Traffic stop leads to drug, alcohol charges

A 47-year-old Amelia woman with a broken headlight was arrested after a deputy discovered warrants and possession of an open alcoholic beverage and drugs, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Paulette G. Lewis, 47, of the 1300 block of Lake Palourde Road in Amelia, was arrested at 9:02 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance marijuana (second offense), no license, an equipment violation and possession of open alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle.

Lewis was also named in warrants for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation, and failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle without proper required equipment.

A deputy patrolling Amelia conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle with a malfunctioning headlight on Lake Palourde Road and made contact with the driver, Lewis.

During the stop, the deputy located two active warrants for Lewis’ arrest. The deputy also found a drinking glass containing an alcoholic beverage and a small plastic bag containing suspected marijuana inside the vehicle.

Lewis was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

Hebert reported responding to 36 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Taylor R. Brewer, 22, of the 100 block of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:22 a.m. Monday on a warrant for theft.

The warrant was obtained following an investigation that began in February into an employee theft from a store in Bayou Vista.

The detective collected video evidence of Brewer taking cash from a register on more than a dozen occasions in the total amount of $2,880.

Brewer turned herself in on the warrant at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City and was transported to the parish jail. Brewer was released on bail set at $5,000.

—Steven Williamson, 32, of the 100 block of Riverview Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 6:02 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of a Schedule 1 drug and operating a vehicle under the influence of an illegal substance.

A deputy responded to a report of a vehicle traveling at an extremely slow rate of speed on La. 87 in the Franklin area.

The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Williamson. While speaking with Williamson, the deputy observed several signs of impairment including slow and slurred speech.

Williamson also used the vehicle to support himself. The deputy received consent to search the vehicle and located a small bag containing a green leafy substance suspected of being synthetic cannabinoids.

Three burnt cigarettes suspected of containing the same substance were also located. Williamson was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

—Lady Brown, 33, of the 1400 block of Martin Luther King Drive in Jeanerette, was arrested at 4:37 a.m. today on the charges of violation of the maximum speed limit and driving under suspension.

A deputy on U.S. 90 in the Amelia area observed a vehicle traveling 81 mph in a posted 70 mph zone and conducted a traffic stop.

The deputy made contact with the driver, Brown, and found that her driver’s license was listed as suspended. Brown was released on a summons to appear in court May 27.

— Gatchary Forth, 28, of the 300 block of Sun Valley Way in Florham Park, New Jersey, was additionally charged with illegal possession of stolen things.

—Albert Mujaj , 36, of the 2000 block of Barnes Avenue in Bronx, New York, was additionally charged with illegal possession of stolen things.

Continuing the investigation that began March 9, the detective collected evidence that Forth and Mujaj used a fraudulent driver’s license to purchase cell phones.

Both subjects remain incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. No bail is set.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:

—Cherry L. Donati , 30, of Second Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:30 a.m. Friday on a charge for failure to appear for traffic offense (speeding).

Donati was booked into the Morgan City Jail in regard to an active arrest warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.

—Blaine D. Simoneaux , 45, of Plaquemine, was arrested at 2:09 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving while intoxicated.

An officer responded to La. 70 near Lake End Park in regard to a vehicle that ran off the roadway.

The officer arrived and located a vehicle that appeared to have been stuck and was attempting to make its way back onto the roadway.

The officer made contact with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Simoneaux. While speaking with Simoneaux , the officer suspected him to have been drinking and he appeared to be intoxicated.

Simoneaux was transported to the Morgan City Police Department for further chemical testing where he refused the Intoxilyzer 5000 test. Simoneaux was placed under arrest and booked into the Morgan City Jail.

—Dustin M. Lovell, 19, of Sandy Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 11:12 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of marijuana, violation of a protective order, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws.

—Bethany R. Crochet, 19, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:12 a.m. Friday on the charges of possession of marijuana, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws and on warrants for illegal possession of stolen things and theft by fraud.

Detectives with the Morgan City Police Department were following up on an investigation of an incident reported in February when they came into contact with Crochet and Lovell at a local motel on Brashear Avenue.

During the investigation, it was learned that Lovell was in violation of a protective order and that the Morgan City Police Department held active arrest warrants on Crochet.

Lovell and Crochet were placed under arrest when suspected marijuana was located by detectives.

The location of the incident was within the area of a local elementary school in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws.

Lovell and Crochet were transported to the Morgan City Jail where they were booked and incarcerated.

—Gregory Douglas, 29, of James Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:57 a.m. Saturday on warrants for failure to appear for no tail lights and failure to appear for driving under suspension.

Douglas was transported from the Franklin Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to active arrest war-rants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.

Douglas was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.

—Allen L. Escort, 51, of Arizona Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:46 a.m. Saturday on a charge for disturbing the peace.

An officer responded to an address on Arizona Street in regard to loud music. The officer arrived when Escort was observed on the porch of the residence shouting at people in the area.

Reports indicated that officers had been to the residence earlier that day in regard to a previous disturbance involving Allen, at which time Allen was warned.

Allen was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

— Teligia M. Busby, 50, of Maine Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:51 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of stolen things.

An officer responded to an address on Fifth Street in regard to a report of a bur-glary. The officer arrived and spoke with the owner of the residence who reported several items being stolen from the residence.

The homeowner further told the officer that Busby was the previous tenant of the residence and had moved out recently.

Busby was located moments later in a neighboring building when it was alleged that Busby was in possession of the items reported stolen.

Busby was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Stacey L. Grubb, 35, of Shady Grove Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for theft.

Grubb was located by officers at a residence on Greenwood Street where she was arrested on an active arrest warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.

Grubb was transported to the Morgan City Police Department Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Willis R. Junifer , 57, of Robin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Saturday on warrants for entering or remaining on premises after forbidden and contempt of court.

Junifer was located by officers at a residence on Robin Street where he was arrested in regard to active arrest warrants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.

Junifer was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcer-ated .

—Christopher S. McKinley, 28, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:59 a.m. Sunday on the charges of improper lighting, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker, expired license plate, no vehicle insurance, and driving under suspension.

A patrolling officer observed a vehicle traveling on Ditch Avenue with improper tail lighting. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as McKinley.

Reports indicate that during the course of the stop, the officer learned that the license plate and motor vehicle inspection sticker on the vehicle were expired. Also, the vehicle did not have insurance.

A driver’s license check revealed that McKinley had a suspended license.

McKinley was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

—Brittany R. Sanders, 30, of Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:28 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for a civil matter.

Sanders was booked into the Morgan City Jail in regard to an active arrest warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.

—Mervin Riley Jr., 59, of Cupcake Circle in Erath, was arrested at 8:55 p.m. Sunday on the charges of careless operation of a motor vehicle, driving under suspension, possession of an alcoholic container inside a motor vehicle, and a warrant for failure to appear for traffic offense (speeding).

An officer responded to the area of U.S. 90 in regard to a report of a reckless driver. A description of the vehicle was provided when the officer located that vehicle moments later.

Reports indicated that the officer observed the vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed and that the vehicle crossed out of its lane of travel several times. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver identified as Riley.

During the course of the stop, the officer observed an open container of alcohol inside the vehicle.

A driver’s license and war-rants check revealed that Riley had a suspended li-cense and that Riley had an active arrest warrant held by the 16th Judicial District Court.

Riley was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

—Sandy Boutwell , 31, of Barrow Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear for driving under suspension.

Boutwell turned herself in to the Morgan City Police Department for an outstanding warrant held for the 6th Ward City Court. Boutwell was booked and jailed.

—Crystal A. Pittman, 33, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 7:36 p.m. Monday on the charges of failure to pay fine for speeding and driving under suspension

Pittman was transported from the Berwick Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department for an outstanding warrant she held for the 6th Ward City Court. Pittman was booked and jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

— Shundren Johnson, 19, of the 1500 block of Cherry Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:28 p.m. Monday on a warrant for theft by shoplifting.

Johnson was released on bail set at $1,000.

—Matthew Boyd, 25, of the 2000 block of Burton Drive in Austin, Texas, was arrested at 2:31 a.m. today on the charges of possession of Schedule 1 (heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Boyd remains jailed. No bail is set.

—Lauren S. Broadwell, 26, of the 2000 block of Burton Drive in Austin, Texas, was arrested at 2:59 a.m. today on the charges of speeding 69 mph in a 55 mph speeding zone, possession of Schedule 1 (heroin) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Broadwell remains jailed. No bail is set.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.