Police: Man fled from officers on motorcycle

By ZACHARY FITZGERALD
zfitzgerald@daily-review.com
A 23-year-old Morgan City man, whose motorcycle was clocked going 70 mph in a 15 mph school zone, was captured Tuesday after he fled from officers, Morgan City Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. said in a news release.
—Gage Ford, 23, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:53 a.m. Tuesday on the charges of aggravated flight from an officer, reckless operation of a moving vehicle and expired motor vehicle inspection.
An officer patrolling a marked school zone area near the Morgan City Junior High School observed a motorcycle being operated in a reckless manner, Griffin said. The officer observed the rider illegally passing vehicles and determined that the speed was in excess of 70 mph in a 15 mph school zone, Griffin said.
The officer attempted to detain the motorcycle, but the driver is accused of attempting to flee the scene, Griffin said. The driver headed west into Berwick, then turned east and was eventually detained in the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard and U.S. 90 in Morgan City, Griffin said. The driver was identified as Ford, who was released after posting cash bail.
Griffin reported the following arrests:
—Travis R. Hayes, 36, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, at 6:52 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession of marijuana third offense, possession of Schedule I synthetic marijuana, transactions involving proceeds from illegal controlled dangerous substance activity, violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance law (drug free zone) and a hold for probation and parole.
Police detectives conducted a search warrant at a South Railroad Avenue residence after an investigation was begun into the sale of illegal narcotics from the residence. Investigators, with the assistance of the Patterson Police Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, secured the residence and located Hayes, Griffin said.
During the investigation, detectives recovered suspected marijuana and synthetic marijuana from the residence, Griffin said. Authorities obtained evidence that monies and statements of suspects that indicated that Hayes was involved in the sale of illegal narcotics from the residence.
The residence was located within 1,000 feet of a designated drug free zone, Griffin said. Hayes was jailed.
—Destiny Dinger, 26, of Tiffany Street in Patterson, at 7:35 p.m. Tuesday on Franklin police warrants charging her with possession of drug paraphernalia second offense, possession of Schedule II methamphetamine, violation of uniformed controlled dangerous substance law, and creating or operating a clandestine lab for unlawful manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance.
Dinger, who was incarcerated in the Morgan City jail, was booked on outstanding warrants for the Franklin Police Department. She remains in jail.
—Christa N. Naquin, 28, of Lake Palourde Road in Amelia, at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule II hydrocodone, possession of Schedule IV Alprazolam, possession of Schedule II Promethazine with codeine, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile under age 17, and improper turning.
—Shawn A. Clements, 39, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, at 9:21 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana fourth offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule II hydrocodone, possession of Schedule IV Alprazolam, possession of Schedule II Promethazine with codeine, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile and possession of a Legend Drug without a prescription -- Cyclobenzaprine
Detectives began an investigation into illegal narcotics activity at a Roderick Street residence after receiving a complaint. Officers located Clements and Naquin, who were accompanied by a small child. Investigators, with the assistance of the narcotics K-9 unit and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, secured a search warrant for the residence and located hydrocodone, Alprazolam, Promethazine with codeine and Cyclobenzaprine. Both suspects were jailed.
—Tracy L. Silva, 50, of La. 182 in Morgan City, at 8:36 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with a drug court violation.
Silva was located at a La. 182 residence and placed under arrest for an outstanding warrant for the Sixteenth Judicial District Court. She was jailed.
—Gregory Johnson, 54, of Brashear Avenue in Morgan City, at 11 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with simple battery.
Johnson turned himself in on an outstanding warrant filed by the Morgan City Police Department accusing Johnson of committing a battery on another person in an incident reported Jan. 24, Griffin said. He was jailed.
—Nyjul Hillebrandt, 18, of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, at 1:06 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of theft by shoplifting (value $7.58).
A detective patrolling the Brashear Avenue area observed Hillebrandt acting in a suspicious manner in the parking lot of a Brashear Avenue retail store. Hillebrandt was observed dropping several items underneath a vehicle after store personnel approached him, Griffin said.
The detective learned from store employees that he was suspected of taking items from the store without paying, Griffin said. The item, a hair product was recovered and returned. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 44 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Jeffery Lodrigue, 23, of the 3400 block of Second Street in Berwick, at 2:11 p.m. Tuesday on two warrants for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court. Lodrigue was transported from the Lafourche Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Bail is set at $200,000.
—Saddi Verdin, 25, of the 100 block of Vacherie Street in Lockport, at 2:29 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear for trial on the charges of aggravated assault, theft of goods less than $500, possession of Schedule I drugs, and multiple traffic offenses. Verdin was transferred from the Lafourche Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center with no bail set.
—Mong Tuyen Thi Duval, 29, of the 500 block of Williams Street in Patterson, at 9:29 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear for trial on the charge of theft of goods less than $500. A deputy made contact with Duval on Arlington Road in Bayou Vista and discovered the active warrant for her arrest. Duval was jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of the Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.