Disturbance leads to arrest for resisting police officer

A 44-year-old Morgan City man was arrested Sunday after officers attempted to remove him from a residence and he took an aggressive stance against an officer, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Michael P. Thibodeaux, 44, of Cedar Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:10 a.m. Sunday on the charges of resisting an officer, battery on an officer, and criminal damage to property.

Officers responded to an address on Cedar Street in regard to a call to remove a subject from the residence. Officers arrived when several subjects were identified inside the residence, including Thibodeaux.

During an investigation, reports indicate a disturbance occurred when Thibodeaux began shouting at officers. Thibodeaux was told by officers to calm down but he refused to do so. Thibodeaux then took an aggressive stance towards officers when he was placed under arrest.

Officers attempted to place Thibodeaux into handcuffs when he resisted the officers and was alleged to have committed a battery on one of the officers.

After a short struggle, Thibodeaux was placed into handcuffs and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

Blair also reported the following arrests:

— Ethlin J.A. Simmons, 33, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:56 p.m. Sunday on the charges of no seat belt, possession of drug paraphernalia, ecstasy and marijuana, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws.

A patrolling officer observed a vehicle traveling in the area of Fifth Street and observed the driver not wearing a seat belt.

A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle was identified as Simmons. During a traffic investigation, Simmons’ behavior made the officers suspicious that she may be involved in illegal drug activity.

A search of the vehicle was conducted when officers located suspected marijuana, MDMA/ecstasy and drug paraphernalia.

The location of the incident was within a drug-free zone in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws. Simmons was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Mavis S. Pontiff, 42, of Robicheaux Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Friday on the charges of improper lane usage, driving under suspension, and no vehicle insurance.

A patrolling officer observed a vehicle near Railroad and Ditch avenues traveling in the middle of the roadway.

A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Pontiff.

During a traffic investigation, reports indicate it was learned that Pontiff had a suspended driver’s license and the vehicle did not have state required insurance.

Pontiff was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Deidre L. Martin, 42, of Lee Street in Franklin, was arrested at 5 p.m. Friday on a warrant with the 16th Judicial District Court and charges for battery on a correctional officer.

Martin was transported Friday from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail to the Morgan City Police Department Jail to be housed on an active warrant held by the 16th Judicial District Court.

While being housed, reports indicate Martin was involved in a disturbance in one of the cells on Sunday. During the disturbance, Martin was alleged to have committed a battery on a correctional officer.

Martin was booked on additional battery charges and remains incarcerated.

—Shina Short, 33, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:05 p.m. Saturday on warrants for failure to appear for marijuana possession and probation violation.

Short was located by officers at an address on Fourth Street where she was arrested on active warrants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Short was transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Peter Grogan, 38, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:12 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for theft of goods.

Grogan was located by officers in the area of Federal and Railroad avenues where he was arrested on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department.

The warrant was obtained from an investigation conducted by Morgan City Police of an incident reported Aug. 26 from a local grocery store on Federal Avenue of an alleged theft.

Grogan was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

—Harold Turner, 66, of Louisiana Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:27 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for probation violation.

Turner was located by officers on Fourth Street where he was arrested on an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Turner was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

— Zamair X. Byrd, 23, of Suthon Avenue in Houma, was arrested at 12:21 a.m. Sunday on the charges of possession of marijuana and obstruction of justice.

—India D. Riley, 22, of La. 70 in Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:21 a.m. Sunday on a charge for possession of marijuana.

Officers responded to a local convenience store on La. 182 in regard to a report of subjects using narcotics inside a vehicle in the parking lot.

The officers arrived and located the described vehicle. The occupants were identified as Byrd and Riley. Their behavior made officers suspicious that they were involved in illegal drug activity.

A search of the vehicle was conducted and the officers located suspected marijuana.

Reports further indicate Byrd was alleged to have discarded some of the suspected marijuana in an attempt to keep officers from locating it.

Both Byrd and Riley were arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where they were booked and incarcerated.

—Kimberly M. Jones, 26, of James Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:03 a.m. Sunday on a charge for simple battery.

Officers responded to a local restaurant on La. 182 in regard to a reported disturbance. The officers arrived and located several subjects involved, including Jones.

During an investigation, reports indicate it was learned that Jones was involved in a disturbance when she was alleged to have committed a battery on one of the subjects.

Jones was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.

—Ronald Johnson Jr., 25, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for probation violation.

Johnson was located by officers at a residence on Wren Street where he was arrested on an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Johnson was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 95 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Galen Ford, 24, of Ditch Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle with an expired motor vehicle inspection and operating a vehicle with no insurance.

During booking at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a correctional officer located the active warrant for Ford’s arrest. Ford was released on bail set at $500.

—James Zepeda, 50, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:44 p.m. Sunday for failure to signal a turn, no driver’s license, and a warrant from Harris County, Texas.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle fail to signal a turn. The deputy made a traffic stop and spoke with the driver, identified as Zepeda.

Zepeda was unable to provide a valid driver’s license. The deputy also found that he was wanted on an active warrant out of Texas. The deputy transported Zepeda to the parish jail for booking. Bail on the traffic charges is set at $500.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Diana Darnell, 59, of Deforest Brown Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 10:08 p.m. Friday on a warrant for theft. Darnell was released on her own recognizance.

—Joseph Touchet Jr., 26, of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 6:59 p.m. Sunday on a charge for simple criminal damage to property. Touchet remains jailed. Bail is set at $1,000.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Richard Blanchard, 42, of Aragon Road in Montegut, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Saturday on a charge for driving while intoxicated (second offense). Blanchard remains jailed. No bail is set.