Sheriff arrests 3 more in ‘Spring Cleaning’ operation

Detectives made three more arrests Thursday as a result of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Spring Cleaning undercover drug investigation, bringing the total arrests to 32, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
On Wednesday, the sheriff’s office announced that authorities arrested 29 suspects on warrants after conducting multiple long-term undercover investigations targeting mid to low level drug dealers. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division led the investigation with the assistance of Vermilion and Assumption parish sheriff’s offices, Louisiana State Police, and Patterson and Morgan City police departments.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office executed arrest warrants Wednesday for the suspects with the assistance of Morgan City, Berwick, Patterson and Franklin police departments along with state police.
The following three additional arrests were made Thursday in the operation. Authorities are still searching for 14 more suspects on the list.
—Devante Frank, 23, of the 700 block of Bush Street in Morgan City, at 8:52 p.m. Thursday in the 300 block of Charlotte Street in Patterson, on a warrant charging him with distribution of cocaine.
Detectives with the narcotics division went to the location on Charlotte Street to serve the warrant that is part of the Spring Cleaning operation. Detectives observed Frank inside the residence and made contact with him. Frank was jailed and released after posting $10,000 bail.
—Nickolas J. Morris II, 28, of the 100 block of Doris Street in Amelia, at 12:08 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with possession of synthetic cannabinoids, abuse of toxic vapors, and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law (drug free zone).
Morris turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City after learning of the warrant for his arrest. Morris was jailed and released after posting $1,500 bail. The warrant is listed in the Spring Cleaning operation.
—Lorenzo C. Merritt, 27, of the 100 block of 3B’s Lane in Bayou Vista, at 12:40 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for distribution of marijuana.
Merritt turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City after learning of the warrant for his arrest. Merritt was jailed and released after posting $10,320 bail. The warrant is also listed in the Spring Cleaning operation.
Hebert reported responding to 103 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Cameron Carter, 28, of the 200 block of Jones Street in Berwick, at 4:43 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of legend drug Macrobid without a prescription.
Carter was also charged on a warrant for simple battery and disturbing the peace by using obscene language. Narcotics detectives patrolling Berwick observed a vehicle fail to signal a turn on California Street and conducted a traffic stop.
Detectives made contact with the driver, Carter. While speaking with him, detectives received consent to search the vehicle and located a prescription pill bottle containing Macrobid pills. The prescription on the bottle was not for Carter.
During the arrest, detectives also located a small bag of methamphetamine inside a cigarette pack in Carter’s pocket. Carter was booked into parish jail where a correctional officer located an active warrant for his arrest.
The warrant stems from an investigation into a disturbance that occurred outside of a home in Bayou Vista. The deputy collected statements that Carter pushed a woman during an argument. No bail is set.
—Dat H. Duong, 48, of the 100 block of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, at 10:27 a.m. Thursday on the charges of driving on the right side of roads and possession of Schedule II cocaine.
While driving westbound on La. 182 in the Morgan City area a deputy observed an oncoming vehicle in the westbound lane traveling eastbound directly toward the police unit. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, Duong.
While speaking with Duong, the deputy received consent to search him and located four pieces of crack cocaine, commonly referred to as crack rocks. The deputy found three of the crack rocks in the brim of the hat Duong was wearing. Duong was jailed with no bail set.
—Steve M. Scully, 50, of the 1000 block of Palm Street in Morgan City, at 5:53 p.m. Thursday on the charge of possession of marijuana. Narcotics detectives conducting an investigation at a residence on Pacific Street in Berwick located marijuana.
While speaking with Scully, he admitted to detectives that the illegal substance was his. Detectives released Scully on a summons to appear in court May 27.
—Brittany N. Burbante, 25, of the 600 block of Russo Street in Berwick, at 7:42 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Narcotics detectives located Burbante at her residence on the warrant. Burbante was booked into parish jail with set at $2,240.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Carlon J. Gonsoulin, 26, of La. 70 in Pierre Part, at 5:43 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of marijuana and improper turning.
—Kyle J. Darden, 19, of Flat Town Road in Jeanerette, at 5:43 p.m. Thursday on the charge of possession of marijuana.
Narcotics detectives conducted a traffic stop in regards to a vehicle making an improper turn at the intersection of Front and Onstead streets. Two occupants were located inside the vehicle, the driver, identified as Gonsoulin, and passenger, Darden.
Gonsoulin and Darden’s behavior made detectives suspicious that they may be involved in illegal drug activity. Detectives conducted a search of the vehicle and located suspected marijuana. Both Gonsoulin and Darden were jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:
—Ena Daigle, 46, of Pacific Street in Berwick, at 5:50 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of Schedule II methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II hydrocodone, possession of Schedule IV Ambien, possession of legend drug Cyclobenzaprine without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage. Daigle was jailed with bail set at $2,500.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Nakeisa D. Walker, 36, of the 100 block of Polaris Road in Morgan City, at 9:31 a.m. Thursday on a warrant with St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for theft of goods under $5,000 and resisting an officer with force or violence. Walker transported to parish jail in Centerville. No bail is set.