Former sheriff’s office employee arrested, accused of bringing cell phones into parish jail

A former St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office employee was charged Thursday after he admitted to bringing cell phones into the parish jail, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Yeron Diaz-Soler, 25, of the 800 block of Abbirene Street in Franklin, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Thursday on charges of introduction of contraband into a penal institution and malfeasance in office. A detective investigating a case involving contraband being entered into the jail interviewed Diaz-Soler. Diaz-Soler, an employee with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office assigned to the jail, admitted to bringing cell phones into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville, Hebert said. Diaz-Soler was jailed and later released on a $7,000 bail.
Hebert reported responding to 39 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests:
—A juvenile male, 16, of Patterson, was arrested at 9:45 p.m. Thursday on the charge of runaway juvenile. A deputy assigned to patrol the Patterson area was flagged down by the child’s parent, Hebert said. The deputy learned that the child ran away from his residence after becoming upset, the sheriff said. The juvenile was later located at another residence in Patterson, arrested and released to parents pending juvenile court proceedings.
Morgan City Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. reported the following arrests:
—Orlando D. Ramkhalawan, 19, of Cypress Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:09 p.m. Thursday for speeding 57 mph in a 45 mph zone and driving under suspension.
A patrolling officer observed a speeding vehicle on La. 182 and determined that the vehicle’s speed was 57 mph in a 45 mph zone. The vehicle was stopped and the driver identified as Ramkhalawan, who was found to be operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, Griffin said. Ramkhalawan was jailed and released after posting cash bail.
—Melanie A. Ruffin, 44, of Canary Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:55 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for simple battery.
Ruffin was located near the intersection of Mount Street and Railroad Avenue and arrested on a January warrant, in which she is accused of striking another person, Griffin said. She was jailed and released after posting cash bail.
—Brad J. Derouen, 24, of Morgan City, was arrested at 5:21 p.m. Thursday for speeding 51 mph in a 45 mph zone and possession of drug paraphernalia
A patrolling officer observed a speeding vehicle traveling on La. 182 and determined the vehicle to be traveling in excess of the posted speed limit even after the officer observed the driver of the vehicle attempt to slow down upon seeing the police unit.
The vehicle was stopped and according to the report, the driver, Derouen, was observed attempting to conceal an item in the seat of the vehicle. A narcotics K-9 was deployed and indicated the presence of odor of illegal substance in the vehicle, Griffin said. The driver admitted to officers that he possessed a pipe inside the vehicle, which the officer identified as a pipe commonly used to consume illegal narcotics, Griffin said. Derouen was jailed and released on cash bail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Tresh Jones, 42, of the 900 block of Tall Timbers in Patterson, was arrested at 3:16 a.m. today for violation of a protection order. No bail is set.
—Lakirra Kiel, 23, of the 4400 block of La. 73 in Franklin, was arrested at 10:56 a.m. Thursday for no driver’s license and two headlights required. Kiel was released on $407 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.