Shady Grove Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Friday on the charges of disturbing the peace intoxicated, remaining where forbidden and aggravated assault. Racicot was jailed with no bail set.
—Devin Dinger, 21, of the 11800 block of Old Jeanerette Road in Jeanerette, was arrested at 3:19 a.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. Dinger was released on $413 cash bail.
—Jeremiah Aucoin, 33, of the 100 block of Pluto Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:19 a.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.
—Mark Smith, 51, of the 1400 block of Myrtle Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Sunday on a warrant charging him with theft under $100 and resisting an officer by flight. No bail is set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Lawrence Gash Jr., 28, of Mallet Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:47 p.m. Saturday on the charges of speeding 33 mph in a 20 mph zone, driving under suspension, and 16th Judicial District Court warrants charging him with failure to appear for criminal neglect of family and failure to appear for possession of marijuana. Bail is set at $3,853.34.

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