Police: Woman struck pedestrian in Morgan City

A 43-year-old Morgan City woman was charged with hit and run Wednesday after she allegedly struck a pedestrian in Morgan City and fled the scene, Assistant Police Chief Mark Griffin Jr. said.
—Alma A. Morales, 43, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:16 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of careless operation and hit and run driving.
Officers responded to a vehicle crash involving a pedestrian near the intersection of Bowman Street and Federal Avenue. Officers located a pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle, Griffin said. The pedestrian was transported to a medical facility with minor injuries, Griffin said.
Witnesses described a suspect vehicle which had left the scene, and investigators were able to locate the suspect vehicle and the driver, Morales. Morales admitted to her involvement in the incident, Griffin said. She was jailed.
Griffin reported the following arrests:
—Austin W. Cox, 17, of Morgan City, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Wednesday for the charge of simple assault.
Officers were dispatched to the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard regarding a disturbance. Officers learned that Cox had been involved in the disturbance and during the disturbance had placed the victim in fear of receiving a battery. Cox was jailed.
—Demarcus Skipper, 19, of Patterson, was arrested at 3:51 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana second offense, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile and speeding 30 mph in a 15 mph school zone.
—Javien Francis, 17, of Berwick, was arrested at 3:51 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of marijuana second offense, on a warrant for failure to pay a fine charging him with possession of marijuana and a warrant charging him with contempt of court.
An officer patrolling a school zone area near Brashear and Federal avenues observed a speeding vehicle within the school zone and determined the vehicle to be traveling at 30 mph in a 15 mph zone. The vehicle was stopped and the driver identified as Skipper. Francis, a passenger, along with a 15-year-old juvenile were also identified.
Officers determined that Francis was wanted on outstanding warrants for the Sixth Ward Court of Morgan City. He was placed under arrest. Officers also located suspected marijuana inside the vehicle with the assistance of a narcotics canine dog, Griffin said. Both Francis and Skipper were jailed.
—Geraldine M. Soto, 52, of Morgan City, was arrested at 5:41 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with allowing dogs to roam.
—Albert R. Soto, 54, of Morgan City, was arrested at 5:41 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging him with a probation violation. Both Albert Soto and Geraldine Soto were located on the corner of Leona Street and Federal Avenue and were jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Dylan Boling, 19, of the 200 block of Hunting Road in Franklin, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of improper acceleration, stop sign violation, general speed law, suspended driver’s license and resisting an officer by flight. Boling was released on a $1,305 fine.
—Brett Livens, 24, of the 100 block of Emy Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of marijuana first offense. Givens was released on $2,000 bail.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 36 complaints in the parish and reported no arrests in east St. Mary Parish.

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