Assault, battery, fighting charges reported in St. Mary

(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.)

St. Mary deputies made arrests Saturday on charges of assault with a firearm and domestic battery, while Berwick police reported juvenile arrests on fighting charges, and Patterson and Franklin police made battery arrests.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to 79 complaints and made these arrests:

--Tyler Paul Rogers, 29, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:21 p.m. Saturday on charges of aggravated assault with a firearm, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instruments, disturbing the peace (language), and resisting arrest or officer.

--Celio Jesus Ortega Gomez, 23, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:07 p.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery (strangulation). Bail has not been set at this time.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--E’Jarion Gibson, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 7:55 p.m. Friday on a Franklin Police Department warrant alleging speeding and driver must be licensed. Gibson was released on a $350 bond.

--Ezelle Arvie, 23, Opelousas, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle with improper headlamps and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled. Arvie was released on a $1,000 bond.

--Charnise Latrell Safford, 45, Franklin, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin; consumption, possession, or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17; and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Crystal Kay Duhon, 51, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle with improper headlamps and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked pr canceled. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Carl Murray Jr., 30, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:41 p.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of suboxone; possession of drug paraphernalia; hit-and-run driving; reckless operation of a vehicle; operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled; and operating a vehicle not covered by security.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--Crystal Kay Duhon, 51, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle with improper headlamps and operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked of canceled. Bail has not been set at this time.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Brian J. Fitter, 41, Kelli Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 2:41 p.m. Sunday on charges of resisting an officer (refusal to give name), resisting an officer with force or violence, reckless operation with accident, child endangerment and driver's license not on person.

Fitter was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.

--Tarana D. Walker, 27, Park Street, Patterson, was arrested at 8:41 p.m. Sunday on a charge of simple battery. Walker was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $2,500.

--Ashley M.L. Hernandez, 27, New Orleans, was arrested at 3:31 a.m. Mnday on charges of no driver's license and speeding 70 mph in a 35 mph zone. Hernandez was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $550.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Juvenile male, 16, was arrested at 1:13 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting).

--Juvenile male, 17, was arrested at 1:13 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting).

About 12:55 p.m. Friday, the Berwick Police Department’s school resource officer was advised of an altercation between two students that took place at one of the local schools. Both were identified and placed under arrest. The juveniles were transported to the Berwick Police Department, where they were booked and released to parents pending a court hearing.

--Juvenile male, 14, was arrested at 6:10 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging felony criminal damage to property.

In September, the Berwick Police Department received two different calls of vandalism that occurred to a vehicle and residence with damages over $1,000. Through the investigation,
a juvenile was developed as a suspect.

Evidence was gathered linking the juvenile to the crime, and warrants were prepared for his arrest. On Thursday, the juvenile turned himself in on the active warrants. Following booking, the juvenile was released to a parent pending a court hearing.

--Osiel Rodriguez, 18, Berwick, was arrested at 11:37 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of THC, no driver's license and improper lane usage.

On Friday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after several lane violations were observed on U.S. 90. Officers met with Rodriguez, and through the course of the stop, it was learned that he did not have a driver’s license.

He was also found to be in possession of THC. Rodriguez was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.

--David Woods, 38, Patterson was arrested at 12:20 a.m. Saturday on an Assumption Parish warrant alleging simple criminal damage to property.

About 12:13 a.m. Saturday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle for a traffic violation. Officers met with Woods, and it was learned that he had an active warrant through the
Assumption Parish Sheriffs Office.

Woods was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

--Miguel Flores, 32, Lake Charles, was arrested at 2:06 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and improper lane usage.

About 1:55 a.m. Saturday, a vehicle was observed making a lane violation on La. 182. A traffic stop was conducted, and officers made contact with Flores.

Flores showed signs of impairment. Standard field sobriety tests were conducted, and he performed poorly. Flores was arrested and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he submitted a breath sample of 0.125G% BAC. Flores was then booked.

--Deandre Varnado, 30, Arlington, Texas, was arrested at 2:36 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

About 2:20 a.m. Saturday, a vehicle was observed with improper lighting. A traffic stop was conducted, and officers made contact with Varnado. During the course of the stop, an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.

A search was conducted, at which time a small amount of marijuana was located along with items of paraphernalia. Varnado was placed under arrest and released on a summons.

--Christopher Rice, 32, Houma, was arrested at 3:06 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams) and improper lane usage.

About 2:57 a.m. Saturday,. a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was observed to make a lane violation on U.S. 90. Officers met with Rice, and an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.

A search was conducted, and marijuana was located. Rice was arrested and released on a summons.

--Robert White, 46, Houma, was arrested at 1:33 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage.

About 1:16 a.m. Sunday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after a lane violation was observed on U.S. 90. Officers made contact with White, and an odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.

A search was conducted, and marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia were located. White was placed under arrest and released on a summons.

--Christian Espinosa, 31, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:40 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense).

About 2:29 a.m. Saturday, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was observed to commit several traffic violations. During the course of the stop, impairment was detected.

He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests. Espinoza was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he submitted a breath sample of 0.117G% BAC.

Espinosa was booked and issued a citation for the traffic violations.

--Irvin Celestine III, 22, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:05 a.m. Monday on a Lafourche Parish warrant.

About 12:50 a.m. Monday, a traffic stop was conducted, and officers made contact with Celestine. Through the course of the stop, it was learned that Celestine had active warrants through the Lafourche Parish Sheriffs Office. Celestine was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 119 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Ryan Paul Clement, 36, Lynn Street, Thibodaux, was arrested at 1:04 p.m. Saturday on a Thibodaux Police Department fugitive warrant.

--Carlton Paul Moncada, 64, Karen Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:39 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Timothy Lashawn Johnson, 45, Clayton Drive, Baton Rouge, was arrested 2:43 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Myron Hatch Jr., 50, Leona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:33 a.m. Sunday on four counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 27 complaints over the weekend and made these arrests:

--Nathaniel Walters, 57, La. 318, Jeanerette, was arrested at 6:12 p.m. Friday on charges of speeding, reckless operation of a motor vehicle and driving under suspension. Walters was booked, processed and released on a $919.50 bond.

--Jaydon Richard, 18, Lee Charles Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:25 p.m. Satuday on charges of second-degree battery, domestic abuse battery and violation of a protective order. Richard was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Juanita Solete, 59, Lynn Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 9 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court for failure to appear on a charge of disturbing the peace. Solete was booked, processed and released on a $318 bond.