Suspects in vehicle theft, resisting by flight taken back to Berwick

(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.)

Jefferson Parish authorities arrested a man who fled a traffic stop in Berwick, and St. Charles deputies arrested a man on a Berwick vehicle theft charge, police said.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Curtis Mitchell, 30, New Orleans, was arrested at 7:40 p.m. Thursday on Berwick warrants alleging aggravated flight from an officer, resisting an officer, aggravated obstruction of a highway, improper lane usage, general speed law and no insurance.

On July 21, Berwick police conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle after it was observed traveling at a high rate of speed, and a lane violation was committed. Officers met with Mitchell and advised him of the reason of the stop.

During the course of the stop, Mitchell fled the area at a high rate of speed, at which time officers lost sight of him, and warrants were issued for his arrest. On Thursday, it was learned that Mitchell had been arrested in Jefferson Parish.

Officers traveled to the Jefferson Parish Jail and located Mitchell. Mitchell was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

--Benjamin Pittman, 21, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:10 p.m. Wednesday on a Berwick warrant alleging theft of a motor vehicle.

On Wednesday, officers traveled to the St. Charles Parish Jail and located Pittman, who had active warrants through the Berwick Police Department. The warrant stems from a complaint in June in which it was reported that Pittman had the victim’s vehicle for several weeks and refused to return the vehicle.

Through the course of the investigation and with the assistance of the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office, Pittman was located with the vehicle. Pittman was arrested by St. Charles.

Once he was finished with their charges, the Berwick Police Department was contacted and advised he was ready for pick-up. Pittman was transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 88 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Shina Short, 40, Arizona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:50 a.m. Thursday on charges of remaining where forbidden and failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Donna Jean Thomas, 58, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. Thursday on charges of theft (under $1,000) and possession of Subutex.

--Shane Michael Vedol, 50, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:41 p.m. Thursday on charges of distribution of marijuana, two counts of violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone), possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.

--Santamaria Junes Vedol, 46, Garber Street, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).

--Demetrius Roy Green, 24, Mike Drive, Patterson, was arrested at 8:26 p.m. Wednesday on charges of general speed law, no driver's license, possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and window tint violation.

--Nicholas Anthony Feliciano, 28, Allison Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:46 p.m. Wednesday on charges of driving while intoxicated (second offense), resisting an officer, improper lighting and improper lane usage.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 48-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 62 complaints and made these arrests:

--Troyd Deville Drexler, 53, Baldwin, was arrested at 11:41 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated, speeding, driving left of center, turning movements and required signals, and open container.

Bail was set at $2,5000.

--Alton Michael Kemp Jr., 36, Franklin, was arrested at 2:15 p.m. Thursday on a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal institution. Kemp continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Martin Humberto Montes-Dimas, 40, Amelia, was arrested at 2:15 p.m. Thursday on a charge of introduction of contraband into a penal institution. Montes-Dimas continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Loi Phuoc Lam, 71, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:36 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of aggravated battery.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Edwin Portillo, 33, Gulino Street, Opelousas, was arrested on at 6:27 a.m. Thursday on charges of speeding, no driver's license and no insurance. Portillo was booked, processed and released on a $488 bond.

--Marissa Bouton, 33, Sanders Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:22 a.m. Thursday on a charge of simple burglary. Bouton was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Daeon Johnson, 33, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:22 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple burglary. Johnson was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--David Loustalot, 39, Mechanic Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Thursday on charges of careless operation, excessive acceleration, failure to yield to emergency vehicle and driving under suspension. Loustalot was booked, processed and released on a $2,500 bond

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

--Daryl Jerome Tillman Jr., 28, Melpomene Drive, Baker, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession of Xanax, possession of Suboxone, possession of marijuana and speeding 74 mph in a 55 mph zone.

The charges arise from a traffic stop on La. 70 in Pierre Part.

A uniformed patrol deputy observed a westbound vehicle in the vicinity of La. 70 and Lee Drive commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Tillman, and conducted an interview.

The deputy noted a pungent odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the person of Tillman. At the conclusion of the interview, the deputy believed that additional investigation was warranted.

A K-9 was summoned to the location. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted positive for the presence of illegal substances. A search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of Xanax (alprazolam), Suboxone and marijuana.

Tillman was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.