Stolen ring report leads to marijuana arrests

A complaint about someone trying to sell a stolen ring at a jewelry store led to the arrest of four people Thursday after police discovered marijuana plants growing at a Railroad Avenue home in Morgan City, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Deborah N. LaCoste, 57, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Thursday on the charges of cultivation of Schedule I marijuana and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
—John T. Floyd, 49, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Thursday on the charges of illegal possession of stolen things (value $1,895.25), cultivation of Schedule I marijuana and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
—Ronald I. Marchmon, 53, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Thursday on the charges of cultivation of Schedule I marijuana and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
—Therina L. Russel, 40, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:51 a.m. Thursday on warrants for failure to a pay fine and failure to appear on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Officers were dispatched to a local jewelry store in regards to an individual trying to sell a ring in the store that had been reported stolen. When officers arrived, they spoke to the individual identified as Floyd.
According to reports, Floyd stated he was given the ring, which was valued at $1895.25, Blair said. Floyd gave consent for officers to go back to his home and search for more items that could be stolen.
Once at the residence, officers came into contact with Russel, LaCoste and Marchmon. During the investigation, officers located several small plants of suspected marijuana located in a room occupied by Floyd and LaCoste.
Reports indicated that Marchmon, who also resides at the home, allegedly participated in planting the suspected marijuana. A warrants check determined that Russel held active warrants for the Sixth Ward City Court. All four suspects were jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Bridget A. Pojar, 36, of Egle Street in Morgan City, at 10:03 a.m. Thursday on the charge of appearing in an intoxicated condition and on a warrant for probation violation.
Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Franklin Street in regards to a female in the area that appeared intoxicated. When officers arrived, they made contact with Pojar. Officers could smell an odor of alcoholic beverage on Pojar’s breath, Blair said.
A warrants check was done on Pojar and it was determined that she held an active warrant for the Sixth Ward City Court. Pojar was jailed.
—Vinny P. Verret, 27, of Third Street in Morgan City at 5:09 p.m. Thursday on the charges of resisting an officer, simple battery and disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Fourth Street in regards to a disturbance. When officers arrived, they observed an individual identified as Verret yelling and using profanities. Officers also observed Verret trying to strike another individual.
Officers tried to put Verret into handcuffs, but he resisted. Verret was subdued a short time later. Officers were able to talk to the victim, who stated that he and Verret had gotten into a verbal altercation, which led to Verret striking him several times. Verret was jailed.
—Willie Bennett, 63, of La. 182 in Morgan City, at 9:09 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to pay a fine.
Bennett was located in the Leona Street area. A local warrants check was done on Bennett and it was determined that he held an active warrant for the Sixth Ward City Court. Bennett was jailed.
—Gilbert C. Howard, 45, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, at 9:28 p.m. Thursday on the charges of driving under suspension and tail lamps required.
A patrol officer in the area of Sixth Street near Leona Street observed a vehicle with improper lighting and conducted a traffic stop. The driver, Howard, had a suspended driver’s license. Howard was jailed.
—Rinney D. Turner, 24, of 11th Street in Morgan City, at 12:05 a.m. today on a warrant for two counts of failure to pay fines. Turner was located on St. Clair Street and had active warrants for the Sixth Ward City Court. Turner was jailed.
—William J. Carr, 26, of Fern Street in Patterson, at 2:04 a.m. today on warrants for failure to appear on the charge of two counts of probation violation and for two counts of contempt of court.
Carr was transported from the Patterson Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department for active warrants he held for the Sixth Ward City Court. Carr was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 52 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Mandi Taylor, 39, of the 3400 block of Third Street in Berwick, at 1:49 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of no seat belt and operating a vehicle with a suspended license.
A deputy investigating a separate complaint made contact with Taylor and located the active warrant for her arrest. She was released after posting a $250 bail.
—Gary Davis, 29, of the 7500 block of La. 182 East in Morgan City, at 3:50 p.m. Thursday on the charge of driving while intoxicated. A deputy was dispatched to a complaint of a suspicious vehicle at the St. Mary Plaza on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista.
While en route, the dispatcher advised the deputy of a second complaint which was a crash involving a parked vehicle. Upon arrival, the deputy located the suspect vehicle and attempted to make contact with the driver, later identified as Davis.
Davis appeared to be asleep at the wheel with the vehicle still in gear. While speaking with Davis, the deputy observed that he was slurring his speech and was unaware of where he was. Davis was unable to perform a field sobriety test and later registered 0.00 grams-percent on a breath test. Following the investigation, Davis was jailed with no bail set.
—Jalon J. Span, 21, of the 1600 block of Cherry Street in Patterson, at 8:02 p.m. Thursday on two warrants for failure to appear for a drug court status conference and failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court.
A deputy was notified by Patterson Police that Span turned himself in at their office on the warrant. A deputy transported Span from the Patterson Police Department to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. Bail is set at $200,000.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.