Police: Toddler falls from second-story; mother charged with child desertion

A mother was charged with child desertion Monday after her 1-year-old child fell from a second-story window at a Morgan City home. The child was treated and released from a hospital, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Jerlyn Renee Dumas, 36, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Monday on charges of child desertion, possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers were called to a Terrebonne Street home in reference to a small child falling out of a second-story window. When officers arrived, they learned from witnesses the mother of the child, Dumas, had left the home with her 1-year-old child when confronted by witnesses, Blair said. Officers began to search the area for Dumas and her child, and detectives were summoned to the scene.

A search warrant was obtained for Dumas’ home. During the execution of the search warrant, detectives observed evidence supporting witnesses’ statements of the child falling out of the second story window, Blair said.

Detectives also located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the home. During the investigation, Dumas was located by officers on Terrebonne Street along with her child.

Acadian Ambulance was called to the scene to transport the child to the hospital for treatment. The child was examined and later released from the hospital, Blair said. Dumas was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 37 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Wendy S. Stevenson, 46, of Easy Rock Landing in Broussard, was arrested at 3:58 a.m. Monday on charges of speeding, improper lane usage, possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and DWI.

A patrol officer observed a vehicle commit several traffic violations in the area of La. 182 and La. 70. Upon conducting a traffic stop, the driver was identified as Stevenson. The officer observed an open container of alcoholic beverage in the vehicle and suspected driver impairment.

Stevenson did poorly on a field sobriety test and later refused to submit to a chemical test, Blair said. Officers obtained a search warrant and a blood sample was collected pending testing. Stevenson was jailed.

—Roger Bennorh Short, 33, of Francis Street in Berwick, was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear to pay a fine.

Short was located at St. Mary Parish jail and was transported to Morgan City Police Department on a city court warrant.

—Zacharieth Paul Lopez, 28, of Shell Beach Road in Pierre Part, was arrested at 11:17 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers came into contact with Lopez in the parking lot of a motel on La. 182. A warrants check revealed Morgan City Police Department held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responding to 39 complaints and reported the following arrests:

—Jonathan Jerome Lindsey, 34, of Bayou Black Drive in Gibson, was arrested at 10:01 a.m. Monday on warrants for failure to appear for possession of synthetic cannabinoids first offense, operating a vehicle while license is suspended/revoked/canceled, improper lane usage and failure to appear for improper turn and/or failure to give required signal.

A deputy was patrolling the area of James Street in Siracusaville when he observed Lindsey playing basketball. The deputy was aware of active warrants for Lindsey’s arrest. He was jailed with bail set at $6,000.

—Roger Bernard Short Jr., 33, of Mary Street in Gibson, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Monday on warrants from the Morgan City Police Department for failure to appear to pay fines on a charge of driver must be licensed.

A deputy was patrolling Lake Palourde Road near Laura Lee Lane in Amelia when he observed Short walking. The deputy was aware of the active warrant for Short’s arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.

—A male juvenile, 13, was arrested at 5:30 p.m. Monday on a charge of simple battery.

Deputies were dispatched to the Bayou Vista Skate Park in reference to a battery. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke to the complainant and witnesses about the incident. After further investigation, the male juvenile was arrested on the above-mentioned charges. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court action.

—Clarence Cleveland Guidry, 50, of Mozart Drive in Houma, was arrested at 8:07 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear in court. Guidry turned himself into St. Mary Parish jail on the above-mentioned warrant. Bail was set at $750.

—Edward Greg Campbell, 38, of Leo Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 8:50 p.m. Monday on charges of no head lamps, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a warrant for failure to appear for possession/distribution/sale of a legend drug without a prescription.

A deputy with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office K-9 Division was merging onto U.S. 90 West from Morgan City when he observed a vehicle traveling with no head lamps or tail lights. The deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Campbell.

While the deputy was speaking with Campbell, a strong odor of marijuana was emitting from the vehicle, Smith said. When the deputy questioned Campbell about the odor of marijuana, he denied having any inside the vehicle, the sheriff said. K-9 Vickie was deployed to conduct an open-air sniff and was alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, marijuana and drug paraphernalia was located. A background check on Campbell revealed the above-mentioned warrant. Campbell was jailed with bail set at $6,350.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrest:

—Shane LaCoste, 45, of Pharr Street in Berwick, was at 9:35 a.m. Monday on charges of hit-and-run and careless operation of a motor vehicle. LaCoste posted $1,500 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported no arrests.