Sheriff: Berwick stop leads to drug arrest

A 19-year-old Morgan City man was booked Saturday on multiple drug charges and a gun charge after sheriff’s deputies stopped a vehicle that crossed the center line in Berwick, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Kane Smith, 19, of Maple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:59 a.m. Saturday on the charges of improper lane usage, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of Klonopin with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.
Deputies patrolling the Berwick area observed a vehicle cross the center line of a roadway and stopped the vehicle on Burchfield Lane. The deputies made contact with the driver, Smith. Search a search, deputies located marijuana, Klonopin, baggies, a digital scale and a Ruger .380 pistol. Smith was jailed with no bail set.
Hebert reported responding to 99 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Gregory O’Howell, 40, of West Merrell Avenue in Meralto, California, was arrested at 11:59 a.m. Friday on warrants charging him with violation of probation on charges of DWI, criminal trespass, aggravated battery, possession of stolen things and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
A deputy patrolling the Amelia area located O’Howell at a home on Village Lane. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Cecilia Forteza, 52, of Union Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:22 a.m. Sunday on charges of careless operation with a crash and driving while intoxicated.
Deputies responded to a report of a crash on U.S. 90 in the Bayou Vista area. Deputies made contact with the driver of one of the vehicles involved, Forteza. Investigating deputies learned that Forteza left her lane of travel and collided with another vehicle in the opposite lane. Forteza was arrested for careless operation and driving while intoxicated. She was later released with a court date May 10.
—Melissa Adams, 38, of Haney Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:31 p.m. Sunday on a warrant charging her with possession of drug paraphernalia. Deputies patrolling the Patterson area located Adams at her home on Haney Street after learning of the active warrant for her arrest.
Adams was booked into parish jail and later released on a summons to appear to court May 10.
—Marvin Machado, 36, of Chirpy’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Sunday on the charges of DWI, improper lane usage, open container, and no driver’s license.
Deputies responded to a report of a vehicle crash on Lake Palourde Road in Amelia. During the investigation, they made contact with the driver of the vehicle, Machado. The investigating deputy learned that Machado had exited his vehicle after the crash with an open container of alcohol in his hand. The deputy conducted a standardized field sobriety test and later arrested Machado.
During the investigation, the deputy learned that Machado did not have a driver’s license. Machado was taken to the Morgan City Police Department for chemical testing where he provided a breath sample of 0.273 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Machado was booked into parish jail and then released after posting $3,500 bail.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Devan Washington, 38, of N Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:11 a.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of Xanax with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, transaction involving drug proceeds, violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance laws-drug free zone and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of resisting an officer.
Officers responded to a hotel on Martin Luther King Boulevard in regard to a complaint of illegal drug activity inside one of the rooms. Police arrived and located a woman identified as Washington, who was believed to be an occupant of the room.
Washington had an active warrant for the 16th Judicial District Court. Investigators conducted a search of the room when they located suspected marijuana, Xanax, which was believed to be intended for distribution, drug paraphernalia and about $1,700 in cash, which was believed to be obtained from the sales of illegal drugs. The location of the incident was within the area of a drug free zone. Washington was jailed.
—Kayla Blanchard, 21, of Eagle Point Drive in Pierre Part, was arrested at midnight Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Blanchard was transported from the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to an active arrest warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Blanchard was jailed.
—Eric R. Gilmore, 34, of Apple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:09 a.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with theft of goods by shoplifting.
Gilmore was arrested at the Morgan City Police Department on a warrant. The warrant stems from an investigation into an incident reported Feb. 3 of an alleged theft at a grocery store on La. 70. Gilmore was jailed.
—Shaun Sikes, 33, of Hemlock Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with non-consensual disclosure of a private image.
Sikes was arrested at the Morgan City Police Department on a warrant. The warrant stems from an investigation into an incident reported Dec. 18, 2016, of alleged non-consensual disclosure of a private image. Sikes was jailed.
—Demond C. Davis, 39, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 3:23 a.m. Saturday on the charges of improper tail lighting and driving under suspension.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle traveling in the area of Railroad Avenue and Ditch Avenue with improper tail lights. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle identified as Davis, who had a suspended driver’s license. Davis was jailed.
—Kesler Y. Suazo, 24, of Pecos Street in Morgan City, was arrested at noon Saturday on the charges of improper turning and no driver’s license.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle make an improper turn at the intersection of La. 182 and Allison Street. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver identified as Suazo, who didn’t have a valid driver’s license. Suazo was jailed.
—Bridget P. Jankowski, 37, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:15 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging her with probation violation.
Officers located Jankowski at a home on Federal Avenue and arrested her on a city court warrant. Jankowski was jailed.
—Valerie Collins, 51, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:45 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging her with probation violation.
An officer located Collins on La. 182 and arrested her on a city court warrant. Collins was jailed.
—Caleb Mitchell, 20, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:12 p.m. Sunday on warrants for failure to appear on the charges of disturbing the peace and disturbing the peace.
An officer located Mitchell on Railroad Avenue near Federal Avenue and arrested him on a city court warrant. Mitchell was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.