MC woman arrested after 22 dead cats found in home

(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 say they arrested a McDermott Drive woman Friday after finding 22 dead cats in her house, 14 of them in a freezer.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Sheri Hite, 71, McDermott Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. Friday on 23 counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

In the evening hours Thursday, officers with the Morgan City Police Department were called to a residence on McDermott Dr. in Morgan City regarding a welfare concern for the occupants of the residence.

Officers observed several perishable items at the front door delivered in the past few days that were not picked up by the residents. Officers attempted to make contact at the front door, but no one answered.

Officers went to the rear of the residence to make contact. While doing so, officers noticed what was clearly a dead cat inside the residence along with a strong odor coming from the residence.

Officers subsequently made contact with the occupant of the residence, Hite. The investigation led officers to question Hite regarding the dead pet.

Permission was given for officers to enter the residence. Where an unbearable odor emitted from the residence and the discovery of other dead cats throughout the rooms of the house.

Detectives secured a search warrant for the residence. On Friday, detectives with the Morgan City Police Department performed further search of the residence and discovered eight dead cats in rooms and 14 other dead cats in the freezer. Only one cat was found alive and turned over to animal rescue. The deceased cats were turned over for disposal.

Hite stated she recently picked up cats from the Baton Rouge area to take care of and explained the frozen cats were kept to be later disposed of, police said.

Hite was subsequently arrested and remains incarcerated in the Morgan City Jail, where she now awaits court proceedings.

--Keith Singleton, 56, 11th Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:27 a.m. Friday on a charge of theft ($1,000-$5,000).

--Aketa Francis, 32, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:50 p.m. Friday on charges of failure to appear for arraignment (16th Judicial District Court) and two counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Sarah Scott, 43, Walnut Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Friday on a charge of violation of a protective order (second offense).

--Carl Singleton, 29, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:18 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense) and failure to signal. (Released on summons.)

--James Domangue, 74, West Main Street, Houma, was arrested at 8:22 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

--Aaron Benson, 52, Hunting Road, Franklin was arrested at 11:03 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage and no insurance, and as a fugitive from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

--Alfred Johnson, 60, Clayton Drive, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 4:24 p.m. Saturday on charges of theft (under $1,000), disturbing the peace and criminal trespass.

--Carmel Triggs, 43, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:28 p.m. Saturday on a charge of remaining where forbidden.

--Brock Williams, 45, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:46 a.m.

Sunday on charges of remaining where forbidden and disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

--Charon Bougere, 41, Memorial Drive, Donaldsonville, was arrested at 7:56 p.m. Sunday on charges of maximum speed limit, flight from an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highways, improper lane usage, driving under suspension and proper equipment required.

--Calvin Singleton, 42 Levee Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:09 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), no driver’s license and proper equipment required. (Released on summons.)

--Elana Ashmore, 25, Neptune Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:07 p.m. Thursday on three counts of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Hope Delgado, 40, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:37 p.m. Thursday on charges of violation of protective orders and disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Jacoby Rayvon Malveaux, 33, Lafayette, was arrested at 6:54 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of theft (over $1,000). Malveaux was released on
a $2,500 bond.

--Danielle Businelle Billiot, 32, Patterson, was arrested at 3:21 p.m. Friday on a Baldwin Police Department warrant alleging shoplifting. Billiot was released on a paid fine.

--Preston Jamal Wade, 34, Amelia, was arrested at 3:52 p.m. Friday on charges of simple battery and disturbing the peace (violent and tumultuous manner). Bail was set at $15,000.

--Elora Avalene Cuvillier, 19, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10:49 a.m. Saturday on charges of simple battery and domestic abuse battery (child endangerment law).

Bail was set at $4,000.

--Dustin Charles Brewer, 27, Houma, was arrested at 10:14 p.m. Thursday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of drug paraphernalia, reckless operation, and possession of meth. Bail was set at $8,000.

--Jacob Dale Prince, 47, Baldwin, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Thursday on charges of unauthorized use of access card and bank fraud. Bail was set at $7,500.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

--Gabriel Francis Randle, 22, Gail Drive, Patterson, was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under the age of 17.

Deputies responded to a complaint of a reckless driver on La. 1 near Labadieville. Deputies located the vehicle in question, executed a stop and made contact with the driver, now identified as Randle.

The deputy conducted an interview and determined that additional investigation was warranted. The deputy summoned a K-9 unit to the stop location. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and alerted positive for the presence of controlled dangerous substances.

The suspect vehicle was searched, resulting in the seizure of a considerable amount of suspected marijuana and assorted drug paraphernalia.

Randle was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Abureisha R. Augman, 21, Gabriel Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7 p.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana (less than 14 grams). Augman was released on a summons.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Shaterra Randle, 28, Pecan Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 7:17 p.m. Friday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on charges of license plate light and driving under suspension. Randle was booked, processed and released on a $338 bond.

--Milton Green, 38, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7:51 p.m. Friday on charges of remaining where forbidden and possession of drug paraphernalia. Green was booked, processed and held on a $5,000 bond.

--Thelma Davis, 43, Dale Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:37 p.m. Saturday on charges of stop sign violation, driving under suspension, no insurance, resisting an officer, expired motor vehicle inspection sticker and possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle.

Davis was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on the charges of improper lane usage and operating a vehicle while license is suspended. Davis was booked, processed and released on a $4,500 bond.