Sheriff: Suspect struck man with bottle in bar fight

A 37-year-old Amelia man was charged Sunday with aggravated battery after he struck another man in the head with a beer bottle during a bar fight, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Jose T. Gomez, 37, of West Side Trailer Park in Amelia, was arrested at 1:15 a.m. Sunday on the charges of aggravated battery, disturbing the peace fighting, disturbing the peace intoxicated and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of fraudulent documents.
A deputy responded to a complaint of a fight at a bar in Amelia. The deputy made contact with the people involved. During the investigation, the deputy collected evidence that Gomez struck a man in the head with a beer bottle. Gomez was jailed with no bail set.
Hebert reported responding to 99 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Krystal Meranta, 27, of Clarke Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Friday on the charge of theft of goods.
A deputy was dispatched to a complaint of shoplifting at a store in Amelia. The deputy spoke with a store employee and learned that Meranta concealed items in her purse and then left the store without paying for the goods. The deputy located Meranta, who admitted that she stole the items. Meranta was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
—Derek A. Parr Jr., 24, of Cal Road in Gonzales, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. Friday on the charges of reckless operation of a vehicle and general speed law violation.
A deputy observed a vehicle traveling 90 mph in a 70 mph zone on U.S. 90 and weaving through traffic in the Morgan City area. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, identified as Parr. Parr was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
—Carley L. Griffin, 32, of Beau Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:48 p.m. Saturday on the charges of reckless operation of a vehicle and hit and run driving.
A deputy was dispatched to a single vehicle crash on Victoria Riverside Road. The deputy located an unoccupied vehicle belonging to Griffin. The deputy located Griffin and found that he was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash. Griffin was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
—Nery D. Maldonado, 39, of Second Street in Amelia, was arrested at 8:52 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property.
On Friday, a deputy began an investigation into a report of domestic abuse at a home in Amelia. The deputy collected evidence that Maldonado struck a female victim in the face and arm multiple times. Maldonado also broke the victim’s cell phone during the battery. The deputy obtained a warrant for his arrest and located Maldonado at his home. He was jailed and released after posting $2,750 bail.
—Nigel L. Singleton, 23, of Marshall Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:34 p.m. Sunday on the charges of driving under suspension, no insurance, and no proof of registration.
A deputy responded to a report of a vehicle that had broken down on the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Singleton. While assisting Singleton, the deputy discovered that he was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license and without insurance. Singleton was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
—Addie M. Guidry, 37, of Two Sisters Court in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4 p.m. Sunday on the charges of theft of goods, handicap parking violation, and invalid motor vehicle inspection sticker.
—Herman L. Sonnier, 48, of David Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:05 p.m. Sunday on the charge of illegal possession of stolen things.
A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy located a subject matching the description of the suspect shoplifter exiting the store and identified her as Guidry. The deputy learned that Guidry was carrying items that had not been paid for.
The deputy also made contact with an occupant in the vehicle Guidry was driving and identified the subject as Sonnier. During the investigation, the deputy found evidence that Guidry entered the store, took items from the shelves, and left the business without paying for the goods. The deputy also located several items inside the vehicle with Sonnier.
Those items were found to be stolen as well. Guidry was parked illegally in a handicap parking space. Guidry and Sonnier were released on summonses to appear in court March 8.
—Damien Keller, 33, of Bayou Corne Road in Belle Rose, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Sunday on the charge of theft of goods.
A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy located a subject matching the description of the suspect shoplifter in a nearby parking lot and identified him as Keller. During the investigation, the deputy found evidence that Keller stole several items from the business. Keller was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
—Paul Bennett, 22, of Ridgefield Avenue in Thibodaux, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. Friday on the charges of failure to yield-driving in the left lane and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A narcotics detective observed a vehicle fail to move to right lane so other motorists could pass on U.S. 90 in Patterson. The detective conducted a traffic stop. While speaking with the driver, identified as Bennett, the deputy observed him make repeated attempts to return to his car. The deputy received consent to search the vehicle and located a marijuana grinder. Bennett was released on a summons to appear in court March 8.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Robert J. Gros, 47, of Nini Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:28 a.m. Friday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear on the charge of suspended driver’s license, a warrant for disturbing the peace use of offensive language, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of uniform control dangerous substance-drug free zone.
—Justin B. Renteria, 29, of Conroe, Texas, was arrested at 5:28 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of alcoholic beverage in motor vehicle, obstruction of justice, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance-drug free zone.
—Kaleb Gros, 19, of Sunshine Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:28 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance-drug free zone.
Officers responded to a business on La. 182 in regard to an individual that appeared intoxicated and was about to drive off in a vehicle. A description of the vehicle was given and officers located the vehicle in the parking lot of the business. The driver of the vehicle, Robert Gros, was asked to exit the vehicle.
A warrants check was done on Robert Gros, and he was found to have active warrants for the 16th Judicial District Court and the Morgan City police. The front passenger, Renteria, and rear passenger, Kaleb Gros, were asked to exit the vehicle.
While speaking to Renteria, officers noticed him chewing on a substance. The substance was retrieved from Renteria’s mouth and appeared to be suspected marijuana. Officers also located several cellophane bags of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle. The location of the stop was near a ball park, which is a drug free zone. All three suspects were jailed.
—Eroy J. Acosta Jr., 31, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:40 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with two counts of simple battery and on a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment. Acosta was transported from the Berwick Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department on court city and police warrants. Acosta was jailed.
—Brittany N. Burbante, 26, of Russo Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:17 p.m. Saturday on the charge of possession of stolen property.
—Wyatt Brown, 29, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:17 p.m. Saturday on the charge of possession of stolen property.
A patrol officer in the area of Federal Avenue and Marshall Street observed a vehicle that matched the description of a vehicle stolen out of the Baton Rouge area. The officer ran a computer check on the license plate, and the vehicle was learned to have been stolen.
The officer stopped the vehicle. The driver, Brown, and passenger, Burbante, were asked to exit the vehicle. Burbante stated that she knew the vehicle was stolen, Blair said. Both Brown and Burbante were jailed.
—Salvador Lira, 35, of Francis Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:20 a.m. Sunday on the charges of DWI first offense, hit and run and no driver’s license
Officers responded to a motel on Brashear Avenue in regard to a vehicle that was involved in a hit and run vehicle crash. A description of the vehicle was given and the vehicle matching the description was located in the parking lot of the motel. Witnesses stated that the vehicle had ran onto the median and crashed into a road sign and a tree on La. 182.
The vehicle continued on to the motel on Brashear Avenue. Officers spoke to the driver of the vehicle, Lira, who appeared intoxicated. Officers also noticed heavy damage to the front of the vehicle. Lira performed poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. At the police department, Lira submitted to the chemical test for intoxication, which showed Lira had 0.215 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Lira was jailed.
—Jennifer Beecher, 31, of Beadle Street in Amelia, was arrested at 2:10 a.m. Saturday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear for trial.
A patrol officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the area of La. 70 and Marguerite Street. Beecher was a passenger in the vehicle. Beecher was found to have an active warrant through the 16th Judicial District Court. Beecher was jailed.
—Melvin J. East, 56, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Saturday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for theft of goods, a warrant for two counts of failure to pay a fine and on a warrant for two counts of probation violation. Officers located East at his home. East was found to have warrants for his arrest through city court and district court. East was jailed.
—Ciara D. Percle, 30, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. Sunday on a warrant charging her with probation violation and on a warrant for two counts of failure to pay fines. Officers responded to a home on Glenwood Street in regard to a disturbance. Police located Percle, who had active city court arrest warrants. Percle was jailed.
—James Nicholas, 39, of Birch Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 a.m. Monday on the charges of disturbing the peace intoxicated and simple assault.
Officers responded to a home on Birch Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers made contact with the victim, who stated that Nicholas had made threats to harm her and she wanted to pursue charges on him. Officers were able to locate Nicholas, and he appeared intoxicated. Nicholas was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Clifton R. Ingram, 23, of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:51 p.m. Saturday on the charges of simple battery involving domestic abuse and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear on the charges of synthetic cannabinoids and possession of marijuana. No bail is set yet.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Kajuan Ferdinand, 18, of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 11:24 p.m. Friday on the charge of possession of marijuana. Ferdinand posted $2,000 bail.
—Devin Clay, 25, of Square Wolfe Lane in Houma, was arrested at 11:50 p.m. Saturday on the charges of obstruction of driver’s view, driving under suspension and possession of marijuana second offense. No bail is set yet.
—Nicholas Kapp, 22, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 9:35 p.m. Sunday on the charge of possession of marijuana second offense. No bail is set yet.