Man booked on drug, gun charges; Woman, wanted as sex offender, also arrested

A 34-year-old Patterson man was arrested on multiple drug charges and a gun charge Thursday night after investigators searched a Morgan City business, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
Authorities also arrested a 25-year-old Morgan City woman who had been wanted on a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
—Scott P. Authement, 34, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:07 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana first offense, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Flexeril, possession of Adderall, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity, illegal carrying of weapons, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17 years old and violation of drug-free zone law.
—Kelly K. Franklin, 25, of Tower Tank Road in Stephensville, was arrested at 10:07 p.m. Thursday on a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for probation violation. Franklin was also wanted on a St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to register as a sex offender, St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office Maj. Ginny Higgins said.
Morgan City police and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics investigators conducted a search warrant of a business on La. 182 in Morgan City.
Authorities located several individuals inside the business, including a 14-year-old, Blair said. The owner of the business, Authement, was found to have suspected methamphetamine on him. Investigators also located suspected marijuana and pills identified as Flexeril and Adderall, cash totaling over $500, two firearms and items used to smoke illegal narcotics, Blair said.
The location of the business is near an elementary school, which is a drug-free zone. One of the other individuals detained was Franklin, and investigators determined that she held an active warrant for the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office. Both Authement and Franklin were jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—Donald J. Rock Jr., 39, of Louisa Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of marijuana second offense.
Officers responded to a business on La. 182 in regard to stolen property. Police located Rock, who consented to a search. Officers found suspected marijuana on Rock. Rock was jailed.
—Jason E. Deal, 45, of Morgan City, was arrested at 2:46 p.m. Thursday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Deal was placed under arrest during city court proceedings. Deal had a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on him, Blair said. Deal was jailed.
—Gary Viola, 59, of Cedar Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:58 p.m. Thursday on the charges of domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property over $500.
Officers responded to a home on Cedar Street in regard to a domestic disturbance. Officers arrived and spoke to a witness, who stated that she and Viola had gotten into a verbal altercation. The witness stated the argument escalated and Viola committed a battery on her and began destroying property inside of the home.
Officers were able to locate Viola in the area of Sixth Street and Brashear Avenue. Viola was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 32 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Bobbie Fitch, 34, of U.S. 90 West in Patterson, was arrested at 12:39 p.m. Thursday on the charge of disturbing the peace by offensive language.
A deputy responded to a disturbance at the address listed above and made contact with Fitch. During the investigation, the deputy collected evidence that Fitch and another woman were engaged in a verbal argument, causing a disturbance in the neighborhood, Hebert said.
The deputy also noted previous similar complaints from the home involving the two women. Fitch was booked into parish jail and later released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17. The investigation is ongoing.
—Tanya B. Authement, 44, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:29 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division detectives assisting Morgan City police made contact with Authement in Morgan City.
While speaking with her, Authement admitted that she had marijuana and paraphernalia items at her home in Patterson, Blair said. Detectives received consent to search the location and found the marijuana, several pipes, and grinders. Authement was released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 17.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrest relating to east St. Mary Parish:
—Bryan Sam, 48, of Patterson, was arrested at 6:59 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with remaining where forbidden. Sam allegedly returned to a business on Iberia Street in Franklin after being told not to return. Sam was jailed with bail set at $500.