Sheriff: Man struck deputy, made death threats

A 54-year-old Morgan City man was accused Wednesday of striking a sheriff’s deputy in the head after the man dropped a handgun identified as stolen during a residential burglary, and while being transported, he repeatedly made death threats against the deputy, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
Melvin Sylvester Sr., 54, of the 1400 block of James Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday for resisting an officer by giving false information, flight from an officer, criminal trespass, battery of a police officer, disturbing the peace by using foul language, illegal possession of stolen firearms, possession of a firearm or carrying of a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, public intimidation and retaliation, and on three warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family with bonds totaling $9,874.64.
A deputy assigned to patrol the Amelia area observed a man walking on Grace Street. In light of a recent residential burglary in the area, the deputy attempted to speak with the man, Hebert said. The man made eye contact with the deputy and proceeded to flee on foot, the sheriff said.
The deputy gave chase through a private yard when the man stopped and dropped a handgun to the ground, the sheriff said. As the deputy detained the man, the man struck the deputy in the forehead with his fist, Hebert said. During the subsequent investigation, the man began yelling and cursing causing a disturbance to residents in the neighborhood, Hebert said.
The man also refused to identify himself, Hebert said. With the assistance of witnesses at the scene, the deputy identified the man as Sylvester, the sheriff said. The deputy retrieved the handgun Sylvester dropped during the foot pursuit and later identified it as a weapon that was stolen during a residential burglary that occurred on James Street in Amelia, Hebert said. Sylvester was jailed with no bail set. During transport, Sylvester made repeated threats against the deputy’s life, Hebert said.