Sheriff: Home search yields marijuana, needles, fake bills

Two men were arrested Monday after St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives found marijuana, needles and several counterfeit $100 bills during a home search in Morgan City, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Craig M. Free, 30, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile and monetary instrument abuse.

—Donavan Pederson, 36, of Domino Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Monday on the charge of possession of marijuana.

Narcotics section detectives located Free at his home on the warrant. While on scene, detectives smelled the odor of marijuana coming from Pederson’s vehicle.

Detectives received consent to search the vehicle and located marijuana inside. The warrant for Free was obtained after detectives conducted a search warrant at Free’s home. Detectives located needles suspected of being used to inject methamphetamine, a marijuana cigarette and several counterfeit $100 bills.

Three juveniles were present at the home at the time of the investigation. Pederson was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14. Free was jailed with no bail set.

Hebert reported the following arrests:

—Brett Givens, 25, of Emy’s Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 1:54 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of schedule 1 drugs and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, transactions involving drug proceeds, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A deputy responded to a request to remove a person from a business on La. 182 in Bayou Vista and made contact with Givens. While speaking with Givens, the deputy located two active warrants for his arrest. Givens was jailed with no bail set.

—Gerald Duncan, 51, of Rideway Street in Thibodaux, was arrested at 12:46 p.m. Monday on the charge of theft of goods.

—Willie Williams, 23, of Carol Street in Thibodaux, was arrested at 12:12 p.m. Monday on the charge of felony theft of goods.

On Sept. 22, a detective began an investigation into a complaint of a theft from a store in Bayou Vista. Two male suspects were seen on video surveillance stealing laptops, a leaf blower, and other items on two separate dates.

Working with security personnel, the detective located the two male suspects driving in the area. The detective stopped their vehicle on La. 182 in Morgan City and identified the two suspects as Duncan and Williams.

When the detective spoke to the two men about the thefts, both Duncan and Williams admitted that they took the items without paying for the goods. Duncan was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14. Williams was jailed with no bail set.

—Cynthia K. Trahan, 61, of Shell Beach Road in Pierre Part, was arrested at 10:52 a.m. Monday on the charges of reckless operation of a vehicle with an accident and expired driver’s license.

A deputy was dispatched to a vehicle crash in the parking lot of a business in Bayou Vista. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Trahan. The deputy also observed a child inside the truck.

While speaking with Trahan, the deputy found that the woman was disoriented and contacted Acadian Ambulance. Trahan was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center. The uninjured child was released to the care of a guardian. During the crash investigation, the deputy found evidence that Trahan struck a tree. Trahan was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14.

—Ashley Jones, 35, of Bush Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:11 a.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt, operating a vehicle with an expired license plate, and failure to honor written promise to appear.

A deputy who knew Jones had an active warrant for her arrest located her at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin. Jones was booked into parish jail and released on $340 bail.

—Brandon Guidry, 31, of Natalie Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Saturday for no insurance and child passenger restraint violation.

A deputy observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed down Zenor Road. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Guidry, abruptly stopped the vehicle, and began speaking with the deputy.

While talking with Guidry, the deputy discovered that he was operating the vehicle without insurance. The deputy also observed a toddler in the rear seat of the vehicle without a child safety seat.

Guidry was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14.

—Dayna Breaux, 37, of Park Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. Sunday on a warrant from Iberia Parish for issuing worthless checks.

A deputy made contact with Breaux outside of a business in Bayou Vista. While speaking with Breaux, the deputy located the active warrant for her arrest. Breaux was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

—Lisa Guerrero, 34, of Vivian Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Sunday for failure to report an accident, no insurance, and an expired driver’s license.

A deputy was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 90 in Amelia. The deputy learned that the driver of a car sideswiped a vehicle. The driver stopped briefly, then left the scene of the crash.

The deputy gave a description of the car to neighboring agencies and the suspect vehicle was located in Assumption Parish.

During the course of the investigation, the driver of the car, identified as Guerrero, admitted to be involved in the crash. The deputy also found that she was operating the vehicle without insurance and with an expired driver’s license. Guerrero was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14.

—Michael Gonzales, 28, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10 p.m. Sunday on the charges of criminal trespass, two counts of resisting an officer, disturbing the peace profanity and a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal damage to property.

A deputy was dispatched to a report of a suspicious person on Friendship Alley in Amelia. The deputy located a male subject matching the description given.

When the deputy identified himself as a sheriff’s deputy and requested that the man speak with him, the subject fled on foot. The deputy located the subject hiding behind a vehicle.

The subject, identified as Gonzales, was detained. The deputy collected evidence that Gonzales was trespassing.

During the investigation, Gonzales attempted to pull away from the deputy and yelled profanities, causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. The deputy also located an active warrant for his arrest. Gonzales was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

—Cheryl Jones, 57, of Broussard Street in Patterson, was arrested at 12:46 a.m. Monday for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and careless operation of a motor vehicle.

A deputy was dispatched to a two-vehicle crash on La. 182 in Bayou Vista. While speaking with one of the drivers, identified as Jones, the deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her breath and person.

The deputy performed a field sobriety test. Jones conducted the test poorly and later registered a 0.108 grams percent blood alcohol concentration on a breath test. Jones was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

—Leroy Davis III, 25, of Adams Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21.

A deputy made contact with Davis on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista.

While speaking with him, the deputy located an active warrant for his arrest. Davis was transported to parish jail for booking. Bail is set at $2,500.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:

—Brad J. Derouen, 26, of South Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of marijuana second offense and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

—Blake Dinger, 23, of Neptune Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Monday on the charges of possession of marijuana first offense and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance-drug free zone.

Officers were dispatched to the area of Sixth and Onstead streets in regard to a vehicle possibly involved in illegal drug activity. A description of the vehicle was given. Officers located the vehicle near Federal Avenue and Onstead Street and stopped the vehicle.

The driver, Derouen, and passenger, Dinger, were asked to exit the vehicle. Derouen gave officers permission to search his vehicle. Officers located suspected marijuana inside the vehicle. Both Derouen and Dinger were jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:

—Tina Dekerlegand, 40, of Russo Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:42 p.m. Friday on the charges of driving while intoxicated (refusal), resisting officer, and two headlights required. Dekerlegand remains jailed. No bail is set.

—Kristin Scallan, 32, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:51 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for simple burglary. Scallan remains jailed. No bail is set.

—Steve Scallan Jr., 29, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:34 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for simple burglary. Scallan remains jailed. No bail is set.

—Shamus Dardeau, 41, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 a.m. Sunday on warrants for failure to appear theft $500-$1,500 and probation and parole. Dardeau remains jailed. No bail is set.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.