Three men charged with Morgan City home invasion

Three men were charged with home invasion after they allegedly attacked a Morgan City resident with an iron box and stool, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Preston J. Wade, 25, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:20 a.m. Saturday on the charges of home invasion in the presence of a juvenile, domestic abuse, child endangerment, and aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.
—Blaise K. Crane, 21, of Franklin, was arrested at 5:21 a.m. Saturday on the charges of home invasion in the presence of a juvenile and aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.
—Calab L. Mitchell, 19, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:21 a.m. Saturday on the charges of home invasion in the presence of a juvenile and aggravated battery with a dangerous weapon.
Officers responded to a residence on La. 182 in regard to a complaint of a battery. Officers spoke with a victim with lacerations to the face and neck, Blair said.
The victim and a witness said three males entered the victim’s house while in the presence of a 5-year-old girl, Blair said. The three men attacked the victim and struck the victim with an iron box and wooden step stool before leaving the home, Blair said.
Investigators located the three suspects on Arkansas Street. The suspects were identified as Wade, Crane and Mitchell. Based on victim and witness statements, all three suspects were arrested and jailed.
Blair reported the follow-ing arrests.
—Susie C. Delatte, 48, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:46 a.m. Thurs-day on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Legend Drug without prescription, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance without prescription, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Divi-sion executed a search war-rant at a home on La. 182, where Delatte was located. A search of the residence was conducted when investigators located suspected marijuana, suspected drug parapherna-lia, suspected buprenorphine, suspected Vyvanse and suspected Subutex.
The location of the incident was within the area of a church in violation of the uniform controlled dangerous substance law. Delatte was jailed.
—Troy Smith, 47, of Mor-gan City, was arrested at 10:21 p.m. Thursday on the charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension.
An officer conducted a traffic stop and Smith was identified as the driver. Smith had a suspended driver’s license and was jailed.
—Rene Cothron, 51, of Faith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:35 p.m. Thursday on the charge of driving under suspension.
An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Cothron. The stop was in regard to a disturbance Cothron was involved in at a business, Blair said. Cothron also had a suspended driver’s license and was jailed.
—Donald E. Byrd, 45, of Freret Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:21 a.m. Friday on the charges of resisting an officer and misuse of 911.
Officers responded to an address on Freret Street in regard to Byrd calling 911 several times for non-emergencies after he was warned not to do so. Byrd was arrested, at which time he began to resist by pulling away from officers, Blair said. After a short struggle Byrd was handcuffed and jailed.
—William Doiron, 19, of Oak Harbor Drive in Ste-phensville, was arrested at 12:42 a.m. Friday on the charge of simple criminal damage to property.
An officer responded to a business on Levee Road in regard to a vehicle spinning out in circles and cutting ruts onto the lawn. Police located the suspect vehicle and Doiron was identified as the driver. Based on the witnesses and Doiron’s statements, Doiron was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he was booked and incarcerated.
—Albert Vargas, 23, of Cold Spring, Texas, was arrested at 2:04 a.m. Friday on the charges of disturbing the peace and resisting an officer.
Officers responded to a hotel on Roderick Street in regard to a report of a fight. Upon arrival, officers spoke with witnesses when they determined that Vargas was involved. Officers attempted to speak with Vargas about the incident when Vargas ran from officers, Blair said. Vargas was captured mo-ments later and jailed.
—Erick A. Deleon, 22, of First Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5 p.m. Friday on the charges of no driver’s license, careless operation of a motor vehicle and open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
An officer was investigating a single vehicle crash on Youngs Road when Deleon was identified as the driver of the vehicle. Deleon did not have a valid driver’s license and an open container of alcohol was located inside of the vehicle. Deleon was jailed.
—Reid D. Scott, 54, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:06 p.m. Friday on the charge of driving while intoxicated.
An officer responded to U.S. 90 east in regard to a report of a drunk driver. The vehicle was observed taking the Federal Avenue exit and turning into an address on Fourth Street where the officer came into contact with the driver, identified as Scott.
The officer spoke with Scott, whom the officer believed had been drinking and appeared to be intoxicated. Scott was transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000, yielding a blood alcohol concentration of 0.183 grams-percent. Scott was jailed.
—Michael Francois, 24, of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:05 a.m. Saturday on the charges of stop sign violation and driving under suspension.
An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was observed running a stop sign at the Federal Avenue off-ramp at Freret Street. The driver was identified as Francois. A driver’s license check revealed that Francois had a suspended driver’s license. Francois was jailed.
—Jasmine Junifer, 26, of Orange Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Sunday on the charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and dis-turbing the peace
—Diondre Short, 41, of Orange Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Sunday on the charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and dis-turbing the peace.
Officers responded to an address on Orange Street in regard to people breaking into the residence. Police arrived and spoke with the victim and witnesses who stated that Short and Junifer went into the home without permission and began shouting at the victim, Blair said.
Short and Junifer, who were gone before officers arrived, were located at another home on Orange Street. Officers spoke to them about the incident, and, based on evidence, Short and Junifer were jailed.
—Aketa R. Francis, 23, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:28 p.m. Sunday on the charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace.
Officers were in the area of Egle Street attempting to locate Francis who had previously been involved in a fight. Francis was located in the area when she began running from officers. Francis was captured moments later and jailed.
—James Wagner, 36, of Houma, was arrested at 1:16 p.m. Monday on warrants charging him with domestic abuse battery by strangulation and domestic abuse battery child endangerment.
Officers responded to an address on General Hodges Street in regard to a disturbance. While at the residence, officers came into contact with Wagner. A warrants check revealed that the Morgan City Police Department held active arrest warrants on Wagner. Wagner was jailed.
—Toby J. Mabile, 30, of Plattenville, was arrested at 2:08 p.m. Monday on war-rants charging him with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and theft.
Officers went to an address on Roderick Street in an attempt to locate Mabile in regard to active warrants through the Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office. Mabile was jailed.
—Joni L. Farias, 32, of Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous sub-stance (Adderall), possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (Hydrocodone), possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (Drug Free Zone).
—Joshua Haywood, 32, of Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:49 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (Adderall), possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous sub-stance (Hydrocodone), possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (Drug Free Zone) and transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity.
—Norma Ramirez, 36, of Seventh Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Monday on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Eric J. Fitter, 28, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Monday on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division executed a search war-rant at an address on Everett Street. Farias, Haywood, Ramirez and Fitter were located inside the home. Officers searched the home and located suspected meth-amphetamine, marijuana, Adderall, hydrocodone and drug paraphernalia along with cash believed to be from illegal drug transactions, Blair said.
The incident took place in the area of a local day care center in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws. Farias, Haywood, Ramirez and Fitter were jailed.
—Joseph B. James, 34, of Franklin, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Monday on the charges of improper lighting, no vehicle insurance, improper lane usage, driving under suspension, resisting an officer, aggravated flight from an officer, possession of cocaine and on warrants from the Franklin Police Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
—Brian K. James, 37, of Franklin, was arrested at 11:13 p.m. Monday on the charges of resisting an officer, no seat belt and possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.
An officer patrolling the area of La. 182 observed a vehicle traveling out of the lane of travel and making an improper turn. The officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop, at which time the vehicle began fleeing.
A pursuit ensued going east on La. 182 which continued for several miles reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph into Assumption Parish, Blair said. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted with the pursuit. The chase continued onto La. 662 for several miles then later back onto La. 182, again reaching speeds in escess of 100 mph.
The vehicle then again attempted to turn onto La. 662 when it lost control, causing the vehicle to turn around and travel back toward the pursuing officers unit, striking the unit. The suspect vehicle came to a stop and several people exited the vehicle and began running on foot. The driver, Joseph James, and passenger, Brian James, were among those who attempted to flee, Blair said.
Officers chased Joseph James and Brian James on foot and captured the two suspects. The officers located suspected cocaine along with an open container of alcohol in the vehicle. Joseph James and Brian James were 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:
—Lucille Gussman, 35, of the 700 block of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:42 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of Schedule II methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a counterfeit controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute and obstruction of justice.
—John Walsh, 35, of the 300 block of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:42 p.m. Monday on the charges of obstruction of justice, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a counterfeit controlled dangerous substance, resisting an officer by giving false information and on two warrants for failure to comply with terms and conditions of drug court.
A detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division observed a vehicle driving onto the shoulder of the U.S. 90 bridge in Morgan City and conducted a traffic stop on Everett Street. While advising the driver of the reason for being stopped, the detective observed a rear passenger attempt to conceal something in his hand, Hebert said.
The detective told the subject to stop moving around. As the detective continued to speak with the driver, the passenger, later identified as Walsh, began to reach down near the door and seat, Hebert said. Walsh was then asked to step out of the vehicle and was patted down for officer safety.
The detective located a small straw consistent with the use of illegal drugs. The detective also observed several small pieces of a suspected illegal drug scattered on the rear passenger seat and floorboard where Walsh had been seated. Walsh was detained pending further investigation.
Another rear passenger seated near the suspected illegal substance was also detained. That passenger was identified as Gussman. The detective received consent to search the vehicle and retrieved the suspected drug, Hebert said.
The detective learned that the substance found in the vehicle was bath salts and that Walsh and Gussman were selling the substance as meth, Hebert said. The detective also determined that Walsh had initially given a false name and that he was wanted on drug court warrants.
As the investigation progressed, methamphetamine was located on Gussman, Hebert said. Both suspects were jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—John Holt, 24, of Toups Street in Berwick, was arrested at 2:45 a.m. today on the charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Holt was jailed with no bail set yet.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.