Man charged in hit-and-run crash

A 38-year-old Morgan City man was charged with a hit-and-run crash after police responded to a report of a vehicle fleeing the scene of a wreck on Railroad Avenue, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Jose P. Ancheta, 38, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:20 a.m. today on the charges of hit and run, no driver’s license and possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicle.
Officers responded to a hit-and-run vehicle crash in the area of Railroad Avenue near Headland Street. Officers arrived and spoke to the victim, who stated that his vehicle was parked when another vehicle struck the front of his vehicle and fled.
The victim was able to give officers a description of the vehicle. A vehicle fitting the description was located at the intersection of Duke and Eighth streets.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Ancheta. Officers observed that Ancheta’s vehicle had damage consistent with the damage of the victim’s vehicle. Ancheta did not have a valid driver’s license.
The officer also noticed an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle. Ancheta was jailed.
Blair reported the following arrests:
—David M. Chapa, 21, of Ingleside, Texas, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of theft.
Chapa was placed under arrest in the City Court of Morgan City on a 6th Ward City Court warrant and jailed.
—Willard Wright, 58, of Aucoin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:12 p.m. Thursday on the charges of reckless operation of a vehicle, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicle and DWI first offense.
Police were dispatched to the area of Sixth Street and Brashear Avenue in regard to a reckless driver. Officers were given a description of the vehicle and located a vehicle matching that description on Sixth and Pine streets.
An officer conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Wright. The officer could smell a strong odor of alcoholic beverage on Wright. The officer also observed an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle.
Wright performed poorly on a field sobriety test. Wright was transported to the police department and registered 0.118 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test. Wright was jailed.
—Wynn C. Whitehurst, 40, of Sixth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:14 p.m. Thursday on the charges of no turn signal, switched license plate and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for criminal neglect of family.
A patrol officer in the area of La. 182 and Roderick Street observed a vehicle fail to use a turn signal and stopped the vehicle. The driver was identified as Whitehurst. Police determined that the vehicle had a switched license plate. Whitehurst held an active warrant for his arrest. Whitehurst was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 49 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Robert W. Toups Jr., 37, of Blue Street in Gray, was arrested at 10:59 a.m. Thursday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of criminal neglect of family.
A deputy conducting a follow-up investigation to a prior complaint in Amelia made contact with Toups and located the warrants for his arrest. Toups was jailed with bail set at $5,180.74.
—Steven Morris, 29, of Doris Street in Amelia, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Thursday on the charge of violation of protective orders.
A deputy investigating a complaint of a violation of a protective order found evidence that Morris made multiple attempts to contact the victim via telephone, third party, and social media. Morris was jailed with no bail set.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Shelby Raiford, 24, of Dennis Drive in St. Martinville, was arrested at 2:18 a.m. today on the charges of no turn signal, no inspection sticker, no proof of insurance, no driver’s license, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail is set at $4,500.
—Kenneth Raiford, 28, of Dennis Drive in St. Martinville, was arrested at 2:18 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. Bail is set at $3,750.
—Michael Pate, 38, of Leed Champagne Road in St. Martinville, was arrested at 2:18 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and open container. Bail is set at $3,750.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.