Man charged with abandoning toddler in store

A 27-year-old Patterson man was charged Wednesday with criminal abandonment after leaving a toddler alone in a store for about an hour, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Joseph Martinez, 27, of the 100 block of Natalie Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 7:04 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of criminal abandonment and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of careless operation of a motor vehicle. The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call that a toddler was left at a store on U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista.

When the deputy arrived, he spoke with a store employee who said the child had been in the store for nearly an hour without the supervision of a parent or guardian. About 40 minutes after the deputy’s arrival, Martinez arrived.

While speaking with him, the deputy located an active warrant for his arrest. The deputy also learned that Martinez left the store without the toddler after being entrusted with child’s welfare. Martinez was jailed with no bail set.

Hebert reported responding to 38 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Wyatt D. Brown, 29, of the 300 block of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

—Amanda M. Hallaron, 29, of the 300 block of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

—Michael A. Francois, 25, of the 600 block of Gen. McArthur Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

—Brittany N. Thomas, 26, of the 3000 block of Leslie Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute, and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

—Kyler A. Ross, 30, of the 300 block of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of marijuana, possession of MDMA with intent to distribute and violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone.

Narcotics detectives conducted a search warrant at the home of Brown and Hallaron. When detectives entered the location, they found Francois in the kitchen weighing bags of marijuana. Brown, Hallaron, Ross and Thomas were also located at the home.

A handgun was found in Brown’s room along with MDMA pills and rolling papers. A marijuana cigarette was found in Hallaron’s room. Detectives also located a large bag of MDMA pills inside a shed on the property. The residence is located about 50 feet from a church and near an elementary school. All five suspects were jailed with no bail set.

—Joseph Owens Jr., 18, of the 100 block of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 11:11 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery.

A deputy was dispatched to a report of a suspicious person on Riverview Drive in Patterson. The deputy located a male subject matching a description given by the complainant and identified him as Owens. While speaking with him, the deputy located an active warrant for his arrest. Owens was jailed with bail set at $12,000.

—Michael Miller, 30, of the 1200 block of Columbus Avenue in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of heroin and taking of contraband into state owned hospitals.

A deputy responded to a complaint of illegal drugs at the Fairview Treatment Center in Bayou Vista. During the investigation, the deputy recovered heroin. The deputy collected evidence that the illegal substance belonged to Miller and that he walked into the facility with the drug. Miller was jailed with no bail set.

—Laura K. Leftwich, 32, of the 100 block of Burchfield Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone and a Morgan City police warrant for brake lights required, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Erica L. Alexander, 34, of the 2900 block of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, possession of marijuana, on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle with a suspended license, failure to stop at a stop sign, and operating a vehicle with improper tail lights and on two warrants for failure to appear on the charge of theft of goods.

—Amy C. Turner, 42, of the 2900 block of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, violation of a controlled dangerous substance law-drug free zone, a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia, a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of theft of goods and possession of drug paraphernalia and a Morgan City Court warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Narcotics detectives conducted a search warrant at Leftwich’s home and made contact with Leftwich, Alexander, and Turner. During the search, detectives located bags of methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, and pipes. Detectives also found a bag of methamphetamine and a canister containing large shards of the drug on Alexander’s person.

A child was in the home at the time of the investigation. The home is located within 2,000 feet of a church and school. All three suspects were jailed with no bail set.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:

—Cherri Pennison, 41, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 2:26 p.m. Wednesday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for a hold for drug court.

Pennison was located at a motel on La. 182, and was determined that she had an active warrant for the 16th Judicial District Court. Pennison was jailed.

—Jeric J. Bias, 40, of Arkansas Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:53 p.m. Wednesday on warrants charging him with simple assault and disturbing the peace.

Officers located Bias on Eighth Street, and Bias was determined to have active arrest warrants. Bias was jailed.

—Jennifer C. Gonzales, 30, of Chestnut Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of use of wireless telecommunications device and driving under suspension.

A patrol officer in the area of Sixth and Marguerite streets observed a driver of a vehicle using a cell phone in a designated school zone and stopped the vehicle. The driver, Gonzales, was found to have a suspended driver’s license. Gonzales was jailed.

—Derek Harrel, 29, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of driving under suspension and no tail lamps.

A patrol officer in the area of La. 182 near Martin Luther King Boulevard observed a vehicle with improper lighting and stopped the vehicle. The driver, Harrel, had a suspended driver’s license. Harrel was jailed.

—Jmahdrea Z. Giles, 19, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 a.m. Thursday on the charge of resisting an officer by giving false information.

Giles was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a traffic stop. Giles had allegedly given officers a false name, during the investigation. After learning Giles correct name, he was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.