Sheriff: Man ate meth to avoid arrest

A 27-year-old Morgan City man was jailed Monday after he allegedly ate methamphetamine during a traffic stop to avoid being arrested, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Donald Melancon III, 27, of the 100 block of Anders Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:25 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with obstruction of justice.
The warrant is the result of a traffic stop during which narcotics detectives learned that Melancon ate an undetermined amount of methamphetamine in an effort to avoid arrest. Melancon was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Following the investigation, narcotics detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest. No bail is set.
Hebert reported responding to 40 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Jacob Gil, 30, of the 1000 block of Kimberly Drive in Morgan City, was additionally charged at 4:10 p.m. Monday on a warrant for possession of Schedule IV Xanax and possession of drug paraphernalia. Gill was incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Narcotics detectives assisting the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division made contact with Gill at a residence in Siracusaville. While speaking with him, they discovered that he was in possession illegal items. A glass marijuana pipe and Xanax were located on Gill. No bail is set.
—Scarlett Burkart, 35, of the 1000 block of Rosemary Street in Patterson, at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for possession of heroin. A detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division was contacted by a Morgan City police officer to assist in an investigation of possible illegal drug activity. The detective learned that Burkart and another suspect, Cathy Johnson had purchased and used heroin. Warrants were obtained for both suspects. Johnson was arrested in early August for the offense. Burkart was located at her home on the warrant. No bail is set.
—Dylan Verdun, 19, of the 200 block of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, at 9:41 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of possession of marijuana. Narcotics detectives patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle on Universe Street without a visible license plate and conducted a traffic stop.
Detectives made contact with the driver identified as Verdun. While speaking with Verdun, detectives received consent to search and located a marijuana cigarette inside the vehicle and a small bag of marijuana on Verdun’s person. Verdun was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 7.
—Harley Rentrop, 22, of the 1200 block of South Road in Bayou Vista, at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug free zone and obstruction of justice.
—Brad Derouen, 25, of the 1200 block of South Road in Bayou Vista, at 9:20 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of failure to yield, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug free zone and transactions involving drug proceeds.
Detectives with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division observed a vehicle fail to yield at a stop sign at the intersection of Saturn and Teche roads, nearly colliding with the detectives’ police unit. Detectives conducted a traffic stop on South Road near Field Street and made contact with the driver, Derouen, and a passenger, Rentrop.
Detectives smelled the strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, received consent to search, and located a methamphetamine pipe and a digital scale in the vehicle. The traffic stop investigation occurred near a church. While speaking with Rentrop, detectives learned she had illegal narcotics concealed on her.
Detectives located several bags of methamphetamine and two bags of marijuana along with $423 in cash believed to be derived from illegal drug sales, Hebert said.
As the investigation progressed, detectives learned that Rentrop and Derouen were selling the illegal drugs. Both were jailed with no bail set.
—Cheryl B. Pontiff, 49, of the 100 block of Uranus Street in Bayou Vista, at 11:03 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for issuing worthless checks. A deputy located Pontiff on the warrant at a business on Roderick Street in Morgan City. Pontiff was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 7.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Juan R. Torres, 26, of Stacey Street in Morgan City, at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday on warrants charging him with probation violation and failure to pay fine.
Torres turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department for outstanding warrants he held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Torres was jailed.
—David Laubach, 52, of Gen. Patton Street in Morgan City, at 7:21 p.m. Tuesday on the charge of violation of a protective order and on a warrant charging him with violation of a protective order.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Federal Avenue in regards to an individual violating a protective order. When officers arrived, the victim stated that she has an active order of protection against her spouse, Laubach, and that he arrived at the residence violating the orders.
The victim provided officers with a copy of the protection order. Laubach, who was still at the home, was transported to the Morgan City Police Department.
Once at the police department, police discovered an outstanding warrant stemming from an incident in October 2014 in which Laubach allegedly violated a protection order, Blair said. Laubach was jailed with no bail set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

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