Morgan City man accused of kidnapping, domestic abuse

A 27-year-old Morgan City man was arrested Wednesday for domestic abuse by strangulation and kidnapping, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Cody Pearce, 27, of Poplar Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:52 a.m. Wednesday on the charges of resisting an officer, domestic abuse battery by strangulation in the presence of a juvenile, criminal abandonment, simple kidnapping, criminal trespassing and on warrants for domestic abuse battery, hit and run driving, reckless operation and no driver’s license.
Officers responded to an address on Poplar Street in regard to removing a subject. While responding, a subject later identified as Pearce was observed by witnesses running from the residence with what appeared to be a small baby.
Officers arrived and spoke with the victim, who was also the mother of the small baby. It was learned during the investigation that the victim and Pearce had become involved in an argument which led to a battery being committed by Pearce.
The victim displayed marks that were consistent with the result of a battery. The victim also reported that her small baby, which is 2 weeks old, was missing and was believed to have been taken by Pearce.
A search of the neighborhood was conducted when Pearce was spotted. The subject fled from officers. He was located a short time later and arrested.
Officers learned that Pearce had abandoned the child during the chase. The child was located by officers unharmed and returned to the mother.
Pearce was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he was booked and incarcerated. A warrants check also revealed that the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office held several arrest warrants for Pearce which he was booked on as well.
—April L. Aucoin, 35, of Patterson, was arrested at 7:08 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for theft by fraud.
Aucoin, who was already incarcerated at the Morgan City Police Department, was booked in on a warrant obtained by the Morgan City Police Department. The warrant was obtained as the result of an investigation incident which occurred in December in regard to a theft.
—Erick A. Brunner, 32, of Labadieville, was arrested at 7:32 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of improper lighting and driving under suspension and a warrant for failure to appear for driving under suspension.
An officer observed a vehicle with improper lighting on Federal Avenue. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Brunner.
A driver’s license check and warrant check revealed that Brunner had a suspended license. Also, St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office held an arrest warrant on Brunner.
Brunner was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he was booked and incarcerated.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 34 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
— Branchard McClendon, 25, of the 5500 block of West Main Street in Houma, was arrested at 2:05 a.m. today for driving under suspension.
A deputy responding to a complaint of a reckless driver on U.S. 90 located the suspect’s vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the Patterson area. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as McClendon, and learned that he was operating the vehicle with a suspended license.
McClendon was released on a summons to appear in court on March 30.
—Herman J. Butler, 28, of the 300 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard in Patterson, was arrested at 5:59 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of a warrant for parole violation.
A narcotics detective conducting a traffic stop off of Universe Street in Bayou Vista made contact with the driver of the vehicle and identified him as Butler. While speaking with Butler, the detective located the active warrant for his arrest. No bail is set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.