Pedestrian killed on U.S. 90; driver charged with leaving scene

A 32-year-old Patterson man, believed to have been walking in the roadway on U.S. 90 in Berwick, was struck and killed this morning by a vehicle whose driver left the scene of the crash, Berwick Police Chief James Richard said.
At about 1 a.m. today, Morgan Vanbrocklin, 18, of Evergreen Avenue in Bayou Vista, struck a pedestrian, identified as Bobby Beard, 32, of Patterson, with her vehicle on U.S. 90 west in Berwick, about one mile west of the Berwick South Road intersection with U.S. 90, Richard said.
Vanbrocklin was arrested at 5 a.m. today and charged with felony hit and run.
Police believe that Beard, for an unknown reason, may have been walking in the roadway when Vanbrocklin struck him with her vehicle “on a dark section of the highway” where there was no lighting, Richard said.
The St. Mary Parish Coroner responded and pronounced Beard dead at the scene, Richard said. When Vanbrocklin’s vehicle hit Beard, she didn’t stop and continued to her residence in Bayou Vista, Richard said.
She called police more than an hour after the incident, Richard said. Vanbrocklin originally thought she may have hit a deer, but the law requires the driver to remain at the scene after any accident, the chief said.
Vanbrocklin showed no signs of impairment, and police don’t expect to file any additional charges against her, the chief said.
“If she would’ve remained at the scene, it’s likely there would be no charges,” Richard said. Beard’s relatives have been notified of his death, Richard said. Vanbrocklin bailed out of jail this morning.
Acadian Ambulance and Berwick Volunteer Fire Department personnel also responded to the scene of the incident, and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office assisted with traffic, Richard said.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 49 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Timothy D. Lodrigue, 56, of the 400 block of Theriot Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:38 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to provide notification as a sex offender or child predator and on a warrant for failure to pay annual registration fee.
A detective with the Sex Offender Compliance Division obtained a warrant for Lodrigue, a convicted sex offender, who failed to complete registration requirements, Hebert said. The detective located Lodrigue at the Theriot Street address. No bail is set.
—Christopher Adams Jr., 34, of the 1100 block of Francis Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:01 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of texting while driving. A deputy conducting a traffic stop on U.S. 90 in the Amelia area made contact with Adams and learned of the active warrant for his arrest. Adams was jailed and released on $250 bail.
—Shannon M. Nash, 31, of the 300 block of Ellis Street in Patterson, was arrested at 7:06 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for criminal neglect of family. During booking at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a jailer located the active warrant for Nash’s arrest. No bail is set.
—Gregory Payne, 19, of the 1900 block of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:55 p.m. Thursday on three warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family, a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery, a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of violation of a protective order, a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of domestic abuse battery and disturbing the peace and a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of resisting an officer
A deputy located Payne at his residence on the warrants. Payne was jailed with no bail set.
—Tommy D. Donati, 32, of the 100 block of Carter Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Thursday on the charge of criminal trespass and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A deputy investigating a report of a trespasser at a Dupont Lane property in Bayou Vista located the suspect nearby on Two Sister’s Court. The suspect was hiding beneath a mobile home. The deputy made contact with the suspect, identified him as Donati, who had an active warrant for his arrest. Donati was jailed with bail set at $9,710.
—Elmer D. Reyes, 20, of the 1400 block of Barrow Street in Amelia, was arrested at 12:46 a.m. today on the charges of reckless operation of a vehicle, no driver’s license, and simple criminal damage to property. A deputy was dispatched to a report of an overturned vehicle on Lake Palourde Road in Amelia.
Upon arrival, the deputy observed the crashed vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, Reyes, and learned that he had lost control of the car. Reyes was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center. During the crash investigation, the deputy determined that the vehicle traveled across the center line, hit a speed limit sign, the ditch, and a tree before overturning, Hebert said. Reyes was released on a summons to appear in court Aug. 19.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Irvin Thomas, 50, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:56 a.m. Thursday on the charges of no driver’s license, resisting an officer by giving false information and no seat belt.
A patrolling officer in the area of La. 182 near Federal Avenue noticed a vehicle with a child unrestrained in the rear of the vehicle, Blair said. During the investigation, officers determined Thomas had given officers a false name, Blair said. When questioned about his identity, he admitted he had given a false name and did not have a driver’s license, Blair said. Thomas was jailed.
—Cory Chapman, 49, of Franklin, was arrested at 11:23 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear, a warrant charging him with theft less than $750, criminal trespassing and resisting an officer.
Chapman was located in the area of Railroad Avenue and Mount Street. Officers were aware of active warrants on Chapman, and Chapman allegedly tried to flee from officers but was subdued, Blair said. Chapman was jailed.
—Jana N. Jones, 39, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:30 a.m. Thursday on the charge of theft of goods ($8.95).
Officers were dispatched to a supermarket on La. 182 in regard to a shoplifter. Management stated that Jones had placed items in her purse and tried to leave the store without paying, Blair said. Jones admitted to officers that she had placed the items inside of her purse and did not intend to pay for them, Blair said. Jones was jailed.
—Jonathan P. Wiggins, 28, of Morgan City, was arrested at 1:03 p.m. Thursday on the charge of bank fraud.
Officers were dispatched to a local bank in regard to possible fraud. An employee of the bank stated to officers that Wiggins had come into the bank to cash a check from a local business.
The owner of the business stated that no check was ever written to Wiggins, the chief said. Wiggins stated the check was written to him for work he had completed, Blair said. Wiggins was jailed.
—Quincy J. Johnson, 21, of Fifth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for three counts of failure to pay fines, a warrant for possession of stolen things and a warrant for contempt of court.
Johnson was arrested by the Patterson Police Department and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for active warrants held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Johnson was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Shannon Nash, 31, of the 300 block of Ellis Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:39 p.m. Thursday on the charge of aggravated second degree battery with medical. No bail is set yet.
—Geslia Allen, 39, of the 200 block of Grandwood Apartments in Patterson, was arrested at 6:23 p.m. Thursday on the charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Allen was released on $413 cash bail.
—Michael Bennett, 46, of the 100 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the charge of disturbing the peace by fighting. Bennett was released on $413 cash bail.

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