Crash leads to arrest on hit-and-run, drug charges

A 30-year-old New Iberia woman was arrested Sunday on multiple charges including a hit-and-run incident, drugs and gun possession, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Christina Derouen, 30, of South Iberia Street in New Iberia, was arrested at 3:36 a.m. Sunday on the charges of failure to report an accident, careless operation of a motor vehicle, hit-and-run driving, possession of Vyvanse and Focalin, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of open alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles.
A deputy was dispatched to a single-vehicle crash on La. 182 near U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista. The deputy located an unoccupied vehicle in the ditch between the two roadways.
The deputy also observed an open bottle of beer on the ground near the car and several bottles inside the vehicle. Deputies also found a wallet containing Derouen’s information, a Focalin pill and a handgun inside the car.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office then received a complaint of a suspicious subject walking on La. 182 near Moon Road. Deputies located the subject and identified her as Derouen.
Deputies found evidence indicating that Derouen was operating the vehicle at the time of the crash and left the scene without reporting the accident. During her arrest, a deputy located Vyvanse pills on her person.
Derouen was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
Hebert also reported responding to 131 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Samuel Lacoste, 38, of Natalie Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 5 p.m. Friday on the charges of careless operation of a motor vehicle and possession of schedule 1 drugs.
A deputy was dispatched to the scene of a single vehicle crash on U.S. 90 near the Siracusa overpass. The deputy observed a vehicle that had crashed into the woods.
The driver, identified as Lacoste, and a passenger were transported to Teche Regional Medical Center for treatment.
The deputy found evidence that Lacoste’s vision was impaired due to heavy rain when he lost control of the vehicle, left the roadway, and crashed into the wood line. The deputy also located marijuana cigarettes inside the vehicle.
Following Lacoste’s release from the medical facility, he was transported to the parish jail for booking. Lacoste was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14.
—Wendell Chauvin, 56, of Francis Street in Berwick, was arrested at 6 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal damage to property.
Chauvin turned himself in on the warrant at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and was released after time served.
—Mallory Harris, 30, of La. 182 in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:02 a.m. Saturday for disturbing the peace and remaining where forbidden.
A deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance in progress at a business on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista. The deputy made contact with Harris and several other subjects.
The deputy collected statements indicating that Harris repeatedly yelled and cursed at another female subject inside the store despite being asked multiple times to leave the location.
Harris was released on a summons to appear in court Dec. 14.
—Jessica Comeaux, 36, of Pedro Court in Gibson, was arrested at 3:19 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of issuing worthless checks.
A deputy investigating a report of a suspicious vehicle on Arlington Road in Bayou Vista made contact with Comeaux and located the active warrant for her arrest.
Comeaux was transported to the parish jail for booking. Comeaux was released on a $5,000 recognizance bond.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Vincent A. Thomas Jr., 23, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:48 a.m. Friday on warrants for failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear for resisting an officer, contempt of court (four times), failure to appear for possession of synthetic marijuana (two times), failure to pay fine, and failure to appear for possession of stolen things.
Thomas was located by officers at a residence on Fourth Street where he was arrested on warrants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Thomas was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
—Carla J. Johnson, 55, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:09 p.m. Saturday on a charge for simple assault.
An officer responded to a local medical facility on La. 70 in regard to an assault. The officer arrived where the officers spoke with several witnesses to the incident.
The officers were told that Johnson had just left the facility and made comments of committing bodily harm to several people inside the facility.
Johnson was located by officers in the area moments later where he was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
—Samantha M. Williams, 27, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:14 p.m. Saturday on the charges of simple burglary and criminal conspiracy.
—Samuel LaCoste, 38, of Duke Street in Moran City, was arrested at 2:15 p.m. Saturday on the charges of simple burglary and criminal conspiracy.
Officers responded to a residence on Cypress Street in regard to a burglary in progress. The officers arrived and located a subject, later identified as LaCoste, coming out of the residence with several items in his hands.
Officers also located Williams in the area of the residence. Both LaCoste and Williams were detained for further investigation.
Officers spoke with the home owner who told officers that LaCoste and Williams did not have permission to enter the residence.
During an investigation, reports indicate that officers uncovered evidence of the alleged burglary and that Williams had posted as a lookout for LaCoste during the burglary.
Both LaCoste and Williams were arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where they were booked and incarcerated.
—Sabrina Scully, 21, of Velma Court in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:13 p.m. Saturday on a charge for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, improper lighting, no driver’s license and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle traveling in the area of Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue with improper tail lighting. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver identified as Scully.
A driver’s license check revealed that Scully did not have a valid license. During a traffic investigation, reports indicated that Scully’s behavior made the officers suspicious that she may be involved in illegal drug activity.
A search of the vehicle was conducted and officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
The location of the incident was within the area of a drug-free zone in violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance laws. Scully was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.
—Sydney V. Bassa, 21, of Chestnut Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for contempt of court.
Bassa was transported from the Patterson Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.
Bassa was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Shenandoah S. Drury, 37, of Seventh Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:35 a.m. Sunday on charges of improper tail lighting, no driver’s license, driving while intoxicated, and open container of alcohol within vehicle.
A patrolling officer observed a vehicle with improper tail lighting traveling in the area of Duke and Ninth streets. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver identified as Drury.
A driver’s license check revealed that Drury did not have a valid driver’s license and an open container of alcohol was observed inside the vehicle.
During a traffic investigation, reports indicated that Drury was suspected to have been drinking and believed to be intoxicated.
Drury was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for further chemical testing where Drury submitted to the Intoxilyzer 5000, yielding a blood alcohol concentration of .179 grams percent.
Drury was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Glynn A. Guidry Jr., 36, of Morgan City, was arrested at 7:10 p.m. Sunday on the charge of failure to appear for public intoxication.
Guidry was transported from the Berwick Police Department to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.
Guidry was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Ronald J. Armond Jr., 22, of Murial Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:40 p.m. Sunday on warrants for failure to appear for criminal damage to property, probation violation, and a warrant with Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Armond turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department in regard to active warrants held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court and the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Armond was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Malcomb Williams III, 17, of Broussard Street in Patterson, was arrested at 12:08 a.m. Saturday on a charge for obstruction of public passage. Williams was released on bail set at $219.
—Tommy Trosclair, 24, of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 5:47 p.m. Saturday on charges for disturbing the peace fighting, disturbing the peace intoxicated, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Trosclair remains jailed. No bail is set.
—Justin Bowyer, 24, of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 5:47 p.m. Saturday on charges for disturbing the peace fighting and disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Bowyer remains jailed. Bail is set at $646.
—Bethany Crochet, 20, of Enterprise Avenue in Patterson, was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Saturday on a charge for possession of schedule 1 drug. Crochet released on bail set at $1,500.
—Joani Tucker, 24, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10 p.m. Saturday on a charge for disturbing the peace fighting. Tucker was released on bail set at $323.
—Michele Harrell, 51, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10 p.m. Saturday on a charge for disturbing the peace fighting. Harrell was released on bail set at $323.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Gerald Booker Jr., 27, of Merry Avenue in Hammond, was arrested at 9:33 p.m. Friday on charges for improper lane usage and suspended driver’s license. Booker was released on bail set at $1,250.
—Dustin Falgout, 21, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 4:08 p.m. Saturday on a warrant with St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear. Falgout remains jailed. No bail is set.
—Brian Fitter, 34, of Kelli Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 6:22 p.m. Saturday on the charges of prohibited acts for methamphetamine and resisting an officer. Fitter remains jailed. No bail is set.
Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrest:
—Cherie Loustalot, 34, of Lake Palourde Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:39 p.m. Friday on the charges of exploitation of the infirmed, possession of acetaminophen and hydrocodone, possession of Lyrica, and parole violation.
Loustalot was allegedly taking the elderly victim’s credit card and making purchases while she was sitting with the victim. Officers allegedly located the narcotics in Loustalot’s possession after she was placed under arrest.
Loustalot was booked, processed, and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.