Police: Good Samaritan helps stop a shoplifter

A Morgan City man left a store with merchandise he did not pay for and a good Samaritan followed him to an apartment complex to help police make an arrest, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Jared Yordi-Gomez Martinez, 22, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:47 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft under $1,000.
Officers were called to a local business on La. 182 about a shoplifter. The complainant advised the suspect ran out of the store with merchandise.
A good Samaritan followed the suspect to a nearby apartment complex where officers were able to make contact with the suspect in the apartment.
Officers recovered the stolen property from the business and were able to positively identify the suspect as Martinez from store surveillance. He was jailed.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 45 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Rachel Lynn King, 35, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:47 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. An officer on patrol in the area of Onstead and Sixth streets observed a female walking in an intoxicated condition in the area.
The officer stopped the female and identified her as King. The officer observed King was in a highly intoxicated condition. She was jailed.
—Jeremie Earl Harrison, 30, of Victoria Riverside Road in Patterson, was arrested at 6:34 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for four counts of simple battery. The warrant stems from a complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Dec. 14. Harrison was identified as committing a battery on four individuals. Harrison was located at the Morgan City Police Department and placed under arrest. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 31 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Stephen Anthony Boyd Jr., 31, of Russo Street in Berwick, was arrested at 3:24 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery. A booking deputy made contact with Boyd when he was brought into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on bond forfeiture.
The deputy learned that Boyd held an active warrant. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Melvin Thibodeaux, 50, of James Street in Siracusa, was arrested at 9:54 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery. A deputy was dispatched to the area of James Street in reference to a subject lying in the roadway, who was identified as Thibodeaux. Dispatch advised that Thibodeaux held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Davis Luan Tran, 21, of Barrow Street in Amelia, was arrested at 9:54 p.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. A deputy was patrolling the area of Barrow Street in Amelia when he observed a vehicle with a damaged taillight. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver and a passenger, identified as Tran. Drugs and drug paraphernalia belonging to Tran were found. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear March 11.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported there were no arrests.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported there were no arrests.