Morgan City man caught on drug, firearm charges

A 20-year-old Morgan City man was arrested on drug and firearm charges Tuesday after police responded to a report of illegal drug activity at a Front Street home, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Zachary B. Myers, 20, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:13 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, distribution of marijuana and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law.
Officers responded to an address on Front Street in regard to illegal drug activity at the home. Officers located Myers, who admitted to being involved in illegal drug activity, and allowed officers to search the residence.
Officers located suspected marijuana packaged in a way which appeared to be intended for sale. Officers also located a firearm along with suspected drug paraphernalia. Investigators obtained evidence of Myers conducting a drug transaction involving suspected marijuana that same evening.
The location of the incident was within the area of a local school in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws. Myers was jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Montoya Hernandez, 24, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:07 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of driving while intoxicated, no driver’s license, careless operation of a motor vehicle, no child restraint and child endangerment.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle traveling on Ditch Avenue swerving and strike the curb of the roadway. The officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Hernandez, who did not have a driver’s license. A child under 1 year old was observed inside the vehicle and not in a child restraint device.
Hernandez was suspected to have been drinking and appeared to be intoxicated. Hernandez was transported to the Morgan City Police Department where he refused further blood alcohol content testing. Hernandez was jailed.
—Tevin J. Kemp, 24, of Centerville, was arrested at 11:08 a.m. Tuesday on the charge of possession of marijuana.
A patrolling officer ob-served a vehicle making an improper turn from Brashear Avenue onto the U.S. 90 bridge and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Kemp. The officer issued Kemp a traffic citation, and while doing so, Kemp’s behavior made the officer suspicious that he may be involved in illegal drug activity.
Officers searched the vehi-cle and located suspected marijuana. Kemp was jailed.
—Lucius Romero, 40, of North Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:41 p.m. Tuesday on two counts of contempt of court. Romero was arrested in the Sixth Ward Morgan City Court for two counts of contempt of court. Romero was jailed.
—Evan Simpson, 24, of Ellijay, Georgia, was arrested at 12:22 a.m. today on the charge of felony criminal damage to property.
Officers responded to a hotel in regard to a complaint of a suspicious person and damage to one of the rooms. Management told officers that a person came to the front desk bleeding from the hands and appeared to be intoxicated. Personnel followed Simpson to one of the rooms that is currently closed for mainte-nance and left unlocked.
Management notified po-lice, but the subject, later identified as Simpson, left prior to officers’ arrival. Officers located blood inside the room along with several items that had been damaged with an estimated value of over $750. Officers located Simpson in the area, and he was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 36 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Jimmy McGraw, 37, of the 1000 block of Red Cypress Road in Patterson, was arrested at 11:29 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. A deputy assigned to the Warrants Division located McGraw at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on the warrant. Bail is set at $28,179.43.
—Troy Billiot, 28, of the 700 block of Kim Street in Patterson, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday on a Houma Police Department warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery. A deputy assigned to the Warrants Division located Billiot at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin on the warrant. No bail is set.
—Seth Matte, 22, of the 100 block of Pine Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:31 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of failure to honor written promise to appear, direct contempt and speeding. A deputy transported Matte from the Lafourche Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on the warrant. Matte was released on $380 bail.
—Nathan Lovell III, 22, of the 100 block of Riverview Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 8:42 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of illegal possession of stolen things. During booking at the parish jail, a correctional officer located the active warrant for Lovell. Bail is set at $5,000.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.