Morgan City man accused of high-speed flight; Berwick police make bank fraud arrest

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Morgan City police have arrested a man accused of speeding 88 mph through town, Berwick police they cracked a bank fraud case, and a traffic stop in Assumption Parish led to two arrests on heroin charges.

<.b>Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 155 calls for service over the last 96-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Taaj Maleek Delaune, 22, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:36 p.m. Friday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, speeding 88 mph in a 70 mph zone, disregard of traffic controls and no driver’s license.

--Kenneth Honey Flores Hernandez, 28, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:12 a.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace and remaining after forbidden.

--Jason James Ashley, 35, Roderick Street, was arrested at 9:20 a.m. Friday on three counts of failure to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jonathan Paul Myers, 30, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:29 p.m. Saturday on charges of hit-and-run driving, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, and driving under suspension.

--Patricia Ann Jones, 48, Apple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:42 p.m. Saturday on a charge of loud music.

--Deon Ruffin, 51, Terrebonne Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Saturday on a charge of loud music.

--Nicholas Swackhamer, 18, Aucoin Street, was arrested at 9:39 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace.

--Gauge Todd, 23, CJC Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:25 p.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of marijuana.

--Rene Lewis, 37, Fourth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:50 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Craig James Deshotel, 50, Gen. Patton, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:01 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of justice and failure to appear for arraignment.

--Bobbie Jo Fitch, 41, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:51 p.m. Sunday on a charge of remaining after being forbidden.

--Ronald Gibbs, 33, Diane Drive, was arrested at 9:06 p.m. Sunday on charges of resisting an officer, two counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and as a fugitive from the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office.

--Christopher Wayne Allen, 46, Arkansas Street, Morgan City was arrested at 11:42 p.m. Sunday on charges of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and improper lighting.

--Cassie Vinning Rankin, 24, Second Street, Berwick, was arrested at 3:23 a.m. Friday on a charge of simple burglary.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Semaj Douglas, 18, Carmen Street, Patterson, was arrested at 1:01 a.m. Saturday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging simple battery and a Patterson Police Department warrant alleging simple burglary, theft and criminal damage to property.

Douglas is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.

--Shaddrick Neddie, 47, James Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11 a.m. Saturday on charges of criminal trespass and no driver’s license. Neddie is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $4,641.

--Lashana L. Bennett, 43, St. Lucy Street, Patterson, was arrested at 12:28 p.m. Sunday in a charge of second-degree cruelty to juveniles.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Malik Merrick, 26, Kentwood, was arrested at 10:16 a.m. Thursday on warrants alleging theft of a motor vehicle, access device fraud, bank fraud, possession of fraudulent documents for identification purposes, forgery and forgery of certificate of insurance card.

In August, the Berwick Police Department received a complaint from a victim in Texas who advised that their identity had been stolen and used to purchase a vehicle from a dealership in Berwick in June. In the course of the complaint, it was learned that a subject went to a local dealership using the victim’s identity and was able to purchase an $80,000 vehicle.

It was learned that the subject later identified as Merrick was part of a scheme in which several vehicles were purchased fraudulently throughout the state. With the assistance of the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Lafayette Police Department and Louisiana State Police, investigators were able to identify Merrick as the suspect.

Through the lengthy investigation, further evidence was obtained linking Merrick to the crime that took place in Berwick, and warrants were issued for his arrest. On Feb. 20, Merrick was located and arrested in Hammond.

On Thursday, officers with the Berwick Police Department traveled to the Tangipahoa Parish Jail and located Merrick. He was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked and remains incarcerated awaiting bond.

--Anthony Cannata, 45, Stephensville, was arrested at 4:04 p.m. Thursday on a charge of illegal discharging of a firearm in the city limits.

About 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the Berwick Police Department received numerous calls of multiple shots being fired near an apartment complex in the Country Club Estates area, which yielded a large police presence.

Officers spoke with witnesses, who stated it appeared the gunshots were coming from the wooded area. While on scene, the gunshots continued. After further investigation, it was learned a subject was shooting a gun behind a local business in a secluded area within the city limits of Berwick.

The subject was later identified as Cannata. Officers made contact with Cannata, and he was placed under arrest. Cannata was released on a summons to appear in court.

--Sade Harris, 35, Houma, was arrested at 10:38 p.m. Thursday on a St. Mary Parish warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of driving under suspension, failure to yield to emergency vehicles and improper lane usage.

About 10:18 p.m. Thursday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle traveling on U.S. 90 after a traffic violation was observed. Officers made contact with Harris and learned that she had active warrants through the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Harris was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where she was booked on the above charges.

St. Mary

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 40 complaints made these arrests:

--Brittany Lane Conrad, 37, Lafayette, was arrested at 11:11 a.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of a firearm or carrying concealed weapons by a convicted felon, introducing or possession of contraband in any municipal parish prison or jail, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, and illegal possession of a stolen firearm.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--Chameka Renea Diggs, 25, Amelia, was arrested at 12:43 p.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal damage to property and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of no child restraint and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled. Bail was set at $4,000.

--Emilie Ann Elkins, 31, Franklin, was arrested at 3:18 p.m. Thursday on a charge of leash law violation and a Franklin Police Department warrant alleging simple battery. Elkins is being held for another agency.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 14 complaints over the last 96-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Trevontay Kelly, 28, Samuel Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:46 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding and driver must be licensed. Kelly was booked, processed and released on a $388. bond.

--Shawn Tolliver, 31, Eida Street, Maurice, was arrested at 6:17 a.m. Friday on charges of resisting an officer by refusing to identify and operating a vehicle while under suspension for certain prior offenses.

Tolliver was additionally arrested on warrants for 15th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on charges of unauthorized use of a movable and criminal neglect of family. Tolliver was booked, processed and held on a $4,500.00 bond.

--Ricky Webster, 63, East Third Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:30 pm. Friday on a charge of theft. Webster was booked, processed and held on a $2,000 bond.

--Breyonna Verret, 22, Anderson Street, Franklin, was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Saturday on a charge of criminal trespassing. Verret was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of theft and on a warrant dated Feb. 17 alleging criminal trespassing. Verret was booked, processed and released on a $3,500 bond.

--Steven Richard Sr., 42, Anderson Street, Franklin, was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Friday on a charge of criminal trespassing. Richard was additionally arrested on a warrant dated Feb. 17 alleging criminal trespassing. Richard was booked, processed and released on a $1,000 bond.

--Kearney Walter, 38, Constance Street, New Orleans, was arrested at 12:30 p.m. Saturday on charges of speeding and reckless operation of a motor vehicle. Walter was booked, processed and released on a $524 bond.

--Jacolby Westley, 36, Big Four Corners Road, Jeanerette, was arrested at 5:41p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana (second offense) and resisting an officer, and on a warrant dated May 17, 2022, alleging two counts of principal to simple battery on persons with infirmities, principal to disturbing the peace (language) and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.

Westley was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles, and operating a vehicle with
an unlit license plate, and on a warrant for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office alleging operating a vehicle while license is suspended, insurance required on vehicle, and failure to appear on a charge of improper lane usage.

Westley was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--Ronald Lumpkin Jr., 22, Railroad Avenue, Franklin, while incarcerated at the Franklin Police Department, was arrested at 6:45 a.m. Sunday on a charge of contraband taking to and from penal institutions. Lumpkin was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Ricky Webster, 63, East Third Street, Franklin, while incarcerated at the Franklin Police Department, was arrested at 7:02 p.m. Sunday on a warrant dated Feb. 24 on a charge of theft. Webster was booked, processed and held on a $2,000 bond.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

-- Jaron Flynn Foret, 30, Pond Drive, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Feb. 21 on charges of possession of heroin and driving on roadway laned for traffic.

--Madison Noel Cobb, 20, La. 663, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Wednesday on charges of taking contraband to or from a penal institution, possession of heroin, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges arise from a traffic stop on La. 308 and the La. 70 Spur

A narcotics unit on assignment observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle.

The deputy made contact with the driver, now identified as Foret and engaged Foret in an interview.

The passenger now identified as Cobb was also interviewed. During the interview of Cobb, deputies recovered a quantity of illegal narcotics off her person.

At the conclusion of the interviews, deputies summoned a K-9 to the scene. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted positive for the presence of illegal substances.

A quantity of suspected heroin was seized from Foret.

Deputies arrested Foret and Cobb and transported both to the Assumption Parish Detention Center for booking. They remain incarcerated pending a bond hearing.