Sheriff: Man stole $60K from employer

A 38-year-old Morgan City man was charged Wednesday with stealing $60,000 from his employer after forging and cashing several checks without permission, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Jimmie L. Knight Jr., 38, of Vine Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:09 a.m. Wednesday on a charge for forgery and felony theft.
Knight came to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Franklin and requested to speak with a detective regarding a theft on Monday.
Knight then admitted to the detective that he forged and cashed several checks belonging to his employer in Morgan City.
The detective made contact with the business owner and found evidence that Knight cashed $60,000 in checks without permission. The detective obtained a warrant for Knight’s arrest.
After learning about the warrant, Knight turned himself in at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Franklin. He was transported to the parish jail. No bail is set.
Hebert reported responding to 45 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Dorian Kennedy, 35, of James Street in Siracusa, was arrested at 7:43 p.m. Wednesday for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, violation of a controlled dangerous substance law, and obstruction of justice.
—Gene C. Webb, 26, of Chester Bowles Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:43 p.m. Wednesday on a charge for possession of marijuana.
Detectives of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Section patrolling Siracusa observed a vehicle parked on the side of the road with a subject leaning over talking to the driver of the vehicle.
Detectives stopped to speak with the subjects. They then observed the pedestrian walk behind the car where he appeared to drop an item to the ground. Detectives identified the pedestrian as Kennedy and the driver as Webb.
Detectives located a container on the ground by Kennedy’s feet which had rocks of crack cocaine inside. While speaking with detectives, Kennedy admitted the illegal drugs were his.
During the course of the investigation, detectives received consent to search the vehicle and located a marijuana cigarette. Webb was released on a summons to appear in court Jan. 4.
Kennedy was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
—Areana C. Candanedo, 25, of Park Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:27 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of tail lights required, headlights required, prostitution, and possession of crack cocaine.
Narcotics detectives patrolling Amelia observed a vehicle with a head light and tail light that were not working. Detectives spoke with the driver, identified as Candanedo, and learned that she had a crack rock in her purse.
Detectives then retrieved the illegal drug. Detectives also collected evidence that Candanedo obtained the crack rock by performing a sexual act with another subject. Candanedo was transported to the parish jail for booking.
No bail is set.
—Fabiola Quintanilla, 25, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:13 p.m. Thursday on a charge for driving with a suspended license.
A deputy was flagged down by a subject on U.S. 90 in Berwick. The deputy made contact with the subject, identified as Quintanilla.
The deputy learned that she ran out of gas while travelling to Morgan City and drove her car into the median.
Deputies assisted Quintanilla, transporting her and two children who were in the vehicle, off of the roadway to a safe location in Bayou Vista.
While speaking with Quintanilla, a deputy learned that her driver’s license was listed as suspended. Quintanilla was released on a summons to appear in court Jan. 4.
—Tyraneka Lang, 22, of Canary Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:34 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery.
Lang was at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center to visit an inmate when a correctional officer at the facility located the active warrant for her arrest. No bail is set.
—Shanna M. Orgeron, 32, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:06 p.m. Wednesday for disturbing the peace intoxicated, resisting a police officer with force or violence, and simple escape.
A deputy was flagged down by a subject driving a vehicle on La. 182 in Morgan City. The deputy made contact with the subject and learned that a disturbance was occurring inside the vehicle between Orgeron and another occupant.
The deputy made contact with Orgeron and the other occupant. Orgeron began shouting and yelling at one of the other subjects in an attempt to start a fight.
Orgeron continued to yell despite being repeatedly asked by the deputy to stop causing a disturbance. The deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on her person. The deputy detained Orgeron.
Orgeron then forcefully broke free from the deputy. When the deputy took Orgeron into custody again, she continued to attempt to free herself.
Following the investigation, Orgeron was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Matthew J. Garces, 26, of Carter Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:49 a.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of cocaine, introduction of contraband into a penal institute, resisting an officer and a warrant for failure to appear for battery on a police officer.
Garces was located by officers at an address on La. 182 where he was placed under arrest on an active warrant held by the 6th Ward Morgan City Court.
Reports indicate officers attempted to place Garces in handcuffs when Garces began to resist and fight with officers.
After a short struggle, officers were able to place Garces in cuffs and transported him to the Morgan City Jail for booking. During booking, a thorough search of Garces person was conducted when officers located suspected cocaine.
Garces was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Dominique K. Singleton, 27, of John Henry Drive in Baton Rouge, was arrested at 2:11 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear for domestic abuse battery and resisting an officer.
Singleton was identified as an occupant of a vehicle during a traffic investigation. Reports indicate that Singleton at first gave officers a false name but that officers learned of Singleton's true identity moments later.
A warrants check revealed Singleton had an active warrant through the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Singleton was transported to the Morgan City Jail where she was booked and incarcerated.
—Terrell E. Poole, 25, of Ramos Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 3:27 a.m. Thursday on warrants for domestic abuse battery with Morgan City Police Department, failure to appear for possession of marijuana with 16th Judicial District Court and failure to appear for possession of drug paraphernalia with 6th Ward Morgan City Court.
Poole was located by officers in the area of Fourth and Duke streets where he was arrested on active warrants held by the Morgan City Police Department, 16th Judicial District Court and 6th Ward Morgan City Court.
Poole was transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.