Driver in head-on Berwick crash accused of impairment
(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.)
Berwick police reported the arrest of a man on an impaired driving charge after Thursday’s head-on crash that sent two people to area hospitals.
St. Mary deputies reported recent arrests on charges that include theft, domestic abuse, assault with a firearm and cyberstalking.
Morgan City police arrested a Berwick man on fentanyl possession charges, and Assumption deputies detained a Patterson man accused of drug possession and attempting to flee from a traffic stop.
Berwick
Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:
--Marvin Breaux, 71, Patterson, was arrested at 9:20 a.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle and open container.
About 8:41 a.m. Thursday, the Berwick Police Department received a call of a two-vehicle crash on La. 182. Officers met with the parties involved, and it was learned that the two vehicles collided head on.
The driver and passenger of the vehicle that was struck were transported to an area hospital for possible injuries. One of the drivers was identified as Breaux.
While speaking with Breaux, impairment was detected. Witnesses in the area also corroborated that moments before the crash, Breaux’s vehicle was traveling in a reckless and erratic manner and at one point was traveling in the opposing lane.
A series of standardized field sobriety tests were conducted with Breaux, and he performed poorly. Breaux admitted to consuming several alcoholic beverages leading up to the crash as well as taking prescription narcotic medications that affected his state of mind.
Breaux was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he submitted a valid breath sample of 0.03G % BAC. A urine sample was also collected from Breaux for toxicology purposes.
Breaux was then booked, Breaux posted a $3,250 bond.
--Courtney Dunne, 22, Houma, was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
About 11:15 p.m. Friday, a traffic stop was conducted on U.S. 90 after a vehicle was observed speeding 72 mph in a 55 mph zone. Officers met with Dunne and detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.
A search of the vehicle was conducted, and marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia were located. Dunne was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.
--Joshua Johnson, 21, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:33 a.m. Sunday on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.
About 11:54 p.m. Sunday, officers observed a large group of juveniles walking. Officers made contact with the group and learned that Johnson was 22 and responsible for the juveniles being out past curfew. Johnson was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court on the above charge.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 96 complaints and made these arrests:
--Logan Stevens, 18, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:32 p.m. Friday on two counts of theft. Bail was set at $3,000.
--Sadie R. Aucoin, 26, Montegut, was arrested at 8 p.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging theft. Bail was set at $3,000.
--Corey Joseph Domangue, 39, Patterson, was arrested at 4:27 p.m. Saturday on a charge of aggravated domestic abuse (child endangerment). Bail has not been set at this time.
--Murphy Bellard III, 44, Lake Charles, was arrested at 4:32 p.m. Saturday on a charge of simple battery. Bellard was released on a $2,500 bond.
--Shelby Rae Lee, 40, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:20 p.m. on a charge of cyberstalking/electronic mail. Bail has not been set at this time.
--John Elliot Cain, 40, Berwick, was arrested at 1:01 p.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace (language), simple assault without a firearm and criminal trespass. Cain was released on a $2,500 bond.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 46 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
--Corey Michael Stevens, 38, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 8:39 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of fentanyl, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear for arraignment (16th Judicial District Court).
--Jeremie Martin Paul Jr., 33, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Thursday on two counts of failure to appear on a charge of violation of a protective order and two counts of failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Adrian Emani Johnson, 22, Acklen Avenue, Houma, was arrested at 127 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of paraphernalia and possession of marijuana (first offense). (Released on summons.)
Patterson
Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:
--Jacob N. Klenert, 30, Seventh Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:17 a.m. Saturday on charges of resisting an officer by flight, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding 67 mph in a 55 mph zone, suspended driver’s license, expired motor vehicle inspection, switched license plate, no insurance and no registration, and on a warrant from another jurisdiction.
Klenert is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.
--Magan R. Gaudet, 32, Ledoux Circle, Patterson was arrested at 1:17 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of synthetic marijuana. Gaudet is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
--Colby Tyrese Nicholas, 24, Riverview Drive, Patterson, was booked Friday on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, speeding, failure to drive on the right side of the roadway, resisting an officer and driving under a suspended driver’s license, and as a fugitive from St. Mary Parish and on a detainer for probation violations.
The charges result from a traffic incident Nov. 15 on U.S. 90 near Amelia.
On the Nov. 15, a uniformed patrol deputy assigned to the I.C.E. detail observed a westbound vehicle on U.S. 90 commit a traffic violation and attempted a traffic stop of that vehicle. The driver accelerated in an attempt to flee.
The deputy pursued the vehicle into St. Mary Parish. At some point, the driver and one passenger fled on foot. The passenger was arrested at the time. The deputy recognized the driver as Nicholas.
Warrants were issued for the arrest of Nicholas.
At the time of the incident, deputies seized a significant quantity of suspected marijuana.
Nicholas was arrested Thursday by the Morgan City Police Department. Nicholas was transported Friday to the custody of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Nicholas was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention and remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing. Nicholas was ordered held without bond on the probation violation.
After satisfying local charges, Nicholas will be returned to St. Mary Parish to answer to the fugitive warrant.
Franklin
Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:
-- Lavonta Joseph, 30, Mitchell Street, Franklin, was arrested on July at 7:24 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court allegi9ng failure to appear on charges of stop signs and driving under suspension. Joseph was booked, processed and released on a $373 bond.
--Chantell McDaniel, 48, Easy Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:31 a.m. Friday on a warrant dated April 22 alleging theft. McDaniel was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.
--A juvenile was arrested at 8:55 a.m. Sunday on a charge of simple battery.
--Jeremy Housely, 43,La. 87, Charenton, was arrested at 1:06 a.m. Monday on a warrant for the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office alleging simple burglary and a warrant for the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of Schedule II drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Housely was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.