Three arrested on gun, drug charges after traffic stops

Three men were arrested on drug and firearm charges after two separate traffic stops Tuesday in Morgan City, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Damarcus D. McNeal, 18, of Cardinal Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana second offense, possession of Schedule I synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, criminal damage to property over $500 and possession of a firearm with obliterated numbers.
Narcotics division detectives conducted a traffic stop in the area of Eighth and Florence streets. The driver of the vehicle gave officers consent to search the vehicle, Blair said. Officers located suspected marijuana and suspected synthetic marijuana on McNeal, a passenger in the vehicle, Blair said.
Detectives also located a firearm with the serial numbers obliterated under the passenger seat, Blair said. According to the police report, McNeal admitted the firearm belonged to him, Blair said. McNeal was jailed.
—Glenn D. Rankins, 52, of Neptune Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of failure to signal, possession of Schedule I marijuana, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, violation of controlled dangerous substance law and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
—Aries D. Keal, 32, of Charenton, was arrested at 10:35 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana, illegal carrying of a weapon and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division conducted a traffic stop in the area of Federal Avenue and Onstead Street of a vehicle with improper lighting.
The driver, Rankins, was asked to produce a valid driver’s license. Officers also noticed a passenger in the vehicle, identified as Keal. Officers received consent to search the vehicle, Blair said. During the investigation, officers located suspected marijuana and a firearm in the vehicle, Blair said. Both Rankins and Keal were jailed.
Blair also reported the following arrests:
—Derrick S. Derocher, 25, of Second Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:25 a.m. Sunday on the charges of obstructing public passage and disturbing the peace intoxicated.
A patrol officer noticed Derocher walking in the roadway in the area of Egle and Second streets. The officer approached Derocher and could smell a strong odor of alcohol on him, Blair said. Durocher was also yelling and using profanities, Blair said. Derocher 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 Bow-man 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.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 39 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Chad E. Gros, 40, of the 1800 block of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 12:28 p.m. Tuesday on two warrants for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court. Gros contacted the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office stating that he wanted to turn himself in on the active warrants. A deputy met Gros at his residence and transported him to the parish jail for booking. Bail is set at $200,000.
—Keveshia Johnson, 18, of the 1000 block of Birch Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I drugs. A jailer booking Johnson into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center located the active warrant for her arrest. No bail is set.
—Benjamin Justilian, 22, of the 700 block of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:42 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of criminal trespass.
—Dillon Guidry, 22, of the 400 block of Field Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:42 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of criminal trespass.
—Raven Authement, 18, of the 100 block of Wilderness Lane in Houma, was arrested at 6:42 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of criminal trespass.
A deputy responded to a complaint of trespassing in the Bridge Road area in Patterson. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with three subjects identified as Justilian, Guidry and Authement. The deputy learned that the three people were trespassing on a privately owned bridge in the area. The deputy released the subjects on summonses to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Edward Trimm Jr., 40, of the 1000 block of Ciro Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 8:23 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple criminal damage to property. A detective assigned to patrol Amelia made contact with Trimm on Lake Palourde Road and located the active warrant for his arrest. Trimm was jailed with no bail set.
—Taja Baytop, 22, of the 100 block of Jordan Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:43 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Narcotics detectives were assisting the Criminal Investigation Division with the execution of a search warrant when they made contact with Baytop and located two marijuana cigarettes in her purse. Narcotics detectives released Baytop on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Hollie Sauce, 35, of the 100 block of Carroll Street in Gibson, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Friday on the charge of home invasion. No bail is set.
—Keith Sauce, 57, of the 100 block of Carroll Street in Gibson, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Friday on the charge of home invasion. No bail is set.
The two suspects were accused of breaking into a residence in the 500 block of Taft Street in Patterson after a money dispute with the occupants, Patterson Police Lt. Larry Jones said.
—Devan Washington-Dyer, 36, of the 1500 block of Live Oak Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:49 a.m. Monday on the charges of obstruction of justice, resisting an officer by force, stop sign violation and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle. Washington-Dyer was released on $3,500 bail.
—Johnell Dyer, 35, of the 1500 block of Live Oak Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:49 a.m. Monday on the charges of obstruction of justice, resisting an officer by force and on a warrant for simple assault and resisting an officer by flight.
Dyer was jailed with no bail set yet.
—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 11000 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:
—Dava Leonard, 33, of Tut Street in Pierre Part, was arrested at 11:25 p.m. Monday on the charges of license plate required, driver must be licensed, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine. No bail is set yet.
—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.