Sheriff: Woman was printing fake money

A 36-year-old Berwick woman was caught with several fake $100 bills, and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives later discovered she had been printing counterfeit money, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Amanda Free, 36, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 8:29 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging her with monetary instrument abuse.

Narcotics detectives conducting an unrelated investigation at a Morgan City home located several fake $100 bills. Detectives found evidence that the counterfeit money was being printed by Free at her home.

A detective obtained a warrant for her arrest. Free turned herself in at the Berwick Police Department on the warrant. Free was booked into parish jail with no bail set.

Hebert reported responding to 35 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Chantal Burke, 22, of Tiffany Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. Wednesday on a Patterson Police Department warrant charging her with leash law violation.

The K-9 Unit conducting a traffic stop on Waveland Street in Patterson made contact with a passenger, Burke, and located the active warrant for her arrest. Burke was booked into parish jail and later transferred to the Patterson Police Department jail.

—Bobby Mouton, 41, of Tall Timbers Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 8:12 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of marijuana.

A detective with the K-9 Unit conducted a traffic stop on Pete Street in Patterson and made contact with a passenger, identified as Mouton. During the traffic stop investigation, K-9 Buddy was deployed and indicated a response on the area where Mouton was seated.

During a search of Mouton, the detective located a small amount of marijuana in Mouton’s pocket. Mouton was released on a summons to appear in court Nov. 21.

—Sherlock J. Levison , 47, of Main Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, transactions involving drug proceeds and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.

—Jalen Scott, 23, of Park Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of ecstasy.

—Jeremiah Owens, 29, of McGee Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:51 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of ecstasy.

Detectives conducted a search warrant at Levison’s home on Main Street. Upon arrival, detectives located two men outside the home identified as Scott and Owens.

Detectives found one ecstasy pill and a small amount of marijuana on Owens and one ecstasy pill on Scott. During a search of the home, detectives located several rocks of crack cocaine, several bags of marijuana, and items of drug paraphernalia.

Detectives also located just over $300 in cash. During the investigation, detectives found evidence that the money was derived from illegal drug sales. Scott and Owens were released on summonses to appear in court Nov. 21. Levison was jailed with no bail set.

—Jason Cavalier, 38, of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 10:42 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging him with theft. A deputy investigating a report of a theft of a television collected evidence that Cavalier took a flat screen TV from the victim’s home while Cavalier was staying at the home.

A warrant was issued for Cavalier’s arrest. A deputy located Cavalier at his home and transported him to the parish jail. Bail is set at $1,000.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:

—Karl Zimmer, 41, of Tupelo Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:36 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging him with domestic abuse battery.

Zimmer turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department for an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department. The warrant stems from an incident in June where it is alleged that Zimmer committed a battery on an individual. Zimmer was jailed.

—Johnny Giroir , 22, of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:37 a.m. today on the charge of disturbing the peace by fistic encounters.

Officers responded to a home on Glenwood Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived and spoke to an individual identified as Girior. Police learned that Girior had gotten into a physical altercation with another individual at the home.

Both Girior and the other individual involved showed signs of a physical altercation. Girior was jailed. The other individual was transported to a hospital for minor injuries.

—Jaiden Moseley, 17, of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 1:42 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana first offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of drug free zone law.

—Hannah Crochet, 17, of Onstead Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:42 a.m. today on the charges of possession of marijuana first offense, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of drug free zone law.

A patrol officer in the area of Federal Avenue and Marshall Street noticed two individuals sitting in the bleachers of the baseball park. The officer made contact with the individuals, identified as Moseley and Crochet.

While speaking with Moseley and Crochet, the officer observed a glass pipe commonly used to smoke illegal narcotics next to the individuals. During the investigation, officers found suspected marijuana on both Moseley and Crochet. The baseball park is also considered a drug free zone. Both were jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.